No. The Monongahela is a national forest, not a national park. Its nearly one million acres in West Virginia hold high plateaus, red spruce forest, trout streams, and eight designated wilderness areas. Beyond the stunning scenery, you can find just about any activity your outdoor-enthusiast heart desires, including hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, paddling, fishing, hunting, and more! All of this is accessible through your basecamp of choice: twelve unique towns, each steeped in rich Appalachian history and opportunities for adventure.
With so much natural and cultural heritage, why isn’t the Monongahela a national park? Does that mean I can’t get my National Park Passport stamped? What is a national forest, anyway, and how does it differ from a national park? Here is how a national forest differs from a national park, and what that means for your visit.
Table of Contents
What's the Difference Between a National Park and a National Forest?
| Category | National Park | National Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Managed by | National Park Service, Department of the Interior | U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture |
| Mission | Preserve land as it is | Conserve land for several uses over time |
| Common uses | Sightseeing, hiking, education | Recreation, timber, grazing, foraging, wildlife, research |
| Visitor rules | Usually stricter | Usually more flexible: hunting, dogs on trail, dispersed camping |
Who Manages Parks and Forests?
The National Park Service (NPS), under the Department of the Interior, manages parks to leave them “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” The Forest Service (USFS), under the Department of Agriculture, manages forests under a multiple-use mandate, balancing recreation, resources, and the needs of nearby communities.
Conservation vs. Preservation
| Category | Preservation | Conservation |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Protect nature from human use | Use nature wisely so it lasts |
| Guiding question | How do we keep this place as it is? | How do we use this place without using it up? |
| Early champion | John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club | Gifford Pinchot, first chief of the Forest Service |
| Agency today | National Park Service | U.S. Forest Service |
| On the ground | Scenic protection, limited development, no logging | Recreation alongside timber, grazing, hunting, and watershed protection |
| Nearby example | New River Gorge National Park | Monongahela National Forest |
Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question will always be decided from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run.
The core difference between America’s modern parks and forests lies in the competing philosophies of conservation and preservation. This split dates back to the turn of the 20th century. Preservationists like John Muir argued wild places had value of their own. In contrast, conservationists like the first chief of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, argued forests should serve “the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run.”
When Congress created the National Park Service in 1916, the two agencies competed over who would manage America’s public lands. Pinchot had argued that parks belonged under the Forest Service, and the Department of Agriculture resisted handing over national monuments inside national forests. Several later parks, including Grand Canyon and Olympic, were carved from national forest land.
What Does This Mean for Visitors?
National forests often allow for greater flexibility when it comes to recreational activities: hunting, bringing dogs, dispersed camping, fishing, and more. Rules vary by location and land designation, and national parks are usually stricter. Check online or visit one of our visitor centers and ranger stations for the rules where you plan to visit.
While each agency has different priorities, it’s important to remember that a national forest is not a lesser designation. The USFS mission is broader: recreation, timber, wildlife, clean water, and research on the same land!
Where Are the National Parks in West Virginia?
West Virginia has eight National Park Service sites. While none are in the Mon, the New River Gorge and Gauley River sit within about an hour of the forest’s southern towns like Richwood, Cowen, and White Sulphur Springs.
| Site | What It Protects | Established |
|---|---|---|
| New River Gorge National Park and Preserve | 53 miles of the New River and its gorge: whitewater, rock climbing, hiking, coal-mining history | 1978 as a national river; national park and preserve since 2020 |
| Gauley River National Recreation Area | 25 miles of the Gauley River, known for fall whitewater releases from Summersville Dam | 1988 |
| Bluestone National Scenic River | 10.5 miles of the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia | 1988 |
| Harpers Ferry National Historical Park | The town where the Shenandoah meets the Potomac: John Brown's raid, the Civil War, the Appalachian Trail | 1944 |
| Appalachian National Scenic Trail | About 4 miles of the Georgia-to-Maine footpath through Harpers Ferry, plus a stretch along the Virginia state line | Completed 1937; national scenic trail since 1968 |
| Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park | The 184.5-mile canal and towpath along the Potomac River, across the water from Harpers Ferry and the Eastern Panhandle | 1961 as a national monument; national historical park since 1971 |
| Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail | Meriwether Lewis's 1803 route down the Ohio River, with stops at Wheeling and the Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville | 1978; extended east to Pittsburgh in 2019 |
| Chesapeake Bay | A National Park Service office linking parks, trails, and partner sites across the bay's watershed, including the Potomac and Shenandoah basins of the Eastern Panhandle | 1998 |
How Are National Parks and National Forests Similar?
Both protect exceptional landscapes. Three federal designations appear on both kinds of land, and the Mon holds all three.
Wilderness Areas
The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System. Congress designates wilderness areas in both parks and forests. Regardless of the agency, each wilderness area is governed by the same law and must meet the same criteria: characteristically primitive, undeveloped federal land with a remarkable or important natural character, usually at least 5,000 acres.
Wilderness areas are your go-to spot for a sense of complete isolation from the developed world: a place where people are visitors who do not remain. Roads, motor vehicles, mountain bikes, and other mechanized equipment are prohibited, and drones may not take off or land in wilderness.
The Mon has eight wilderness areas totaling about 115,000 acres, including some of the most expansive and diverse landscapes on the East Coast. The most popular include Dolly Sods, Otter Creek, and Cranberry.
National Natural and Historic Landmarks
National Natural Landmarks recognize the country’s best examples of geology and ecology. National Historic Landmarks recognize places of national historic significance. The Department of the Interior administers both programs through the National Park Service. Ownership and management stay with the landowner, whether a federal agency, a nonprofit, or a private owner.
The Mon Forest Towns region contains more than a dozen national landmarks, both within and around the Mon. Some of the most famous natural landmarks include the Gaudineer Scenic Area, an old-growth red spruce forest between Elkins and Durbin, and Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, an ice-age bog near Richwood and Marlinton known for its carnivorous plants. Canaan Valley and the Bear Rocks and Allegheny Front Preserve are also National Natural Landmarks. Historic landmarks include the Green Bank Observatory‘s Reber Radio Telescope and The Greenbrier, a historic resort in White Sulphur Springs.
For visitors, a landmark’s access and rules follow its landowner. Gaudineer follows national forest rules, Canaan Valley follows refuge rules, and The Greenbrier is a private resort.
National Recreation Areas
Congress designates national recreation areas to manage land mainly for outdoor recreation. Both the National Park Service and the Forest Service manage them. Gauley River National Recreation Area is one example on the National Park Service side.
In 1965, Congress established Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, the first national recreation area in the Forest Service. It covers about 100,000 acres, including Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia.
The Connection: Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area
What Is a National Heritage Area?
A National Heritage Area (NHA) is another congressional designation focused on conservation. However, unlike wilderness areas, an NHA focuses on conservation of cultural and historic resources. These locally managed areas are designated for their cultural value and their ability to tell stories that contribute to the nation’s broader story. Through NHAs, additional focus is put on supporting the landscape and the people who live in it through economic development, volunteer opportunities, and educational activities, to name a few. The NHA designation does not turn a national forest into a national park, transfer land ownership, or give the heritage area general regulatory control over property.
What Is the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area?
In 2019, Congress designated the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA), which spans 18 counties in the central Appalachian highlands. The area was designated because of its importance as a lived-in landscape where natural, cultural, and historic resources tell a nationally significant story. This means that the AFNHA benefits from the NPS through branding and technical support. AFHNA is one of three NHA’s in West Virginia, with the Wheeling National Heritage Area to the north and the Coal National Heritage Area to the south
Where Does the Mon Fit In?
The Monongahela National Forest and its towns are a crucial component of the AFNHA. This means the forest’s conservation benefits not only from the USFS but also from the AFNHA and, in turn, the NPS. It all connects!
Can I Get a National Park Passport Stamp?
Yes, you can get your National Park Passport stamped.
Visitors can get an official National Park Service Passport stamp at the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center in Elkins, West Virginia; open days vary throughout the year, but hours typically run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check current hours before you go. The stamp is associated with the AFNHA and its connection to the NPS, but it still does not mean that the Mon is a national park.
While you are at it, why not plan a trip through Elkins or climb aboard one of the Mon’s scenic railroads?
Plan Your Trip to the Mon
Who needs a national park designation, anyway?
The Mon is every bit worth exploring, and we hope it lands its own spot on your bucket list. Take part in the Mon’s endless outdoor fun, explore its protected wilderness areas, and get to know its nationally recognized cultural heritage!
Ready to plan your trip? We make it easy for you with an interactive map, exclusive itineraries, and detailed descriptions of the best places the Mon has to offer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Monongahela a national park?
No. It is a national forest in West Virginia, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Why isn't the Monongahela a national park?
The Monongahela was established in 1920 as a national forest to restore logged land and protect river headwaters. As a national forest, it is protected under the Forest Service’s multiple-use approach, which balances conservation, recreation, and sustainable use.
Are there national parks in West Virginia?
Yes. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is the state’s one national park. The National Park Service also manages Gauley River National Recreation Area, Bluestone National Scenic River, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and West Virginia segments of the Appalachian and Lewis and Clark national trails.
Can you hunt and camp in the Monongahela National Forest?
Yes! Hunting, fishing, dispersed camping, and many other recreational activities are permitted, although restrictions vary by location.
Does the Monongahela National Forest have protected wilderness areas?
Yes. The Mon contains eight designated wilderness areas, including Dolly Sods, Cranberry, and Otter Creek Wilderness.
What is the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area?
The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area is a federally designated region that recognizes and celebrates the central Appalachian region’s natural, cultural, and historic heritage.
Where can I get a National Park Passport stamp near the Monongahela National Forest?
Visit the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center in Elkins, West Virginia, to collect an official National Park Service Passport cancellation stamp.
