North Fork Mountain Trail
~2 days · 23 mi · moderate · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the North Fork Mountain Trail is known for
A 24-mile point-to-point ridge walk along the crest of North Fork Mountain in Monongahela National Forest, Grant and Pendleton counties, West Virginia. The trail runs from the southern trailhead near Judy Gap on WV-2 to the northern trailhead near Smoke Hole Gorge, delivering continuous ridge-top travel with sweeping views into Germany Valley and the Smoke Hole Canyon. A short road walk on North Mountain Road connects two trail sections near the midpoint.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 3,704 ft to 12,369 ft over 23 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 9.4 mi · 41%
- Downhill 12.0 mi · 52%
- Flat 1.6 mi · 7%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the North Fork Mountain Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the North Fork Mountain Trail scores 16/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the North Fork Mountain Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the North Fork Mountain Trail in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 23 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the North Fork Mountain Trail?
The North Fork Mountain Trail climbs roughly 2,779 ft total — about 121 ft per mile, topping out near 3,789 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.