GUYANDOTTE, W.Va. — Rivers in West Virginia have gained enormous popularity as travel destinations, thanks to cleaner water and better highway access. Yet the Guyandotte River, winding through the state's southwestern mountains, has remained largely unknown, and that’s precisely what many anglers and paddlers love about it.
From its headwaters to its mouth, the Guyandotte flows through some of the state’s most rugged and beautiful countryside, a wonderland of mountains, forests, and small mining towns. For more than a century, only residents ventured into its deep mountain fastnesses, but that's changing as hikers, anglers, kayakers, and ATV enthusiasts discover the region.
Travelers should know that while you won’t find any big tourist spots in Guyandotte River country—not on the scale of the Smokies or the nearby New River Gorge National Park and Preserve—you will find plenty of friendly locals, cozy diners, and a growing number of venues catering to ATV and off-road adventures. It's worth noting that two resort lodges are located along the river at Twin Falls and Chief Logan state parks.
How the Guyandotte River got its name
No exploration of the Guyandotte River would be complete without discussing its name — a mystery that may never be wholly solved. Its pronunciation may sound to native English speakers like "Guy and Dot," and many newcomers to the area have been left wondering who Guy and Dot were.
Some believe the name “Guyandotte” originates from “Wyandot” or “Wendat,” the name of a Huron people whose name translates to “island people” or “peninsula dwellers.” The Wyandot lived far to the north, around the Great Lakes and northern Ohio, not conveniently near southern West Virginia. The Wyandotte Nation today consists of remnants of the Tionontati, Attignawantan, and Wenrohronon (also known as the Wenro), three independent tribes that united in 1649-50 after being defeated by the Iroquois Confederacy.
Others believe the name originates from the French word "guyana," meaning “scout,” which is fitting since the Town of Guyandotte, located at the river’s mouth, was once a French settlement, as were other Ohio River towns such as Marietta, Gallipolis, and Steubenville.
Another theory posits that it was named for an obscure French painter named Guyan, who traveled the Ohio Valley in the 1700s. Notably, one source of the Guyandotte arises in the highlands near Great Flat Top Mountain, close to an area called Guyan Ridge, and locals often shorten the name of the river simply to “the Guyan.” However, the painter was unlikely to have ventured far from the mouth of the Guyandotte on the Ohio River, and the ridge likely takes its name from the river.
Exploring the upper valley of the Guyandotte River
One of the best places to explore the valley of the upper Guyandotte River is at Twin Falls Resort State Park. In the mountains just north of the river, the park offers cabins, campgrounds, and a comfortable lodge with a restaurant and swimming pool. From there, many visitors hike to its twin falls on Cabin Creek and its Black Fork. Although remote, Buzzard Cliffs and Canada Cliffs are also two of the favorite hiking destinations.
The Pioneer Farm at the park, however, may be the highlight for visitors seeking authenticity. Restored to its original 1800s appearance, the farmhouse's interior is off-limits to visitors, as it serves as a residence for families employed to maintain the grounds. However, those grounds are kept much as they would have been, providing visitors with insight into the valley's history.
Legends and early settlers of the Guyandotte
Most Native inhabitants left the valley just before European settlement, but around 1760, some returned. Boling Baker and his wife, Aracoma — said to be the daughter of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk — settled on what’s now Hatfield Island amid the river at present-day Logan, West Virginia.
Legend has it that Baker was a soldier under General Braddock, who was captured and adopted by the Shawnee during the French and Indian War. He later led a raid to steal horses from the Bluestone River area, hiding them on Horsepen Mountain while smallpox devastated the settlement in his absence.
Today, Aracoma’s story lives on in a summer outdoor drama performed at Chief Logan State Park near Logan. The park is also a favorite for hiking and camping, and its Guyandotte Beauty Trail, named for the delicate mint that blooms there, is among its highlights. A new park lodge with a restaurant and pool is attracting many new visitors to the region.
Whispers of an ancient past linger
Some people are convinced that not all Native people left before settlers arrived. Given the ruggedness of the Guyandotte River valley, some believe indigenous people stayed hidden in its deep forests. Others believe that native groups left the region in the 1650s during the Beaver Wars, when the Iroquois Confederacy forced the original inhabitants out.
Two well-known prehistoric sites bear witness to the presence of ancient peoples. Near Oceana, West Virginia, rock carvings known as the Lynco Petroglyphs have long attracted visitors. In the 1970s, an amateur archaeologist stirred controversy by claiming Irish monks had carved them — a theory since debunked but still whispered about. Native shamans likely carved the etchings ritualistically in hopes of increasing the deer and human populations.
A more impressive site is the Salt Rock Petroglyphs, about 20 miles upstream from the river’s mouth. These rocks are covered in carvings of strange creatures and a human figure. Despite their importance, the site remains unprotected on private land and is not open to the public.
Native American echoes in 20th-century place names
Visitors will notice names like “Logan” and “Oceana” that suggest Native origins. Ironically, these names aren’t authentic. As far as is known, Chief Logan, for example, never lived in Logan County, nor did Oceana, said to be Cornstalk’s daughter, live near present-day Oceana.
In the 1850s, attorney Thomas Dunn English — best known for writing “Ben Bolt” and “Sweet Alice” — encouraged the use of Native-sounding names to lure investors. Although his efforts didn’t directly drive much business, they left a lasting legacy. Many towns in the region — Mohawk, Mataoka, Mohegan, Otsego, Ottawa, Matewan, Hiawatha, Naugatuck, and Powhatan — still bear these evocative names.
Boom and bust in West Virginia's coal mines
After the Civil War, coal mining companies moved in, and by 1900, even the most remote reaches of the Guyandotte River valley were bustling with mines, camps, and towns. Places like Mullens, Pineville, Gilbert, and Logan built grand brick buildings that look surprisingly urban for such a rugged region.
Coal transformed the region into a thriving industrial powerhouse. Fueled by the demand for steam coal and metallurgical coal, towns sprang up around mines, drawing thousands of workers and driving the local economy for decades.
The industry reached its peak in the mid-20th century but began to decline in the 1980s due to a combination of mechanization, decreased demand, environmental regulations, and competition from cheaper energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables.
As coal jobs vanished, many communities were left grappling with unemployment, population decline, and long-term economic challenges. However, recent years have seen efforts to diversify the region’s economy through tourism, education, and clean energy development.
Today, as coal mining declines, these buildings seem out of place but hold promise for new uses. Entrepreneurs are restoring them as lodges for ATV riders exploring nearby trails or for visitors seeking river adventures, such as kayaking.
Guyandotte Water Trail established
Central to the river’s growing popularity is the Guyandotte Water Trail, a designated route that highlights key access points, rest stops, and scenic stretches along its course. Developed through partnerships among local communities, environmental groups, and state agencies, the water trail spans approximately 166 miles from the river's source near Mullens, West Virginia, to its confluence with the Ohio River near Huntington, West Virginia.
The trail is designed to promote eco-tourism, connect small towns along the Guyandotte River, and encourage stewardship of the watershed. Clear signage, maps, and improved boat launches make it easier than ever for visitors to plan multi-day trips or quick afternoon paddles.
Beyond its recreational value, the Guyandotte River Water Trail also tells a story of renewal. Once impacted by coal mining and industrial use, the river has seen a resurgence in health thanks to conservation efforts and community investment.
Old-fashioned fishing improves with water quality
Fishing on the Guyandotte River offers anglers a rich and rewarding experience, thanks to its impressive variety of species and well-maintained access points. Smallmouth bass are a popular catch, with many fish between 8 and 15 inches providing plenty of action without requiring extreme rapids.
Anglers targeting spotted bass will find excellent opportunities, especially in the stretch from Pineville to R.D. Bailey Dam, where specimens exceeding five pounds have been reeled in, and plenty of 10–15 inch holes keep anglers consistently busy.
For those after a larger catch, channel catfish and hybrid striped bass also frequent the river, particularly in the lower, more navigable sections. Local fishing reports emphasize that simple baits—live worms for spotted bass, tube jigs, or drop‑shot rigs for smallmouth—often work best.
The upper river has also developed into a thriving trout fishery, thanks to hatchery-supported stocking efforts in its upper reaches. Since 2021, rainbow trout have been regularly introduced into the stretch between Mullens and Pineville, adding a cold‑water dimension to the river’s warm‑water appeal.
State stocking ceremonies in late 2021 marked the beginning of this program, where officials released some 250 pounds of trout into the river and signaled plans for annual spring and fall stockings under a new trout management initiative Anglers here now enjoy opportunities to catch both stocked rainbows and wild brown or brook trout in the upper river—making the Guyandotte a year‑round destination for diverse fishing pursuits.
Today, paddling the Guyandotte River is not just a scenic journey; it’s a way to experience the region's resilience, support local economies, and reconnect with West Virginia’s rich natural heritage.
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Thank you for sharing this information.
White I'm sure the Guyandotte river by the resorts and parks are nice. The rest of the guyandotte River from well above
Logan all through Hamlin on to Huntington is a giant polluted trash can that I'd nether angle nor paddle in it all.
The Guyandotte needs massive clean up efforts and its been much needed for the last forty plus years of my life. I see the Guyandotte River everyday and its nauseating to see the trash scattered across the banks and floating in the waters. Its sad and disgusting.
I agree. People are the problem as they care very little about their surroundings. I was born in Pineville, lived in areas of Pineville to Baileysville. Sadly the fishery was polluted by mining for years, over the last 15 years mother nature has slowly revived the river. I think law inforcement need to fine every polluter and need assistance from people who really care about this beautiful waterway. If fines aren't issued then a program needs put in place that would insure that those caught would be put to work cleaning up the trash.