West Virginia Explorer
Snowfall in Jackson County, Mid-Ohio Valley Region

Photographer Rick Burgess reveals the magic of winter in W.Va.

Arts

December 23, 2022

David Sibray

Winter in West Virginia is a delightfully varied season. The Ohio and Potomac lowlands and sheltered southern valleys witness only a few blanketing snowfalls, though the Allegheny Mountains, rising to more than 4,000 feet above sea level, are practically Canadian in climate and can be beset by blinding squalls long into spring.


Photographer Rick Burgess has been wandering his home state of West Virginia since the 1970s, capturing its essence through his camera’s lens, revealing a magical land without the use of digital enhancement. We hope you enjoy the following tour of winter in West Virginia through the wizardry of Burgess’s eye.

Snow at Seneca Rocks, Pendleton County, Potomac Branches Region

A snowfall dusts mountain tops around Seneca Rocks east of the Allegheny Front in Pendleton County.

The Allegheny Mountains, a range of the Appalachian Mountains, reach their highest in West Virginia. Also located in parts of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the Alleghenies are characterized by their broad, rounded summits. The word “Allegheny” was once used to refer to the whole of what is now called the Appalachian Mountains.

Horses in frost, Raleigh County, New River Gorge Region

Horses graze in a frosty field in late autumn in Raleigh County near Beckley, West Virginia.

Snow on New River at Grandview, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, New River Gorge Region

Winter descends on the valley of the New River at Grandview in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

Cacapon River, Potomac Branches Region

The setting sun warms the icy flank of Cacapon Mountain above the Cacapon River in Morgan County.

Winter at Bruceton Mills, WV, Preston County, Monongahela Valley Region

Big Sandy Creek leaves the mill pond at Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, in Preston County.

Blackwater River, Canaan Valley, Allegheny Highlands Region

The North Branch of the Blackwater River meanders through the Canaan Valley in Tucker County.

Hemlock roots at Blackwater Falls State Park

Snow dusts boulders beneath a hemlock wood in Coopers Rock State Forest in Preston County.

Ice at Blackwater Falls, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, WV, Allegheny Highlands Region

Stained golden-brown by spruce tannins, the Blackwater River drops over its high falls at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Cabin in the Canaan Valley, Tucker County, Allegheny Highlands Region

A vacation cabin looks out over bogs near the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Wind turbines in Allegheny Highlands Region

An abandoned homestead lingers beneath a new wind-farm in Grant County near Mount Storm, West Virginia.

Driven snow, White Grass, Allegheny Highlands Region

Snow drifts on a mounting wind across the Canaan Valley in Tucker County.

Be sure to explore Part 2 of our “Winter in West Virginia” series featuring Rick Burgess’s photography. Looking for Christmas gifts? You’ll find many of his works for sale here.

Read Also: Top reasons visiting West Virginia in winter is a great idea!