The best things in life are free. At least in this case, they are, since all it costs is a little sweat and some steep mountainside scrambling to climb to the top of North Fork Mountain and see some of the best views in the nation.

North Fork Mountain, located in the Potomac Highlands of eastern West Virginia, is one of the most picturesque peaks in the whole state.
Brittany Guariglia/AllTrails
It's an anticline mountain, and some of the rock layers bend downwards as they run along the summit.
North Fork is also one of the driest peaks in the Alleghenies.
Lindsey Jackson/AllTrails
As you explore the trails on the mountain, you'll notice a marked difference in vegetation from nearby highlands like Dolly Sods or Spruce Knob.
And speaking of trails, one of the most popular destinations on North Fork Mountain is Chimney Top.
David Rodes/AllTrails
To reach Chimney Rock, start at the North Fork Trailhead on Smoke Hole Road just off North Fork Highway not far from Cabins, West Virginia.

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It's a strenuous 5.5-mile hike with an extra steep scramble right at the end, but the views from the top are worth all the trouble of getting there.
Bryon Davis/AllTrails
Or drive a little farther down Smoke Hole Road and use the Landis Trail to connect with the North Fork Mountain Trail.
Kelsie Mazanowski/AllTrails
You'll intersect the North Fork Mountain Trail south of Chimney Rock, so you'll need to turn right onto North Fork Trail from the Landis Trail to reach the Chimney Rock outcropping.
And, since the North Fork Trail runs for over 10 miles along the summit of the mountain range...
Bryon Davis/AllTrails
...those two access points are definitely not your only options to access the amazing views from the top of North Fork Mountain!
However you get here, you'll be glad you did. You won't find views like this anywhere else in the world!
Gulnara Efros/AllTrails

To see some of the options for accessing North Fork Trail near Cabins, West Virginia, visit the Alltrails website here.

Have you been up North Fork Mountain? How did you access the trail? We’d love it if you shared a photo from the summit in the comments!

If you do access North Fork from the Smoke Hole side, be sure to check out Smoke Hole Caverns, as well. In a single day trip, you can go from the top of the world to the bowels of the earth. What a neat experience!

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North Fork Mountain, West Virginia 26884, USA