Elkins, W.Va. (WVDN) — Forest Road 19 on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, which provides access to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area on the Monongahela National Forest, will be closed beginning April 6, 2026. Access to the Dolly Sods Wilderness is still available from FR19 via Jordan Run Rd near Hopeville, WV. The closure will limit access on FR 19 from the west at the existing gate near Laneville, WV and extend to the Boars Nest Trailhead to the east. The closure is in place to protect public safety while repairs are completed.
Forest Service personnel expect repairs to be completed within the next two weeks. The closure is anticipated to remain in place until April 19, 2026, though the timeline may change pending conditions on site.
Visitors are asked to respect all posted closures and avoid attempting to bypass the affected area. Updates will be shared on the Monongahela National Forest website and social media as new information becomes available.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
