Considering that it's the most extensive wilderness area near the east coast, within just a few hours' drive of a dozen big cities, surprisingly few people have heard about, much less bothered to visit, the backcountry reaches of the
Allegheny Mountains
, West Virginia's segment of the Appalachian chain. The entire 140-mile crest is protected as part of the
Monongahela National Forest
, within which numerous state parks highlight the most spectacular sights. There are no cities and few towns, public transportation is nonexistent, and not much goes on after dark - to give an idea of how rural it is, whole counties do without a single traffic light - but if you like to backpack, ski, cycle, climb, canoe or just wander around the great outdoors, the Alleghenies are well worth a visit. For maps and more detailed information, contact the state tourist office or the Monongahela National Forest Supervisor, 200 Sycamore St, Elkins, WV 26241 (Mon-Fri 8am-4.45pm; tel 304/636-1800).
Copyright Rough Guides Ltd as trustee for its authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. The Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd.
Copyright © 2006 United States.biz
