Rugged Adventures Episode 15: Monongehela 200
With Simply Must Go
Set out across the rugged highlands of West Virginia on this unforgettable 200-mile Rugged Adventure through the Monongahela National Forest. Beginning on the Canaan Loop outside Davis, the route mixes rocky technical stretches, muddy ruts, water crossings, and fast gravel—with short hikes leading to sweeping views of the Blackwater River. From the washout-carved challenges of Canyon Rim to the restored high-elevation landscapes of the Mower Tract, you’ll discover some of the best campsites and scenery on the East Coast. This journey blends backcountry exploration, remote camping, and classic Appalachian wildness into one standout adventure.
New onX Offroad Route:
Monongehela 200
Join us as we take on the Monongahela 200—a 200-mile overland route cutting straight through the heart of West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. This trail has everything: rocky technical sections, muddy ruts, water crossings, and long stretches of fast gravel that open up into some of the best views on the East Coast.
We kick things off on the Canaan Loop, just outside Davis. What starts as a simple forest road quickly turns bumpy, rocky, and wild—with water crossings and short hikes leading to jaw-dropping overlooks of the Blackwater River and Blackwater Falls State Park.
Then it’s on to Canyon Rim. Once an easy gravel road, it’s transformed into a legit challenge after a massive washout turned the trail into a rugged, 4WD-only section. Years of traffic have carved it into an even more exciting, technical, and downright fun obstacle—and now there’s a second washout that keeps things extra spicy.
Finally, we hit Mower Tract, named after the mining company that once owned the land. Today, environmental restoration has opened up rare East Coast high-elevation views — with wide-open mountaintops sitting around 4,000 feet. The campsites out here? Honestly some of the best we’ve ever seen in the Mid-Atlantic. Maybe even the entire East Coast.
If you love overlanding, remote campsites, and true backcountry exploring, this one’s for you.
Save The Folder; Explore The Route
Download the Monongehela 200 Route Folder to save it right to your onX Offroad App and share it with friends. You’ll have all the information you need to prepare and safely execute the Route, including Photo Waypoints that mark suggested campsites, crossings, trail obstacles, fuel stations, meet-up points and more for this route through the best of West Virginia.
