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Friday, August 15, 2025
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    West Virginia unveils 2025 fall foliage map, peak dates, live leaf tracker

    Travel / Transportation Bianca Bosworth -
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Autumn 2025 will soon be here, and West Virginia officials say the Mountain State is gearing up for one of its...
    History / Prehistory

    Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

    4
    QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park...
    Agriculture

    Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

    2
    CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest...
    Lore and Legend

    The captivating West Virginia legend of Kanawha Falls and her daughters

    3
    GAULEY BRIDGE, W.Va. — Though beautiful, the following tale...
    Natural Wonders

    Forgotten Drawdy Falls in West Virginia inspiring new generation to care

    2
    PEYTONA, W.Va. — Drawdy Falls, one of the most...
    Lore and Legend

    The Pickens Leper: a tragic journey into isolation in the W.Va. mountains

    12
    PICKENS, W.Va. — In the remote Allegheny Mountains of...
    Travel / Transportation

    West Virginia Waterfall Trail surpasses an unexpected 125,000 check-ins

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Waterfall Trail has...

    Most Popular Stories

    Hot this week

    Lore and Legend

    The captivating West Virginia legend of Kanawha Falls and her daughters

    3
    GAULEY BRIDGE, W.Va. — Though beautiful, the following tale...
    Natural Wonders

    Forgotten Drawdy Falls in West Virginia inspiring new generation to care

    2
    PEYTONA, W.Va. — Drawdy Falls, one of the most...
    Lore and Legend

    The Pickens Leper: a tragic journey into isolation in the W.Va. mountains

    12
    PICKENS, W.Va. — In the remote Allegheny Mountains of...
    Landmarks / Museums

    At tip of W.Va.'s northern panhandle, "Point of Beginning" marks start of the West

    1
    EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Some say that the American...
    Agriculture

    Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

    2
    CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest...

    Popular Categories

    Economic Development122History / Prehistory113Lore and Legend110Hunting109State Parks, Forests106Arts103Higher Education94Agriculture89Wildlife / Conservancy75National Parks72Fishing70Landmarks / Museums66Recreation64Botany and Forestry61Festivals / Events60Travel / Transportation52

    Headlines

    LOVE-HATE tattoos have terrifying origin in West Virginia nightmare

    Lore and Legend David Sibray -
    MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — The iconic LOVE-HATE tattoos that adorn many thuggish fists in the U.S. are tied to one...

    Peters Mountain Roar continues to mystify West Virginia residents

    Natural Wonders David Sibray -
    ZENITH, W.Va. — Those who have heard the haunting "Peters Mountain Roar" say it will forever stay with them....

    Remote monument recalls origins of Farley family in New River valley

    History / Prehistory David Sibray -
    PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Many of the thousands of people named "Farley" in the New River valley region in southern...

    Tale of historic tragedy haunts the hills of northern Putnam County

    Lore and Legend David Sibray -
    LIBERTY, W.Va. — Eighteenmile Creek wanders quietly through the low hills of northern Putnam County, revealing not in the...

    Lost West Virginia saltworks are known to only a few adventurers

    History / Prehistory David Sibray -
    MERCER SALT WORKS, W.Va. — The legend of the lost Mercer Saltworks near the New River in West Virginia...

    Archaeologists debunk myth of prehistoric giants in West Virginia

    History / Prehistory Charity Moore -
    MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — After learning about my series of articles on West Virginia prehistory in West Virginia Explorer Magazine, Olivia...

    At tip of W.Va.'s northern panhandle, "Point of Beginning" marks start of the West

    Landmarks / Museums David Sibray -
    EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Some say that the American West begins at West Virginia— specifically at the tip of...

    Kanawha Valley in W.Va. had highest concentration of burial mounds

    History / Prehistory David Sibray -
    SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha Valley in western West Virginia once had the highest concentration of burial mounds...

    Attractions

    Natural wonder reopens: legendary Wind Caves may soon welcome tourists

    1
    ELIZABETH, W.Va. — One of the best-kept secrets in...

    Discover West Virginia waterfalls with one of its chief photographers

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia waterfalls are attracting the...

    Sandstone Falls emerges as a must-see destination in the New River Gorge

    1
    SANDSTONE, W.Va. — Sandstone Falls, one of the most...

    West Virginia’s Farm-to-Table dinner series returns with scenic feasts, local flavor

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The highly anticipated Farm-to-Table Dinner Series...

    Communities

    Thirty-three West Virginia companies receive award for global exports

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thirty-three West Virginia companies that export...

    Wild and Wonderful: A journey through West Virginia’s most beautiful places

    2
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There's a reason West Virginia is...

    Splash into Fun: The Six Best Waterparks in West Virginia (2025 Guide)

    1
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s natural beauty is world-famous,...

    The best East Coast stargazing? Discover West Virginia dark-sky wonders

    1
    MOUNT ZION, W.Va. — If you’re searching for the...

    Culture

    Unique northern panhandle of West Virginia created by historic dispute

    1
    WEIRTON, W.Va — West Virginia's remarkable shape is partly...

    August in West Virginia: When mountain customs come home

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — August in West Virginia is a...

    Historic West Virginia heat waves and how the state can recover its coolness

    1
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While known for its forests and...

    West Virginia to host first-ever Spartan Trifecta World Championship in the U.S.

    2
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will make history in...

    Recreation

    Parks partner with nonprofit to make golf more affordable for W.Va. youth

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia's state park system is...

    Secret bunker in W.Va. built to hide Congress in event of nuclear war

    4
    WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. W.Va. — A vast underground bunker...

    Did a settler survive lost in caverns beneath W.Va.'s Greenbrier Valley?

    2
    LEWISBURG, W.Va. — One of the strangest tales to...

    Family-friendly Free Fishing Days in West Virginia to return June 7-8

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Free Fishing Days will return June...

    History and Prehistory

    Historic West Virginia heat waves and how the state can recover its coolness

    1
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While known for its forests and...

    From Jerry West to Best Virginia, basketball in West Virginia is a unifying force

    3
    MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Mountain State is a land...

    The five worst floods in West Virginia history: A Chronicle of Disaster

    1
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Shaped by rugged mountains and winding...

    Remarkable encounter: John Brown’s final moments witnessed by Stonewall Jackson

    9
    CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — On December 1, 1859, abolitionist...

    Lore and Legend

    Tales of the Sliding Hill Ghosts are not forgotten by an older generation

    2
    HARTFORD CITY, W.Va. — Old-timers still tell of the...

    Does a monster lurk in the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia?

    0
    CUNARD, W.Va. — Tales of a "monster" said to...

    Three facts about the Mothman legend few monster hunters know

    2
    POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — America's quintessential Atomic Age monster,...

    Tale of Kanawha County monster may have first been documented in 1950s

    3
    PINCH, W.Va. — The legend of a now well-publicized...

    State Parks

    Tu-Endie-Wei in W.Va. added to Underground Railroad network

    0
    POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Tu-Endie-Wei State Park has been...

    New trail connects off-road trail system with Chief Logan park lodge

    0
    LOGAN, W.Va. — A new 4.6-mile trail connecting Chief...

    Lost River, Cass Scenic Railroad state parks to see major expansions

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Lost River State Park and Cass...

    Extraordinary Beartown State Park a classroom for West Virginia geology

    0
    DROOP, W.Va. — Among the smallest state parks in...

    Hunting

    W.Va. officials urge participation in early antlerless deer season

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia officials are urging hunters...

    December deer, bear hunting seasons underway in West Virginia

    0
    SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — December hunting season for deer...

    W.Va. reminds hunters about furbearer seasons, river otter project

    0
    SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the raccoon hunting season...

    W.Va. sets important 2023-'24 migratory game bird season dates

    0
    FARMINGTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural...

    Fishing

    Record West Virginia blue catfish broken fourth year in a row

    0
    GALLIPOLIS FERRY, W.Va. — For the fourth year in...

    West Virginia to stock upper Elk River in pilot winter trout program

    0
    WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural...

    West Virginia stocks 43 waters during first week of fall trout stocking

    0
    SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural...

    West Virginia angler catches state record longnose gar

    0
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — According to state officials, an 11-year...

    Hiking

    Five reasons West Virginia is an ultimate winter hiking destination

    0
    FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — While West Virginia has gained worldwide...

    Endless Wall Trail named Best Hike in West Virginia by magazine

    0
    LANSING, W.Va. — The Endless Wall Trail has again...

    Six tips for hiking through the West Virginia forest in winter weather

    0
    FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Hiking in West Virginia in winter...

    W.Va. records largest spring turkey harvest in five years

    0
    FARMINGTON, W.VA. — According to preliminary data released by...

    Skiing

    Snowshoe Mountain in W.Va. ranks among most affordable ski resorts

    0
    SLATYFORK, W.Va. — Snowshoe Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains...

    Snowshoe Mountain to open skiing, snowboarding by Thanksgiving

    0
    SNOWSHOE, W.Va. — In advance of a strong El...

    Canaan Valley rated one of top U.S. ski, winter destinations

    0
    DAVIS, W.Va. — More than a few magazines in...

    Record conditions: Canaan to open slopes Dec. 13

    0
    Officials at Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia will...

    National Parks

    Grandview panoramas showcase New River Gorge at its widest, deepest

    0
    SHADY SPRING, W.Va. — Perched more than 1,400 feet...

    Park ranger lists the four must-see attractions in the New River Gorge

    0
    THURMOND, W.Va.—Visiting America's newest national park? There are countless...

    Economic impacts nearly double at Harpers Ferry park over a decade

    0
    HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Economic impacts have nearly doubled...

    Spending near national parks in southern W.Va. jumps by 9 percent

    0
    GLEN JEAN, W.Va. – The National Park Service reports...

    Kayaking

    W.Va. flatwater trail commission set to build connections

    0
    Established a year ago, West Virginia’s flatwater trail commission...

    Flatwater paddling expanding quickly across West Virginia

    0
    West Virginia is growing rapidly as a destination for...

    Kayaks opening Guyandotte valley to new exploration

    0
    The valley of the Guyandotte might be counted among...

    June 1 float supports West Fork, now prime kayak-fishing destination

    0
    The West Fork River is fast becoming one of...

    Whitewater Rafting

    Cool autumn weather could super-charge Gauley River rafting

    0
    The return of autumn could result in an end-of-season...

    Gauley River whitewater rafting season begins Sept. 6

    0
    One of the most scenic rivers in the U.S....

    Help build guide to booming West Virginia paddling events

    0
    Paddling sports such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are...

    Eventful and colorful, October ideal for rafting in West Virginia

    0
    October may be the biggest month yet when it...

    Biking

    New Parkersburg-area trail designed for intermediate level bikers

    0
    Already among the most popular destinations for mountain biking...

    Piney Creek trails attracting dozens daily; trail map unveiled

    0
    Hikers, bikers, and runners in growing numbers are venturing...

    Gorge resort introduces electric-assist mountain bike adventures

    0
    Imagine peddling less and riding faster. The new electric-assist...

    New trail to historic mill ruin to open Saturday in Beckley

    0
    Officials in Beckley, West Virginia, on Saturday will open...

    Recent Posts

    West Virginia unveils 2025 fall foliage map, peak dates, live leaf tracker

    Travel / Transportation Bianca Bosworth -
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Autumn 2025 will soon be here, and West Virginia officials say the Mountain State is gearing...

    The story behind Bernard Coffindaffer’s crosses that dot America’s highways

    Travel / Transportation David Sibray -
    SUTTON, W.Va. — One night in 1984, the Reverend Bernard Coffindaffer experienced an epiphany. God called him, he said,...

    McKinley Rock: The eerie stone face watching over Thurmond, West Virginia

    Lore and Legend David Sibray -
    THURMOND, W.Va. — High above the abandoned rail town of Thurmond, West Virginia, a weathered stone face gazes silently...

    The Bustle Flag: How Martinsburg’s Unionist women defied the Confederacy

    History / Prehistory William Kerrigan -
    MARTINSBURG, W.Va — The prosperous manufacturing town of Martinsburg in Berkeley County, West Virginia, was thrust into turmoil at...

    National Hunting and Fishing Day returns to Stonewall resort Sept. 6

    Festivals / Events Will Reedy -
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — National Hunting and Fishing Day 2025, the state’s largest annual celebration of hunting, fishing, and outdoor...

    Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

    History / Prehistory Cody Straley -
    QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia is a treasure trove of...

    Embracing the rich bounty of the West Virginia fall harvest

    Agriculture Bianca Bosworth -
    CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia fall harvest is particularly meaningful for state natives. As the crisp air...

    The captivating West Virginia legend of Kanawha Falls and her daughters

    Lore and Legend David Sibray -
    GAULEY BRIDGE, W.Va. — Though beautiful, the following tale of Kanawha Falls in West Virginia may not have originated...

    Forgotten Drawdy Falls in West Virginia inspiring new generation to care

    Natural Wonders David Sibray -
    PEYTONA, W.Va. — Drawdy Falls, one of the most scenic and accessible waterfalls in West Virginia, is attracting a...

    The Pickens Leper: a tragic journey into isolation in the W.Va. mountains

    Lore and Legend David Sibray -
    PICKENS, W.Va. — In the remote Allegheny Mountains of northern West Virginia lies a solitary grave, marked only by...

    West Virginia Waterfall Trail surpasses an unexpected 125,000 check-ins

    Travel / Transportation David Sibray -
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Waterfall Trail has surpassed 125,000 check-ins since its launch in 2022, according to...

    At tip of W.Va.'s northern panhandle, "Point of Beginning" marks start of the West

    Landmarks / Museums David Sibray -
    EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Some say that the American West begins at West Virginia— specifically at the tip of...
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    West Virginia Explorer Webzine is an online publication that celebrates the Mountain State's rich culture and natural beauty. Readers enjoy travel tips, hidden gems, outdoor adventures, local lore, and community news. For more than a quarter century, we've been the No. 1 trusted guide for exploring West Virginia.

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    Headlines

    LOVE-HATE tattoos have terrifying origin in West Virginia nightmare

    0
    MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — The iconic LOVE-HATE tattoos that adorn...

    Peters Mountain Roar continues to mystify West Virginia residents

    4
    ZENITH, W.Va. — Those who have heard the haunting...

    Remote monument recalls origins of Farley family in New River valley

    6
    PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Many of the thousands of people...

    Tale of historic tragedy haunts the hills of northern Putnam County

    0
    LIBERTY, W.Va. — Eighteenmile Creek wanders quietly through the...

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