The Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia is one of the largest tracts of protected Eastern woodlands. This naturally makes it a mecca for outdoorspeople of all stripes -- fishers, hikers, mountain bikers, and paddlers. When visiting, make good use of the forest's extensive network of backcountry trails. The landscape is dotted with highland bogs and dense thickets of blueberries.
The forest is made up of five different federally designated wilderness areas at elevations ranging from 900 feet above sea level to 4,861 feet atop Spruce Knob, the loftiest peak in the entire state. The size and scope of Monongahela is impressive by any standard, and so is the breadth of life in the forest.
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Black bears, foxes, beavers, woodchucks, opossums, and mink are among the mammals found there. There are also dozens of types of fish in the streams, over 200 feathered species in the skies and the treetops, and 75 types of trees rooted there.