Located less than five miles from the highest point in West Virginia, and surrounded on three sides by the Monongahela National Forest, the mountainous site features two parallel rock fins made of tuscarora sandstone that rise from the mountain overlooking Nelson Gap.

[5] Lodging at Nelson Rocks is available in the form of hotel-style guest rooms, rustic cabins, or tent camping.

In 1943 and 1944, as part of the West Virginia Maneuver Area, the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army used Seneca, Nelson and Champe Rocks to train mountain troops in assault climbing in preparation for action in the Apennines of Italy.

One guidebook author estimates that they left behind approximately 75,000 soft iron pitons, some of which can still be found on the rocks.

[1] In 1998[1] the area was purchased by Stuart Hammett[8] who operated it under the name Nelson Rocks Preserve for about a decade.