The United States Congress designated the Cranberry Wilderness Area in 1983 and it now has a total of 35,864 acres. Broad mountains are dissected by deep and narrow valleys with elevations ranging from 2,400 feet to more than 4,600 feet in Cranberry Wilderness, the largest such area in West Virginia. Here on the Allegheny Plateau, the Wilderness contains the entire drainage of the Middle Fork of the Williams River and the North Fork of the Cranberry River. The Williams River forms the northern Wilderness boundary, and the South Fork of the Cranberry River marks the southwestern boundary. You'll find primarily Appalachian hardwoods, but there are also stands of red spruce at the highest elevations. Cranberry Wilderness is contained within the Black Bear Sanctuary. Black bears are abundant and share the Wilderness with white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, grouse, rabbits, mink, bobcats, and foxes. Naturally acidic water limits the fish populations, and the streams are not stocked. Frost may occur any month of the year. Precipitation (rain or snow) falls in winter, spring, and fall. Winter snow may block road access. More than 50 miles of maintained hiking trails provide access to the area on at least 10 named paths. Trails follow both the rivers. There are no trails maintained for horses and no bridges over streams. You'll have to wade across them. This works fine during dry months, but it is not advisable during periods of high water.

The United States Congress designated the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in 1975 and it now has a total of 10,215 acres. In the mid-1800s, the Dalhe family used open grassy fields called "sods" for grazing sheep in this area, which now bears the name Dolly Sods Wilderness. The region, located high on the Allegheny Plateau, is known for its extensive rocky plains, upland bogs, and sweeping vistas. In the lower elevations, you'll find a forest of northern hardwoods and laurel thickets. Higher up, groves of wind-stunted red spruce stand near heath barrens where azaleas, mountain laurels, rhododendron, and blueberries grow. The bogs are unique depressions of sphagnum moss, cranberries, and the insect-eating sundew plant--an ecosystem you'd expect to see in northern Canada. Beaver ponds dot the Wilderness and the headwaters of Red Creek spill out of the area. Nine trails crisscross this Wilderness. They are relatively rough and wet most of the year. This is easily the most popular Wilderness in West Virginia, and the amount of foot traffic proves it. Maximum group size is 10.

The United States Congress designated the Otter Creek Wilderness Area in 1975 and it now has a total of 20,000 acres. In a natural bowl between Shavers Mountain (on the east side) and McGowan Mountain (on the west side) lies Otter Creek Wilderness. Most of the numerous streams in the area flow into Otter Creek, which runs north across the Wilderness into the Dry Fork River. These streams frequently flash flood during periods of heavy rain. From the mouth of Otter Creek, the terrain rises to about 3,900 feet on McGowan Mountain. The area, logged extensively between 1897 and 1914, now sports a second-growth forest, dense thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel along the streams, and a variety of mosses in damper regions. Spruce dominate the higher country and give way to hardwoods such as black cherry and yellow birch lower down. Black bears have returned and are reunited with white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, hares, rabbits, grouse, and several species of squirrels. Beavers are active in several spots. Timber rattlesnakes may be seen, and Otter Creek shelters a small population of brook trout. You can explore the Wilderness on 42 miles of trails, many following old railroad grades.

The United States Congress designated the Laurel Fork North Wilderness Area in 1983 and it now has a total of 6,055 acres. Laurel Fork North Wilderness straddles the Laurel Fork of the Cheat River and only the corridor of Route 40 separates it from the Laurel Fork South Wilderness. The narrow river valley runs north-south below regularly dissected slopes and long, slim ridges, fed by numerous side streams. Immediately to the east stands Rich Mountain; to the west looms Middle Mountain, with elevations over 3,700 feet. An almost continuous forest cover dominated by beech, maple, black cherry, birch, and yellow poplar is broken only by grassy meadows along the Laurel Fork itself. White-tailed deer live here with wild turkeys, bobcats, and beavers. You might occasionally spot a few black bears, although you're more likely to see some of the myriad resident bird species. You may catch native brook and brown trout in the river, but heavy brush can make casting difficult. Winters typically bring heavy snows; temperatures are pleasant in summer.

The United States Congress designated the Laurel Fork South Wilderness Area in 1983 and it now has a total of 5,997 acres Laurel Fork South Wilderness straddles the Laurel Fork of the Cheat River and only the corridor of Route 40 separates it from the Laurel Fork North Wilderness. The narrow river valley runs north-south below regularly dissected slopes and long, slim ridges, fed by numerous side streams. Immediately to the east stands Rich Mountain; to the west looms Middle Mountain, with elevations over 3,700 feet. An almost continuous forest cover dominated by beech, maple, black cherry, birch, and yellow poplar is broken only by grassy meadows along the Laurel Fork itself. White-tailed deer live here with wild turkeys, bobcats, and beavers. You might occasionally spot a few black bears, although you're more likely to see some of the myriad resident bird species. You may catch native brook and brown trout in the river, but heavy brush can make casting difficult. Winters typically bring heavy snows; temperatures are pleasant in summer.

The United States Congress designated the Mountain Lake Wilderness Area on the Jefferson National Forest in 1984 and it now has a total of 11,035 acres. Virginia contains 8,314 acres. West Virginia contains 2,721 acres. Mountain Lake, the only natural body of water in western Virginia, actually sits just outside the southwestern Wilderness boundary. Inside the boundary you'll find a highland plateau resting squarely on the Eastern Continental Divide, isolated stands of virgin spruce and hemlock in a typical Appalachian hardwood forest, a mountain bog, and War Spur Overlook, which yields a panoramic view of this Wilderness. Elevations range from over 4,000 feet on Lone Pine Peak near the middle of the area to about 2,200 feet. Deer, bears, squirrels, and grouse run wild in the forest. Several trails provide access to primitive Wilderness. Approximately one-fourth of the Wilderness lies in West Virginia.