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.

Efforts to open water trails across West Virginia are also helping build its communities economically.
Recreation

Flatwater paddling expanding quickly across West Virginia

by David Sibray

West Virginia is growing rapidly as a destination for flatwater paddling, welcoming a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts who are discovering the magic of its clear-running streams. Proponents say the growth is having a symbiotic effect, energizing the broadly realized sport as well as the communities into which it’s been introduced. Bill Currey, executive director … Read more

Anglers watch the sun set on a West Virginia lake.
Recreation

DNR holds meetings to discuss hunting, fishing, trapping

by Will Reedy

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will present proposed hunting, trapping and fishing regulations to the public at locations around the state on March 16-17. Scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., the meetings will be hosted at schools and community centers and in other public spaces in each district. During the meetings, hunters, trappers, … Read more

A family bikes a park trail in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Recreation

National healthy-living campaign comes to southern W.Va.

by David Sibray

Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, and Nicholas counties in southern West Virginia have been selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to participate as a pilot program to help residents lead healthier lifestyles. The Move Your Way campaign is designed to help residents understand how much physical activity they need to be healthy and … Read more

Fisheries biologists are using Christmas trees to create fish habitat.
Recreation

DNR using Christmas trees to create, improve fish habitat

by Will Reedy

Fisheries biologists with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are using old Christmas trees to improve habitat at popular fishing locations around the Mountain State. Aaron Yeager, an assistant fisheries biologist, said the program is very beneficial. “Most of our reservoirs are lacking in complex woody cover, so any type of structure we can … Read more

A peregrine falcon surveys Harpers Ferry from a cliff on Maryland Heights.
Recreation

Harpers Ferry closes some climbing areas to protect falcons

by David Sibray

Officials at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park are temporarily closing some climbing areas on Maryland Heights to accommodate a pair of nesting peregrine falcons. A pair of the fastest birds in the world are eyeing the cliffs on Maryland Heights in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park as their nesting site. To provide the peregrine falcons … Read more

A hiker balances on a log along a West Virginia forest trail.
Recreation

Trail group changes name to Mountain State Trail Alliance

by David Sibray

Four years after its founding, the New River Gorge Trail Alliance has decided to change its name to the Mountain State Trail Alliance to reflect the counties involved in the organization, according to organization president Bill Wells. “As the trail alliance expanded over the last few years, we realized that we had outgrown our original … Read more

White-tailed deer in West Virginia.
Recreation

West Virginia deer harvest down nine percent in 2019-20

by Will Reedy

Preliminary counts indicate hunters harvested 99,437 white-tailed deer in West Virginia during the 2019-20 seasons, according to the state Division of Natural Resources. The harvest was nine percent below the 2018 harvest of 108,856 deer and 13 percent below the five-year average of 114,520. A breakdown of the combined 2019-20 deer seasons reveals 36,472 bucks … Read more