Exploring the Gaudineer Scenic Area in the Monongahela NF

Deep in the heart of West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest is a stretch of old-growth forest that miraculously avoided the clearcutting saws of the early 20th century. Small in size but mighty in significance, the Gaudineer Scenic Area is a hidden gem in the Mountain State.

I’d heard from a friend that if we were ever in the Monongahela, we should check out Gaudineer. The turnoff is on the Saunton Parkersburg Turnpike, or Route 250, between Durbin and Huttonsville, WV. The scenic area and trailhead are located two miles on Forest Service Road 27. The road is dirt but well-maintained and should be easy to navigate for most cars. 

My wife and I visited on an early fall morning.  The parking lot was small that morning, but we were the only car there. The air was cool and damp. It had rained hard the night before, but now the deep blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds. 

Hiking the Gaudineer Scenic Area Old Growth Trail

The Gaudineer Old Growth Trail is a half-mile loop that passes through the last remaining stands of virgin red spruce. The area was spared from logging because of a surveying error during the 1920s. Wasting little time, we took off down the trail. Dense vegetation and towering trees quickly blocked the rays of sunshine in the parking lot. The trail was covered with wet rotting leaves, giving off that classic musky and familiar Appalachia aroma. 

As we walked along the path, many of the larger trees bore fire scars from years past. Some of the trees are 250 years old. A sign along the trail informed us that the older trees were dying. When the trees reach that age, they are more susceptible to death from drought, insects, disease, and wind. There was a sign at the trailhead that clearly warned us not to hike this trail during high winds. 

This was a pleasant hike. The old growth was nice to see, but just as nice was the beautiful fall foliage of the yellow birch, beech red, and sugar maples. We spent about 45 minutes on the trail, a little longer than needed. I spent a solid 15 minutes unsuccessfully trying to get a few photos of songbirds singing and flying amongst the trees. 

If you are in the area, make sure to take the time to do this short hike. It was definitely worth it. I suspect it is often overlooked because it is off the main road.