The high plateau of Dolly Sods was once covered in a dense forest of ancient spruce and hemlock trees. Early explorers were amazed and intimidated by the wilderness and wildlife within. David Hunter Strother wrote of the area in 1852: "
In Randolph County, Virginia, is a tract of country containing from seven to nine hundred square miles, entirely uninhabited, and so savage and inaccessible that it has rarely been penetrated even by the most adventurous. The settlers on its borders speak of it with a sort of dread, and regard it as an ill-omened region, filled with bears, panthers, impassable laurel-brakes, and dangerous precipices. Stories are told of hunters having ventured too far, becoming entangled, and perishing in its intricate labyrinths."
In 1884, railroads were built to the area so that loggers could make use of the trees.
Most of the trees were cut down, and the change in landscape caused the area to become a desert. Several wildfires burned through the remains of the trees and other plant life.
In 1943-1944, the U.S. Army used Dolly Sods as a place for target practice and explosives testing. It's quite possible that live explosives still remain in the area, so hikers today are encouraged to stick to the known trails and report any strange objects.
With the forests gone from the plateau, strong winds carved into the rocks and stunted the growth of new trees. The result is a very surreal landscape. However, some trees and ferns are starting to return.