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Clyde CraigClyde Craig

Clyde Craig is a staff writer for West Virginia Explorer. Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he traveled with his family across the globe with the U.S. Army before returning to the Mountain State in 2011. He has been a writer with the explorer since 2018. He can be reached at 304-575-7390 or at craig@wvexplorer.com.
Motorboats with engines larger than 10 horsepower are now permitted to operate at no-wake speed on Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien, Stonecoal, and Woodrum lakes.
Kayaking and Canoeing

Horsepower restrictions removed on five small lakes in West Virginia

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Including changes that expand boating access on several small state lakes, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has announced updated boating regulations for 2026. Approved during the 2026 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature and effective immediately, the new regulations remove horsepower restrictions on several lakes while maintaining no-wake requirements. … Read more

Mary Bemis at Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting
Culture

West Virginia bottler wins silver award at international water competition 

by Clyde Craig

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Le Sage Natural Water, of Lesage, has been awarded a silver medal for its purified water at the 36th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition in the eastern panhandle of the Mountain State. The world’s most prestigious and longest-running water competition, more than 100 entries from five continents competed this … Read more

Historic floods in 1985 and 2016 killed dozens of residents and caused billions of dollars in damage statewide.
Communities

Flood risk outpaces warnings, advocates say, as W.Va. considers changes to resiliency fund

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the W.Va. House of Delegates considers changes to Senate Bill 390, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition warns that the state risks narrowing its flood strategy at a time when disasters are becoming more frequent, more costly, and more destructive. The organization points to a growing gap between early-warning technology and long-term … Read more

Outdoor Economy Photo: Jay Young (IronArchMedia.com)
Communities

Inaugural W.Va. Outdoor Economy Summit to unite leaders around $2.1 billion growth

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s outdoors are more than a scenic backdrop. They’re a strategic economic asset. That message will take center stage February 17–18, 2026, when leaders from across the state and region convene for the inaugural West Virginia Outdoor Economy Summit at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Presented by the Charleston Convention … Read more

West Virginia Travel Safety: The Mountain remains a generally safe place to visit, particularly given its low violent crime rate. But safe travel here depends on understanding terrain, distances, and conditions that differ sharply from those in more urban states.
Communities

West Virginia Travel Safety: What it means for residents and visitors in 2026

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Travel safety in West Virginia is shaped less by headline-grabbing crime and more by geography, weather, and the realities of rural travel. For West Virginians and the growing number of tourists drawn by the state’s mountains, rivers, and small towns, that distinction matters. Recent tourism data show steady growth in outdoor recreation, … Read more