Forest Road 13 Allegheny Mountain Traverse

Forest Road 13 cuts a rugged line across Allegheny Mountain’s spine, threading through the Monongahela National Forest at elevations that’ll have your ears popping. This old logging road turned forest service route delivers 28 miles of mountain backbone driving, with the highlight being the technical descent into Seneca Creek where you’ll ford the creek twice before climbing back to ridgeline. The views from Allegheny Mountain’s crest stretch across the Potomac Highlands, and on clear days you can see into Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

Moderate difficulty with a couple expert-level water crossings that’ll test your line choice and approach angles. Stock 4WD with good ground clearance handles most of it, but aggressive all-terrain tires help with the rocky sections. Best tackled May through October when Seneca Creek isn’t running high. No permits needed, but cell service is nonexistent once you drop into the creek valleys. Dispersed camping is allowed along the route, making this a solid weekend getaway for folks wanting to taste real West Virginia backcountry without the Hatfield-McCoy crowds.