Attractions in West Virginia offer something for every traveler, from stunning natural landscapes and historic landmarks to family-friendly adventures and vibrant cultural sites.
Visitors can marvel at iconic destinations such as the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, explore Harpers Ferry’s rich history, or enjoy the scenic beauty of Blackwater Falls and Seneca Rocks. Charming mountain towns, local museums, unique shops, and lively festivals add to the state’s welcoming atmosphere. Outdoor enthusiasts will find endless opportunities for hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and wildlife watching. With its blend of outdoor fun, heritage, and small-town charm, West Virginia’s attractions make every trip unforgettable, showcasing the best of Appalachian adventure and hospitality. Be sure to visit our Attractions Travel Guide for more information about attractions in West Virginia.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia’s New River Gorge has joined some of the continent’s best-known landscapes among the 20 most-visited national parks in North America. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve ranked No. 17 in a new Visual Capitalist comparison of U.S. and Canadian national parks, based on 2025 visitation. The West Virginia park … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — Autumn is just beginning across much of West Virginia, but preparations for winter are already underway in the state’s highest mountains, where recreation facilities in the Monongahela National Forest have begun closing for the season. The closures reflect a defining characteristic of the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia: elevation can produce … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Thousands of visitors pass through this New River Gorge town every year, but most don’t notice one of its most unusual features—a stone well dating to the Civil War. Known as the Janutolo Well, it stands in a small park along North Court Street in Fayetteville, only minutes from New River Gorge … Read more
CASS, W.Va. — A new 100-site campground has opened at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, adding a major new place to stay near the Greenbrier River and one of West Virginia’s best-known recreational trails. Slabtown Campground offers tent and RV sites, heated bathhouses, laundry facilities, and a camp store. Six campsites have electric, water, and sewer … Read more
AUDRA, W.Va. — A West Virginia family with roots in the mountains surrounding Audra State Park stretching back 175 years has donated 47 acres to the park, a substantial addition that officials say will provide space for future trail development. The family of Victor and Mary Thacker formally donated the property during a ceremonial deed … Read more
THURMOND, W.Va. — A nearly abandoned railroad town preserved within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is preparing for a legal fight with the federal agency that owns much of it as the National Park Service moves toward demolishing historic buildings there. Bailey & Glasser LLP has agreed to represent the Thurmond town council … Read more
ALMA, W.Va. — When lightning struck one of the world’s most powerful gas wells in 1895, flames reportedly leaped 200 feet into the air, illuminating the rural countryside as crowds traveled to see what a Parkersburg newspaper described as a scene both “grand and awful.” The spectacle lasted only about two hours. Gas escaped from … Read more
CAIRO, W.Va. — For nearly six decades, people have gathered in the woods of a West Virginia state park to find, prepare, and eat foods most visitors might simply walk past. The tradition will continue Sept. 11–13, when Nature Wonder Weekend, commonly known as Wild Foods Weekend, returns to North Bend State Park in Ritchie County … Read more
FORT GAY, W.Va. — A West Virginia high school that closed 13 years ago is being converted into apartments, offices and community space, giving a new purpose to a landmark that has stood in this small Wayne County town since 1931. Eight affordable apartments on the second floor of the former Fort Gay High School … Read more
HILLSBORO, W.Va. — A star-filled sky above a Civil War battlefield, a magnolia warbler among the leaves, and a dog cooling off in a mountain stream are among five photographs selected this year to capture summer in West Virginia’s state parks and forests. The winning images were taken at five destinations across the state and came … Read more
