The Allegheny Mountains run northward from the southern part of West Virginia to the state line, covering about 12% of the state's total area. This region includes major ridges, like Back Allegheny Mountain (4,840 feet) and Shavers Mountain (4,193 feet) and is higher than the Allegheny Plateau to the west. While the Alleghenies are mountains, their tops are often broad and flat like a plateau, with summits closer together. The rugged southern and middle sections (primarily in northern Pocahontas County) is where many major West Virginia rivers begin, including the Gauley, Elk, Cheat, and Greenbrier.

The high elevation gives the Allegheny Mountains a distinct, colder climate. Terra Alta (Preston County) has the lowest average January temperature in the state (28 degrees Fahrenheit). This region gets heavy rain and snow falls, allowing for recreational opportunities such as skiing.

European-American settlement began here around 1753, although it could have been much earlier. The real economic boom came after the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad arrived in 1836 in Harpers Ferry. At the turn of the 20th century, the economy exploded due to the timbering of virgin forests (like red spruce) and extensive coal mining. Towns such as Davis (the state’s highest town at 3,100 feet) grew rapidly.

Old Indian trails, like the Seneca, are now major highways such as U.S. 33 and U.S. 219, offering some of the highest and most scenic drives in the state. The region is home to many popular recreation spots, including Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Canaan Valley, Blackwater Falls, and the Monongahela National Forest.