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.
While West Virginia boasts some of the cleanest mountain streams in the U.S., there’s work to be done on rivers in formerly industrialized areas of the state where conscientious kayakers are working to remove debris. Since its inception in 2016, the Trash-Your-Kayak Cleanup Crew has removed more than 3,000 tires and three-and-a-half tons of trash … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is now accepting applications to hunt in limited permit areas during the 2022 antlerless deer season. According to Chris Ryan, game management supervisor for the division, applications for the lottery are available online at WVHunt.com and will be accepted until midnight on Aug. 12. “These limited permit areas … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers countless opportunities for adventures, and one of the most accessible and highly rewarding is a hike on the Long Point Trail near Fayetteville in southern West Virginia. At three miles out and back, the trail explores a deciduous upland forest and arrives at … Read more
MATEWAN, W.Va.—The mountainous borderland between Kentucky and West Virginia where the Hatfields and McCoys once feuded is now increasingly the domain of adventure travelers. Seeking a retreat in one of the most remote sections of the Appalachian Mountains, here adventurers on all-terrain vehicles climb into the precipitous hills, and historians and history buffs explore ghost … Read more
With its ideal mix of terrain, elevation, and untouched beauty begging to be discovered, West Virginia is an ideal destination for mountain biking, according to one of its chief proponents. Tracy Toler, co-owner of Adventure Trail Systems, says that while there are great mountain biking opportunities out West, it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in … Read more
A 17-year record for the largest channel catfish caught in West Virginia has been broken, according to the state Division of Natural Resources. On June 20, Allen Burkett, of Criders, Va., caught a channel catfish that weighed 36.96 pounds and measured 40.59 inches long. Burkett was fishing with chicken liver from the shore of South … Read more
West Virginia officials have confirmed that on Saturday, March 19, Lucas King, of Burnsville, West Virginia, caught and released a new Mountain State record muskie. King was fishing from the bank of the Little Kanawha River at a public access site in the tailwater section of Burnsville Dam in Braxton County, according to the state … Read more
Gov. Jim Justice announced today that the “West Virginia Gold Rush” will return for its fifth year on March 29 and provide anglers and their families with 12 days to catch golden rainbow trout and win prizes. All anglers who catch any of the 50,000 golden trout being stocked are able to receive a special … Read more
Hunters harvested 105,278 white-tailed deer in 2021 during the recent buck firearms, antlerless, muzzleloader, archery, crossbow, youth/Class Q/Class XS, and Mountaineer Heritage deer seasons. The total harvest was 1.5 percent below the 2020 deer harvest of 106,861 and was less than one percent below the five-year average of 105,718, according to Paul Johansen, chief of … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is conducting a survey of state residents and their hunting participation and success rates for various species to help manage wildlife populations and hunting opportunities in the state. The study will include licensed hunters, license-exempt hunters, and state residents among the general population, according to Paul Johansen, chief of the division’s wildlife … Read more
