seneca rocks state park

I went to hike this park while driving from DC to Huntington. It was a nice midway point to stretch my legs. I pulled up though and there were two men separately sitting in their cars. I didn't feel safe getting out of my car and going into the woods with them sitting there. There is no cell service in this area and it's eastern WV, so it's pretty isolated. Just be careful and use good judgment.

It was a little tougher than expected since it had recently snowed and there was ice on the ground. Consider it is a 900 foot ascent in a 1.3 mile trail, so it can be a little steep. The snow made it beautiful, though. Well, worth the effort.

If you find yourself in the Easten Panhandle of WV do yourself a favor and spend a morning or afternoon at Seneca Rocks. The hike is incredible, note there is big elevation gain, great photo ops. Limited services near the park, plan ahead for food and water.

This hike starts at the visitor center, there is plenty of parking and maps available. The center is closed for a lot of the year, but the trail is well marked and a map is not needed. If you start at the Homestead parking area a little ways up the road you will save a small bit of hiking but miss one of the bridges over the creek. The trail starts behind the center from the main parking lot. It is 1.5m long and 1000' vertical. It is a pretty stiff climb, but it is a well maintained and lightly graveled trail so not too difficult. It took us about 1.75h up at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops to rest, and a little less than 1h down. We did not encounter many people in early Nov on a beautiful day. The view at the top from the observation platform is spectacular and makes a nice lunch stop. Highly recommended.

While in the gift shop of Seneca caverns I saw a mug with a photo of this beautiful place. There is a nice hiking trail to an overlook. I watched several rock climbers making there way to the top. You need a permit to do this. A great way to spend the day and have a picnic along the stream.

The view of the Seneca Rock is very pretty even if you don't climb to the top. Did not know it was even in West Virginia. The center and all were closed due to us arriving after the season was over. Will stop again when we travel in the summer.

THe park provides for plenty of hiking. The easiest hike takes you up a path for a mile and a half zigzagging up to a lookout platform. You go up about 1000 feet in elevation. THe welcome center had closed for the season when we were there. Oct 19, 2014 was its last day. THere is a bathroom but it is a glorified port-a-let. THere are plenty other hikes for those who really like to hike. The rock formations were so cool. Haven't seen anything like them. Worth the trip.

How many people actually hike towards the top of Seneca Rocks when it's rainy and the cloud cover is low? Probably not a ton of people... but the views were breathtaking! My boyfriend and I encountered another hiker with her family and she said that she's been coming here for 30 years straight, but she had never seen the views like what we were treated to on Saturday. I'll try to upload a photo later, but just picture clouds & fog coursing through the valleys and grazing the peaks 360° around you.We DID go a little past the STOP sign, but only a little ways past it. I would not recommend that in damp weather. Also, I wouldn't recommend following the blue diamond trail off the back side of the rocks. Trail is tough and not maintained. Got 1/3-1/2 of the way down and decided to go back up because of the unknown. Boyfriend said it was the old trail and would link up towards the Discovery Center, but I squashed the plan and we trekked back up and over down the main trail.Definitely take the 30 minutes to hike up. It'll be worth it no matter what the weather is doing.

This place is magnificent! This place is in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains along Route 33 east filled with fall color & motorcyclists! Hiking now, but in the winter, a ski area. Beautiful drive in autumn.

This hike up 1000 feet was very easy considering the incredible views you get at the top. When you reach the viewing deck, you can continue further up past a sign that warns you to go at your own risk. If you are in good shape/athletic, I highly recommend going to the top. Use extreme caution because there are definitely spots where you could trip and disappear into the depths.

Liked pretty much everything but as with any state park, if you travel her off season don't look for restrooms to be open unless you are at the visitors center. Their restrooms are exceptionally clean and well kept. Other outdoor restrooms usually locked up in the off season.

Words can't describe the beauty. We drove up the road trying to find a trail to take to the top but they were either too wet/slick or covered with too many small rocks that would slide under your feet (due to a recent storm). We ended up driving back down to the parking lot and just sitting on the hood and soaking in the beauty. Anyway, I can't imagine the view from the top being as beautiful as it was from the car.

We love this area of WV. It's a beautiful area. The kids can go fishing or just walk in the stream...my daughter caught crawfish and my son used them for bait. It is a hard walk up to the overlook but it was worth it..then an easy walk back down. So much to see and do in the area.

I have visited many state parks across the country and I have never been as disappointed as I was with Seneca Rocks. Apparently, no one there has the good sense to clearly mark the trails so that guests will know where they are going. My husband and I spent a good amount of time following a trail to absolutely nowhere! There were literally dozens, DOZENS, of other visitors walking aimlessly having no idea where the trail to the overlook was located. After walking a good distance with my dogs before finding the correct trail, there was no way I was going to take my dogs up the mountain, as all of us were already exhausted. I will never return to this park!

This place is so amazingly gorgeous! The whole climb up there was shade from all the trees, when you get to the top its the most amazing thing. Im not an outdoor girl, but id go to this mountain again