Monongahela National Forest Updates

Hiring Recreation Technicians in White Sulphur Springs and Neola

Monongahela National Forest will be hiring multiple permanent seasonal forestry technicians to work in the recreation program with duty locations in Neola and White Sulphur Springs. The positions work 13 pay periods per year maintaining recreation sites in the national forest including daily scheduling, managing cleanups, providing information and patrolling.

Forestry technicians are responsible for keeping Forest recreation areas cleaned and maintained with daily upkeep, simple construction, and trail activities. They also assist visitors by collecting fees, explaining rules and regulations and reporting safety issues.

These jobs are open to the public. The deadline to apply is October 17^th at: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/671975200. For more information contact matthew.j.edwards@usda.gov.

Closing Dates for Monongahela National Forest Recreation Sites

While most of the Monongahela National Forest is open year-round, some areas do close when access roads are snow-covered.  Some developed campgrounds, picnic areas and visitor centers also routinely close from late fall through mid-spring.

Closing dates for recreation sites on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District (304-478-2000) in the Elkins and Parsons areas:

Bear Heaven Campground – Dec. 1

Bickle Knob Observation Tower – Closes when roads are snow covered.

Horseshoe Recreation Area – Closed for season.

Olson Observation Tower – Closes when roads are snow covered.

Stuart Recreation Area – Oct. 10

Closing dates for recreation sites on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District (304-257-4488) in the Petersburg and Seneca Rocks areas:

Big Bend Campground – Oct. 30

Dolly Sods Picnic Area – Jan. 1

Gatewood Group Campground – Oct. 10 – Nov. 30 no fees charged. Pack in, pack out with no services.

Jess Judy Group Campground – Oct. 30

Red Creek Campground – Dec. 31

Seneca Rocks Discovery Center – Oct. 30 (last day open)

Seneca Rocks Picnic Area – Dec. 2

Seneca Shadows Campground – Oct. 30

Spruce Knob Lake – Lake open year-round. Toilets close Dec. 1

Spruce Knob Lake Campground – Oct. 10

Spruce Knob Observation Tower – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1.

Closing dates for recreation sites on the Greenbrier Ranger District (304-456-3335) in the Bartow area – these areas will all close Dec 1st

Gaudineer Knob Picnic Area – Closes when roads are snow covered. Toilets close Dec. 1.

Island Campground – Dec. 1

Lake Buffalo – Lake open year-round. Toilets close Dec. 1

Laurel Fork Campground – Dec. 1

Middle Mountain Cabins – Dec. 1

Old House Run Picnic Area – Dec. 1

Closing dates for recreation sites on the Gauley Ranger District (304-846-2695) in the Richwood area:

Big Rock Campground – Dec. 1

Bishop Knob Campground – Dec. 1

Cranberry Campground – Dec. 1

Cranberry Mountain Nature Center – Oct. 15 (last day open)

Cranberry River Developed Dispersed Campsites – Area closes when snow-covered. Toilets close Dec. 1.

North Bend Picnic Area – Oct.  16

Summit Lake – Lake open year-round. Toilets close Dec. 1

Summit Lake Campground – Dec. 1

Williams River Developed Dispersed Campsites (Sites #1 – #20 located downstream of Tea Creek Campground) – Area closes when snow-covered.  Toilets closed Dec. 1.

Woodbine Picnic Area – Oct. 16

Closing dates for recreation sites on the Marlinton-White Sulphur Ranger District (304-799-4334) in the Marlinton area:

Day Run Campground – Dec. 1

Highland Scenic Highway – Road closes when snow-covered. Toilets close Dec. 1.

Pocahontas Campground – Dec. 1

Rimel Picnic Area – Jan. 1

Tea Creek Campground – Dec. 1

Williams River Developed Dispersed Campsites (Sites #21 to #30 located upstream of Tea Creek Campground) – Area closes when snow-covered.  Toilets closed Dec. 1.

Closing dates for recreation sites on the Marlinton-White Sulphur Ranger District (304-536-2144) in the White Sulphur Springs area:

Blue Bend Recreation Area – Dec. 1

Lake Sherwood Recreation Area and Campground – Closed for season

Roadside camping, also called dispersed camping, is available in many areas of the Forest year-round. For more information about recreation facilities, contact the District Office near the location you would like to visit. Contact information is listed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mnf/about-forest/offices.

Visit the Forest’s Recreation Conditions Report at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/mnf/recreation for the most current information.

For more information about Monongahela National Forest visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf and follow us at https://www.facebook.com/MonongahelaNF.