ELKINS — The Monongahela National Forest released its 2026 opening dates for developed recreation sites across West Virginia this week, offering a host of activities. including hiking, camping, mountain biking and fishing.

The Mon Forest is a recreation destination to many and a major tourist attraction to the Mountain State. With the arrival of spring, many residents and non-residents flock to recreational areas.

Locally, the Stuart Recreation Area is a popular destination for many, mostly because of its close proximity to Elkins and several other towns and communities in Randolph County. The Stuart Recreation Area is scheduled to open on April 17.

Other Mon Forest recreation areas set to open in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, which is listed in the Elkins and Parsons areas, include Bear Heaven Campground (April 15), Bickle Knob Observation Tower (When Snow Free), Lower Glady Camping – Forest Road 162 (April 15), Horseshoe Recreation Area (April 13), and Olson Tower Observation Site (when snow-free).

Recreation areas scheduled to open in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District (Petersburg and Seneca Rocks areas) include: Seneca Rocks Discovery Center (April 16), Seneca Rocks Picnic Area (April 15), Seneca Shadows Campground April 10), Spruce Knob Lake Campground (April 17), Spruce Knob Lake (April 15), Spruce Knob Observation Tower (April 14), Big Bend Campground (April 10), Dolly Sods Forest Road 19 (April 1), Dolly Sods Forest Road 75 (April 15), Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping County Route 29 (April 15), Gatewood Group Campground (April 16), Jess Judy Group Campground (April 10), and Red Creek Campground (April 15).

Roadside camping, which is also known as dispersed camping, is available in many areas of the Mon Forest year-round. The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wild land fire and forestry research organizations in the world.

The Monongahela National Forest also announced on Tuesday that Forest Road 209, which provides access to the Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area, is temporarily closed at Campsite 14 after a small landslide caused an embankment failure. Forest Service personnel expect repairs to be completed within the next two weeks. The closure is expected to remain in place until March 27.

For more Mon Forest information, visit www.fs.usda.gov.