Monongahela National Forest is large but many of the popular hikes and waterfalls are in the same general area. All the waterfalls on this list and many of the overlooks can be seen without any long hike at all, and the other trails are a great introduction to harder hikes, being doable in about 3-ish hours each with only moderate elevation gain. Entry to the forest is free and no parking pass is required.
Views open up after passing the switchbacks and reaching the ridgeline.
One of the most recommended hikes on the internet, it's the hardest on this list but definitely the best. It's easy to follow most of the way until reaching the ridge, where it starts to branch off with some alternate paths leading closer to the cliff edge, and a confusing trail marker arrow that actually points leading back down the trailhead rather than along the ridge to the end of the hike. It's worth having offline maps for this one. There's a lot of weird rock formations just off the path once you reach the ridge, so it's worth straying a little just to check them out.
The adventurous can continue past the official end of the trail.
The Seneca Rocks trail mostly consists of forest and switchbacks up a steep hillside, but it's a short hike, so it should be doable for most within about 2 hours round-trip. The path is mostly dirt and small rocks so it can easily be done with trail runners. There's a very brief scramble past the warning sign to reach the top of the rocks, which seemed scary at first but actually wasn't that dangerous. I thought it was definitely worth doing the final climb because it's a better view than the one from the viewing platform at the official end of the trail.
There's a second, further viewing area on Blackwater Lodge Rd across the river.
The namesake for Blackwater Falls State park, I thought it was odd they chose this waterfall of all the ones in the area, because I definitely preferred Elakala Falls and Douglas Falls. It's a quick walk from the parking lot to the boardwalk area so you can be in and out of here without much time commitment. Pendleton Overlook is less than 5 minutes away and a short walk for what's supposed to be an amazing view, but I stopped at Lindy Point Overlook instead.
The resemblance is uncanny..
I can't speak highly enough of this hike. Beginning at the Red Creek trail and continuing via the Big Stonecoal trail the rest of the way, it has the most interesting and varied terrain of any on this list, winding through forests and river crossings, over boulders and along the side of the mountain to a rocky cliff overlook. Offline maps are essential here because the trail becomes difficult to follow at times, especially at the river crossing and various parts of the initial Red Creek trail.
Who made the cairns??
An awesome overlook just a short walk from the car. I missed some of the other overlooks like Pendleton Point and Pase Point because of time concerns, but if you stop at Blackwater Falls, Pendleton Point is just a few minutes away and closer than Lindy Point. The parking lot here is big enough for four cars at most, so expect to park along the road for this one.
Not a huge waterfall, but an aesthetic one.
The trail to Elakala Falls starts at the Blackwater Falls State Park Lodge and winds through forest for a short time until you reach the bridge over the falls. It's a pretty tame walk and a beautiful waterfall, reminding me of Hocking Hills State Park in my home state of Ohio. I would've liked to spend more time in this area but it was getting late in the day.
This area is part of Dolly Sods Wilderness.
The terrain and vegetation of the Dolly Sods plateau is unlike the rest of Monongahela National Forest or anything else I've ever seen, being full of heath barrens, moss and scattered boulders. It's known for its vibrant foliage in autumn but is an essential stop for a West Virginia trip during any season. Bear Rocks Preserve is a great view over the edge of the plateau with lots of flat trails to explore through the barrens and rocks to climb on and around. The road for the final stretch here is among the worst of the locations on this list, being gravel and full of potholes, but it's still doable in a sedan.
The view here is similar to Lindy Point Overlook.
Table Rock is a relatively easy trail through forest to an overlook, taking about 45 minutes to complete. While enjoyable, I think there are better options on a time crunch. It's not enough of a trail to satisfy a hiker, but too long for a sightseer since there are better overlooks that can be seen in less time. The gravel road there is also quite bad and I ended up bottoming out the car on one of the divots formed in the gravel. Make sure you stay at the upper road forks on Canaan Loop Road on the way there. Google Maps misdirected us into taking the lower road, which does not lead there.
The water is deep enough to swim in.
The road to Douglas Falls towards the end was impassable in our Honda Fit because of a huge water-filled pothole spanning the whole length of the road, so we had to walk the rest of the way (about 15 minutes). Trucks and other vehicles with higher clearance should be able to make it past. On the walk, you will pass by Albert Falls. After you reach Douglas Falls, a very short but steep rock staircase takes you down to the base of the waterfall, one of my favorites in the area.
Like Douglas Falls, the water is a vivid turquoise.
This is definitely the smallest waterfall on the list by far, clocking in at only eight to ten feet high, but still worth stopping at on the way to Douglas Falls since it's only a few minutes' walk away. There's not really a way down to the base of the waterfall, so the best view you'll get is from the roadside.