Laurel Fork South
West Virginia
Free — you'll pick up right here.
15.1 mi
Distance
1,750 ft
Gain
5h 52m
Time
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Monongahela National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Laurel Fork South
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 15.1 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,750 ft
- Elevation loss
- 1,750 ft
- Highest point
- 3,771 ft
- Lowest point
- 3,100 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Bikes
- Not allowed
- Surface
- Natural
- Accessibility
- Not an accessible trail (Forest Service accessibility status)
Source for bikes, surface, accessibility: USDA Forest Service National Forest System Trails (EDW)
About this trail
Laurel Fork South is a 15.12-mile out-and-back trail in West Virginia that follows a scenic creek drainage through the Appalachian highlands. This moderately challenging hike rewards adventurers with pristine waterway views, rhododendron thickets, and the solitude of a less-traveled fork system. The trail's creek-bottom setting provides reliable water access and cooler temperatures, making it an excellent choice for summer exploration.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- Starts at
- 3,208 ft
- High point
- 3,771 ft
- Total climbing
- 1,750 ft
- Total descent
- 1,750 ft
- Steepest stretch
- 13% grade around mile 5.8 on the way out
- Length (round trip)
- 15 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
When to go
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Glady 1 N, WV weather station, 4.8 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan35° high16° low
- Feb38° high17° low
- Mar47° high24° low
- Apr59° high33° low
- May68° high43° low
- Jun75° high51° low
- Jul78° high55° low
- Aug77° high54° low
- Sep72° high47° low
- Oct61° high35° low
- Nov49° high26° low
- Dec39° high21° low
Where it is
- Greenbrier Ranger District · Ranger district
- Monongahela National Forest · National forest
Source: USFS EDW boundaries
Conditions
Active alerts for Greenbrier Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Cunningham Knob Addition Area Closure Order
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Laurel Fork CampgroundCamping0.1 mi
- ForksHiking1 mi
- Laurel Run TrailHiking3 mi
- County Line TrailHiking3.1 mi
- Middle Mountain CabinsCamping5.4 mi
- Seneca CreekRiver fishing8 mi
- Spruce Knob boulderingRock climbing9 mi
- 1 Entrance boulderRock climbing9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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