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Recreation

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.

Recreation

Bumper nut, acorn crop and disease reduced West Virginia buck harvest in 2025

December 16, 2025 by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bumper crop of nuts and acorns and localized outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease contributed to a significant decline in the West Virginia buck harvest during its firearms deer season in 2025. According to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, hunters harvested 33,775 antlered deer during the state’s two-week buck firearms season, which … Read more

Recreation

Three powerful reasons to hike West Virginia when the temperature drops

December 5, 2025 by Clyde Craig

BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginians know winter differently. When the leaves fall, and the chatter of summer tourism fades, the Mountain State and its Appalachian neighbors enter a season that feels quieter, older, and somehow more honest. For hikers willing to lace up their boots when temperatures dip, winter offers some of the most rewarding … Read more

Resort officials reported four to five inches of overnight snowfall, providing skiers and snowboarders with unusually high-quality conditions for opening day. (Photo courtesy Snowshoe Mountain Resort)

Recreation

Snowshoe Mountain opens 2025–26 ski season with fresh snow, free lift tickets

December 5, 2025 by David Sibray

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. — Snowshoe Mountain, the largest ski resort in the Mid-Atlantic, opened the 2025–26 winter season Friday with a fresh burst of natural snow and strong early turnout. Resort officials reported four to five inches of overnight snowfall, providing skiers and snowboarders with unusually high-quality conditions for opening day, according to Patti Duncan, president … Read more

Recreation

Three of four West Virginia alpine ski areas to open this week

December 2, 2025 by David Sibray

GHENT, W.Va. – West Virginia is officially kicking off ski season as three of the state’s four mountain resorts prepare to welcome visitors this week. Timberline Mountain opens on December 4, Snowshoe Mountain opens on December 5, and Winterplace Ski Resort opens on December 6. Canaan Valley will open on December 24, possibly as early … Read more

Under the renewed agreement, West Virginia residents may use their state-issued fishing licenses to fish from the Kentucky side of the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers

Recreation

West Virginia reinstates fishing agreement on Kentucky border waters

November 6, 2025 by Will Reedy

FORT GAY, W.Va. — West Virginia has reinstated its reciprocal fishing agreement with Kentucky, allowing Mountain State anglers to once again fish shared border waters with a single license. Under the renewed agreement, West Virginia residents may use their state-issued fishing licenses to fish from the Kentucky side of the Big Sandy and Tug Fork … Read more

Recreation

Canaan Valley resort announces $6 million upgrade ahead of winter season

November 5, 2025 by David Sibray

DAVIS, W.Va. — Officials at Canaan Valley Resort State Park in northern West Virginia say they’re gearing up for an exciting ski season with a slate of major upgrades designed to elevate the guest experience at one of West Virginia’s premier cold-weather destinations. Supported by a $6 million investment from the W.Va. Division of Natural … Read more

Biologists have released trout marked with unique numbered blue tags into waters during fall stockings.

Recreation

Fall study to provide insight into trout harvest rates, movement in West Virginia

November 5, 2025 by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Biologists in West Virginia will be studying trout harvest rates during the state’s fall trout-stocking season to better understand how long trout stay in stocked streams, how they move over time, and whether they survive through the summer. As part of the effort, the state recently released rainbow and golden rainbow trout … Read more

Hunters Helping the Hungry in West Virginia

Recreation

West Virginia governor declares November wild game meat donation month

November 3, 2025 by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrissey has declared November “Wild Game Meat Donation Month” in the Mountain State. The proclamation recognizes hunting as a tradition in West Virginia and highlights its role in increasing food security through the “Hunters Helping the Hungry” program. “Hunting in West Virginia is an important part of who … Read more

Junction of Hatfield-McCoy trails and Spearhead trails

Recreation

Hatfield–McCoy trails system now connected to Virginia’s Spearhead trails

October 29, 2025 by David Sibray

BRAMWELL, W.Va. — Off-road enthusiasts have even more ground to cover in central Appalachia. The Hatfield–McCoy Trail System announced this week that its Pocahontas Trail is now officially connected to Virginia’s Spearhead Trails, creating a seamless dual-state network for riders across the Appalachian Mountains. The new link between the two systems means riders can now … Read more

The annual Monster Trout Contest gives anglers and their families a chance to reel in trophy-sized fish while enjoying peak fall foliage.

Recreation

Monster trout contest returns to West Virginia as fall fishing season heats up

October 24, 2025 by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia officials have announced the return of the state’s fourth annual Monster Trout Contest, giving anglers and their families a chance to reel in trophy-sized fish while enjoying peak fall foliage. During the weeks of Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, the state will stock 40,000 pounds of trout weighing between one … Read more

Road closures to affect access to Cranberry and Williams River recreation areas

Ancient river once flowed across West Virginia before vanishing during the Ice Age

Tomlinson Run preserves unusual Appalachian forest rarely found in Northern Panhandle

The West Virginia waterfall that stops travelers in their tracks

Charleston’s drinking water depends on thousands of small mountain streams

WVU researchers developing plasma tech that could improve computer chips, spacecraft and fusion energy

New outdoor expo to highlight West Virginia’s growing adventure tourism industry

Most visitors to the New River Gorge see only a small part of the river that carved it

The story behind Wheeling’s Mingo statue is more complicated than most people realize

Who was Anne Bailey? The frontier heroine of early West Virginia

Horses return to historic Pence Springs Resort before Alderson Fourth Of July celebration

Why the West Virginia hot dog is unlike any other in America

More New River Gorge hikers are leaving Endless Wall for the Grandview Rim Trail

New Peters Mountain Trail System takes shape in Monongahela National Forest near Franklin

Interior Department opens review of rock climbing policies affecting New River Gorge

Bowden Fish Hatchery to host free Youth Fishing Derby during W.Va. Free Fishing Days

Recreation

Bumper nut, acorn crop and disease reduced West Virginia buck harvest in 2025

Three powerful reasons to hike West Virginia when the temperature drops

Snowshoe Mountain opens 2025–26 ski season with fresh snow, free lift tickets

Three of four West Virginia alpine ski areas to open this week

West Virginia reinstates fishing agreement on Kentucky border waters

Canaan Valley resort announces $6 million upgrade ahead of winter season

Fall study to provide insight into trout harvest rates, movement in West Virginia

West Virginia governor declares November wild game meat donation month

Hatfield–McCoy trails system now connected to Virginia’s Spearhead trails

Monster trout contest returns to West Virginia as fall fishing season heats up