Allegheny Discovery Route

Explore the scenic Allegheny Mountains on the 540 mile Allegheny Discovery Route. This overlanding adventure in West Virginia (with parts in Virginia and Maryland) offers stunning views, challenging dirt roads, and a unique off-road experience. Plan your trip and discover the beauty of the East Coast wilderness.

Photos courtesy of Chet Szymecki

Route Overview

Trip Length & Season

Adventure Rating: Baja Trip Length: 6-10 days, 540 miles (670 with the Shenandoah Extension) Season: April to November provides the best weather, just keep in mind that rivers and creeks are typically running at their highest during the summer months (there are numerous river and creek crossings). Fall sees less rain and fording rivers and creeks should be easier. You can expect a decent amount of mud and mud pits during late spring through mid-Summer. It may be possible to do this track during the winter months, but you'll want to check on conditions and snow levels before heading out.

Digital Maps & GPX Files

Download Digital Mapping Files

• Allegheny Discovery Route w/ discovery points & POIs (subscribers only)

• Allegheny Discovery Route w/ tracks only (free)

If you need help working with digital mapping and GPX files, please check out our FAQ section.

Technical Ratings & Terrain

Avg Technical Rating: 2-3

Peak Technical Rating: 4

Typical Terrain: The majority of terrain is on dirt roads (about 70%), with some paved county roads and highways mixed in along the way. Expect everything from wide and well kept dirt and gravel roads, tighter secondary dirt roads with lots of undergrowth (Canaan Loop Road), and then there are a few rockier sections that require 4-low and traveling at slower speeds.

Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans

Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4

Recommended Moto: Given some of the rockier sections along this track, we recommend a mid-sized bike. However, a big bike can handle the vast majority of the track, and with its numerous roads, it's quite easy to detour if you need to backtrack around an obstacle. Be sure to pay attention to the various high water bypasses along the track, which many moto riders may prefer, especially when rivers are running high and impossible to cross with a bike.

Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are not recommended given the numerous tight trails on this track.

Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear

Fuel: There are dozens of opportunities to refuel along the route, with a gas station typically never further than 20-30 miles away. Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: no specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.

Alternative Routes

Shenandoah Extension Distance: 119 miles Technical Rating: 2-3 While the Allegheny Discovery Route is the best known track through the region, the Shenandoah Extension extends the original Allegheny Discovery Route northward through the Shenandoah Mountains and on to Paw Paw. The addition of the extension creates an epic 660 mile loop. Sometimes the loop is called the Allegheny-Shenandoah Overland Trail, which is a bit confusing since the first 400+ miles of this track mirror the Allegheny Discovery Route. Because of this we're referring to the additional section of track to Paw Paw as the Shenandoah Extension.

Allegheny Cutoff Distance: 129 miles Technical Rating: 3 The Allegheny Cutoff was a common track that showed up in various iterations of the ADR. We've included in case folks don't have time to do the entire 540 mile track, but also for folks looking to change things up and explore some new trails. The cutoff gets you to within 12 miles of the Shenandoah Extension. Union Springs Loop Distance: 48 miles Technical Rating: 4 Union Springs OHV trail is one of the rockier, and better known jeep tracks in West Virginia. The Union Springs Loop is perfect for folks looking to take on a rockier, and slightly technical trail. Upon finishing the Union Springs trail, the loop continues on following a number of mild dirt roads in the George Washington National Forest before picking back up with the main track. High Water Bypass (multiple tracks) Distance: n/a Technical Rating: -- The GPX file contains various bypasses in case a river or creek is running dangerously high on a particular section of trail. These bypasses can also be used when rivers are running high and is also recommended for adventure bikes who may wish to avoid rivers and deep creek crossings.

Camping Recommendations

Dispersed camping is generally permitted in Monongahela National Forest and George Washington National Forest. Green Ridge State Forest also has 100 designated primitive campsites throughout their forest lands. However, like many forests in the Appalachian mountains, the forest in the Alleghenies and Shenandoah mountains can be dense, making it difficult to find large open sites that are suitable for larger groups. Keep this in mind as you seek out a campsite, as it may not be wise to wait until the sun is setting to find camp. Some of our favorite locations to camp along the Allegheny Discovery Route include:

• Red Creek Campground

• Olson observation tower

• Cheat River along Richford Road (near Gladwin)

• Bear Haven campground

• Flagpole Knob

• Meadow Knob
  

Discovery Points

• DP1 - The Irvin Allen/Michael Cresap Museum

• DP2 - Oldtown Toll Bridge

• DP3 - North Branch Potomac River

• DP4 - Ashby's Fort Museum

• DP5 - Taggart Hall Civil War Museum

• DP6 - Keyser

• DP7 - Pinnacle Knob Fire Tower

• DP8 - Bear Rocks

• DP9 - Bell Knob Lookout Tower

• DP10 - Balsam Swamp

• DP11 - Canaan Loop Road

• DP12 - Lindy Point Observation Deck

• DP13 - Elakala Falls

• DP14 - Blackwater Falls

• DP15 - Historic Coke Ovens

• DP16 - Albert Falls

• DP17 - Olson Observation Tower

• DP18 - Tucker County Historic Courthouse

• DP19 - Black Fork Cheat River

• DP20 - Bickle Knob Observation Tower

• DP21 - Barton Knob Fire Lookout

• DP22 - Bald Knob Observation Deck

• DP23 - Snowshoe Mountain

• DP24 - Greenbrier River

• DP25 - Lake Moomaw

• DP26 - Jackson River

• DP27 - Cowpasture River

• DP28 - Confederate Breastworks Interpretive Site

• DP29 - Reddish Knob Viewpoint

• DP30 - Flagpole Knob

• DP31 - Cacapon River

• DP32 - Potomac River

Land Managers & Other Resources

• Monongahela National Forest

• George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

• Green Ridge State Forest

• Canaan Valley Resort State Park

• Blackwater Falls State Park

• Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

• Seneca Rocks Discovery Center

Permits & Papers

There is a fee to cross the privately owned Oldtown Toll Bridge at the beginning of the track. Be sure to check the current rates, but as of 2024 the crossing was $1.50 per vehicle.

---

Route Details

The western mountains of West Virginia and Virginia weave a tapestry of history and nature, beckoning outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The Allegheny and Shenandoah Mountains, flanking the famed Shenandoah Valley, boast distinct landscapes and rich pasts.

The Alleghenies sprawl across western Virginia with rolling green hills and dramatic elevation changes. Their past is etched in the remnants of coal mining operations, a resource that fueled industry and transportation for over a century. Dense hardwood forests of oak, maple, and hickory carpet their slopes with pockets of conifers mixed into the highlands, while hidden valleys hold secrets of the past, both Civil War skirmishes and the backbreaking labor of miners.

The Shenandoah, with its characteristic linear ridges and fertile valleys, belongs to the Ridge and Valley physiographic province. Here, diverse ecosystems showcase vibrant wildflower meadows alongside hardwood forests, offering habitat to black bears, elusive bobcats, and a variety of birdlife. The Civil War also left its mark on the Shenandoah, with key battles fought over strategic passes and valleys like New Market and Kernstown. Today, you can experience the magic of the Alleghenies and Shenandoah mountains by traveling the 540 mile Allegheny Discovery Route. The Allegheny Discovery Route, or simply the ADR, has become a local favorite among overlanders in the greater DC-Maryland-Virginia region, and for good reason! The ADR traverses some of the most scenic landscapes in the area, taking travelers to well known sites like Blackwater Falls, and to out of the way sites like Confederate Breastworks Site, a key Confederate stronghold during the Civil War. The Allegheny Discovery Route can be driven in either direction and extended and turned into a full loop, by adding on the 119 mile Shenandoah Extension (see alternative routes for more info). Folks short on time (or looking to explore new locations) may wish to use the Allegheny Cutoff, which falls one of the original iterations of the ADR. The ADR features a healthy mix of terrain, from wide gravel and dirt roads, to tighter secondary dirt roads with lots of encroaching trees and underbrush, to rockier tracks like Canaan Loop Road and Union Springs trail (see alternative routes), and some interconnecting pavement. Like many roads and trails through the Appalachian mountains, you can expect a lot of tree cover during spring and summer. With so much tree cover, we recommend making the short drives and hikes to the numerous observation towers and decks along the track. Many of those locations also make for a fantastic campsite, just remember, views mean exposure and limited protection from wind! During the summer months, the rivers and streams swell. With its numerous river and creek crossings, the high water creates a fun new dimension for folks willing to take on the challenge, with water levels typically running 18"-30" across many of the larger crossings during the Summer months. The track does offer a number of high water bypasses for folks on motos, or when rivers and creeks are running dangerously high (see alternative routes). While the wilderness has a way of alluring us overlanders away from city-life, don't overlook the many quaint towns, villages, and hamlets that have existed in these mountains for hundreds of year. The Tucker County Historic Courthouse (DP18) is certainly worth making a trip into the town of Parsons. And history buffs will appreciate visits to the local museums like Irvin Allen/Michael Cresap Museum (DP1), Ashby's Fort Museum, (DP4), Taggart Hall Civil War Museum ( DP5). And if you're looking to get the kids stoked on the adventure, you may want to hop on the train at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

The Allegheny Discovery Route presents a plethora of possibilities: breathtaking vistas, challenging trails that pushed your limits, numerous creek and river crossings, and whispers of history echoing through time. The unique experience of the ADR will leave travelers yearning to return and further explore the wild soul of the Alleghenies and Shenandoah.

---

Terms of Use: Should you decide to travel a route that is published on Overlandtrailguides.com, you do so at your own risk. Always take the appropriate precautions when planning and traveling, including checking the current local weather, permit requirements, trail/road conditions, and land/road closures. While traveling, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, and carry the appropriate safety, recovery, and navigational equipment. The information found on this site is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by OverlandTrailGuides.com, the route accuracy and current conditions of roads and trails cannot be guaranteed.