Seneca Rocks is West Virginia's most dramatic natural landmark: a serrated quartzite fin rising 900 feet from the floor of the North Fork Valley in Pendleton County, its jagged ridge visible for 20 miles in every direction. It is the premier rock climbing destination in the mid-Atlantic, with over 375 established routes on its faces. But a hiking trail climbs the backside of the rock to a viewing platform at the crest (not the technical summit), accessible to any reasonably fit hiker without climbing gear.

The trail begins at the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center and climbs 1,300 feet in 2.8 miles through mixed hardwood forest, emerging at the South Peak viewing platform with a 360-degree panorama of the Potomac Highlands: the North Fork valley, the Allegheny Front, Spruce Mountain, and dozens of ridge systems stacked to the horizon. The quartzite beneath your feet dates to the Cambrian period — 500 million years ago — when these mountains formed part of an ancient mountain range taller than the Himalayas. What remains is the deeply eroded core.

The trail is free and open year-round. Dogs are allowed on leash. The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center has exhibits on the geology and climbing history. Rock climbing the actual faces requires gear and experience; hikers should stay on the designated trail. No permit required.