West Virginia Explorer West Virginia Explorer News
Browse

Recreation

See our Recreation Travel Guide

West Virginia offers a diverse array of outdoor recreation opportunities that make it a top destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. From world-class whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers to scenic hiking and rock climbing in the iconic New River Gorge National Park, the Mountain State delivers thrilling experiences year-round. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, camping, mountain biking, and winter sports in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. With its lush forests, winding rivers, and rich heritage, West Virginia offers a perfect setting for families, solo travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking to explore breathtaking natural landscapes. Be sure to visit our guide for information about indoor and outdoor recreation in West Virginia.

A hunter and his hound venture out on a misty morning hunt.
Recreation

Meetings to discuss W.Va. hunting, trapping, fishing regulations

by Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will host 12 in-person public meetings in mid-March 2023 to discuss proposed hunting, trapping, and fishing regulations, according to division director Brett McMillion. The meetings are scheduled at various locations around the state on Monday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 14, from 6 to … Read more

A buck peers out from behind a shock of grass in a West Virginia countryside.
Recreation

West Virginia deer seasons harvest increases 12.7 percent

by Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Deer hunters in West Virginia have had a very good year, according to officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. According to preliminary numbers released by the division, hunters harvested 118,606 deer during the 2022–2023 seasons, which is a 12.7 percent increase over the 2021 harvest and 12.2 percent above … Read more

A beaver gnaws at woody debris in a West Virginia stream.
Recreation

W.Va. reminds hunters, trappers about furbearer season end

by Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources are reminding hunters and trappers that West Virginia’s 2023 furbearer trapping and small-game hunting seasons will end in February and March. Hunting and trapping seasons for red and gray foxes, bobcats, and raccoons will close on Feb. 28. Trapping seasons for coyote, otter, … Read more

A black bear ambles through a meadow in West Virginia.
Recreation

Hunters harvest fewer black bears in West Virginia in 2022

by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters harvested 1,727 black bears during the combined archery, crossbow, and firearms seasons in West Virginia in 2022, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The preliminary harvest for the combined 2022 seasons is 37 percent below the 2,756 bears killed in 2021. According to Colin Carpenter, black bear project … Read more

A show sponsor measures a deer rack at the W.Va. Hunting and Fishing Show. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)
Recreation

W.Va. Hunting and Fishing Show returns Jan. 20–22

by Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters and anglers who attend the West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show are sure to notice a change when the three-day event returns to the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center on January 20–22, 2023, for its 35th year. In addition to the famous Whitetail Hall of Fame and free buck trophy … Read more

A white-tail buck peers out from a thicket in a West Virginia woodland.
Recreation

Mountaineer Heritage hunting season in W.Va. returns Jan. 12

by Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s four-day Mountaineer Heritage season for hunting deer, bear, and turkey is set to open on Jan. 12, 2023, according to state wildlife officials. Hunters may only use primitive-style weapons, including longbows and recurve bows, muzzleloading black powder rifles, and pistols with a flint-lock or percussion cap action. The specialized … Read more

An angler casts into a trout stream. Trout fishing is perennially popular across West Virginia.
Recreation

W.Va. announces return of trout stockings, new fishing regulations

by Will Reedy

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va.—West Virginia has announced the publication of updated 2023-2024 fishing regulations and the return of trout stockings to lakes and streams around the state. Brett McMillion, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, emphasized that stocking trout helps support state initiatives to protect and build on outdoor recreation. “Trout stocking in … Read more

Hikers trek into a spruce forest in the West Virginia highlands.
Recreation

Trail development gains traction as economic powerhouse in West Virginia

by David Sibray

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Trail development has emerged as a driving force in economic revitalization across the United States, but few regions are witnessing its transformative potential more clearly than West Virginia. “With the state’s outdoor recreation industry gaining national attention, advocates and developers are turning to trails as a key to unlocking economic, health, and … Read more