The 311-mile Allegheny Trail might be one of the most breathtaking—and under the radar—long trails in the United States. It’s a great trek any year, but 2024 is special. That’s because in September, the trail’s primary stewardship organization, the West Virginia Scenic Trail Association (WVSTA), is turning 50, and the nonprofit is going all out to celebrate. Hikers who hit the trail this year will have their pick of events, group hikes, fitness challenges, and community trail-work days to choose from.

Of course, the trail parties are just gravy, says Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn, outreach coordinator at the WVSTA—the Allegheny Trail (ALT) has a special kind of magic in its own right.

“For starters, there are the people,” Flood-Sawczyszyn says. “Anyone who hikes in West Virginia experiences this sense of being welcomed with open arms.”

Then there’s the ridiculous concentration of unique natural phenomena. West Virginia’s dark skies and perfect latitude—which aligns with the path of the Milky Way—give it some of the best stargazing in the United States. The ALT also crosses the migratory path of thousands of raptors, which fly overhead in vast numbers each fall, Flood-Sawczyszyn says. Add stunning fall color, rich history, and stands of old-growth forest left over from the last ice age, and you’ve got an absurd amount of variety packed into just 300 miles.

“I’ve hiked a lot of trails, but there’s just something that sets this one apart,” says Justin Mullens, vice president of the WVSTA, who’s thru-hiked the ALT twice and section-hiked it three times. “You’ve got singletrack, dirt, and country roads. Out in the countryside, people will wave at you from their front porches and offer water or rides. It feels both very remote and very supported. It’s how Benton MacKaye would have hiked the Appalachian Trail in his day. It’s really like going back in time.”

Here’s the ALT’s inspiring origin story, a few of the events coming to the trail this year, and some of the best spots to dip your toes into the magic of the ALT.

How West Virginia’s Most Ambitious Trail Got Started

In 1958, 15-year-old West Virginia Boy Scout Nicolas Lozano was on a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountains when he had an epiphany: the Smokies were surely gorgeous, but they looked an awful lot like the mountains he had back at home. So why on earth had he traveled more than four hours to get there?

Over the next few years, Lozano and a few friends decided West Virginia should have an Appalachian Trail of its own and dreamed up an audacious trail project. His vision: a 320-mile footpath that would slice across the state, running south from the Pennsylvania border all the way to the Virginia border. It would link up some of West Virginia’s most stunning natural areas before connecting to the Appalachian Trail at Peter’s Mountain. Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? Nope.

In 1972, Lozano journeyed to Pocahontas County, which sports some of the highest concentrations of stunning vistas anywhere along the proposed trail corridor. Then, in 1974, he helped found the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association. Now, 50 years later, the WVSTA manages the completed trail with the help of a small but dedicated team of volunteers.

“There’s so much passion there,” Flood-Sawczyszyn says. “These are the people keeping this trail alive.”

When to Visit

The ALT is a year-round trail, says Mullens, who’s hiked it in all four seasons. In January and February, soft flurries and flocked evergreens transform the Allegheny Mountains into a winter playground. “With all the leaves off the trees, you’ve got great views everywhere you go,” Mullens adds. Spring brings warm temperatures and the fragrance of fresh trillium and dogwood flowers. Come summer, cool streams and lush forests make the Allegheny Mountains a welcome respite from the heat.

But fall is one of the best times to visit, Mullens says. “You’ve got the colors going throughout the state and really good temperatures. It’s my favorite time.” Target late September to mid-October for a burst of color from crimson sugar maples and yellow poplars. The raptor migration peaks around the same time—starting around September 20, you can spot thousands of the birds overhead.

Because there’s no off-season here, the WVSTA has stacked its 2024 calendar with year-round celebratory hikes and trail-work days. Consider planning a visit around one of these events:

• 50-Year Celebration: Enjoy local music, a gear swap, and a limited-edition Allegheny Trail IPA at the ALT’s biggest event of the year: the WVSTA 50th anniversary bash. The party starts at the Green Bank Observatory on September 6 and runs all weekend.
• Woods Wacky Week: This community trail-maintenance event is the perfect time to give back and get plugged into the local trail community (June 14–21).
• Historical Hikes: In honor of its 50th anniversary, the WVSTA is hosting a historical hike for every season of the year. A celebratory day hike and potluck to explore the region’s railroad history took place on June 1.
• Annual Section Hikes: Every year, the WVSTA hosts a group slack-packing adventure. Each one covers a different 25-to-30-mile section of the Allegheny Trail. Go annually for ten years, and you’ll have hiked the whole thing.

Go big: To celebrate its historic anniversary, the WVSTA is also holding a yearlong challenge. Hike 50 miles, volunteer 50 hours—or do some combination of the two to equal 50—and you could win limited-edition 50th-anniversary gear. (Sign up online to participate.)

Must-do hikes

Not sure where to begin exploring? Try Pocahontas County. The county is home to 86 miles of the ALT, which pass through International Dark Sky Parks, Civil War battlefields, rare ecosystems, and sweeps of old-growth forest. Here are a few top picks:

Old Growth Interpretive Loop

This 0.5-mile loop meanders through the deep shade of moss-covered spruce and hemlock. “It’s a nice stroll—good for young kids and dogs—and it transports you to a previous time,” Flood-Sawczyszyn says.

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

History meets conservation on the four-mile hike to Spruce, the historic site of a former logging town. Near the quaint town of Durbin, the state park is home to both pristine singletrack and the world’s largest collection of Shay engines—massive, old-fashioned steam locomotives. “They’re really incredible,” Flood-Sawczyszyn says. “And you can hear them from the trail.”

Watoga State Park

The 4.5-mile Brooks Memorial Arboretum Trail provides a bite-size sampler of West Virginia’s largest state park, which sits just beyond charming Hillsboro. Watoga is also an International Dark Sky Park, known for its ink-black skies, world-renowned stargazing, and constellations of synchronous fireflies. According to Mullens, the starlight is often so bright you can hike without a headlamp. Between the stunning night skies and the park’s deep, remote wilderness, it’s a perfect launching point for overnight trips as well as scenic day hikes.