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.
Officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources are reminding trappers of beaver, bobcat, fishers, and otters that they are required to electronically register their catches within 30 days after the close of the respective season. Fur-bearer trapping seasons in the state opened Nov. 3, according to Gary Foster of the division’s Wildlife Resources Section. Foster … Read more
A 35-mile system of world-class mountain bike trails are now open to bikers off-season at the Summit Bechtel Reserve near Beckley, West Virginia, thanks to a partnership between the scouts and the New River Gorge Trail Alliance. The agreement allows bikers to ride the reserve’s cross-country and downhill-oriented mountain bike trails, which have been built … Read more
A large-scale, cooperative wildlife-habitat enhancement project has been initiated in the Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area in southern Wetzel County with a $75,000 donation from Eureka Midstream, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. This project involves the division, Eureka Midstream, and the Mountaineer and Mid-Ohio branches of the Quality Deer Management Association … Read more
Winter has arrived in the Allegheny Mountains in northern West Virginia, and officials at Canaan Valley Resort are looking forward to opening the resort’s ski area in mid-December and its skating rink and snow-tubing park for Thanksgiving. Resort manager Steve Drumheller says the weather has cooperated and the resort is on track for traditionally wintry … Read more
The 2018 West Virginia buck firearms season begins Monday, Nov. 19, and runs through Dec. 1, according to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, which estimates that approximately 250,000 deer hunters will roam the state’s woods through the period. Hunting contributes $500 million to the state’s economy each year, and deer hunters spend an estimated … Read more
In 2014, without much fanfare, the National Park Service opened a new access point for two of the most remote trails within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. So far, only the most die-hard hikers seem to have noticed. The Kates Plateau Trail and Polls Plateau Trail were once practically rumors. They appeared … Read more
Wild game provides a low-fat, high-protein alternative to beef or other commercial meats, says a wildlife biologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Its abundance in West Virginia also provides an opportunity for many families to fill their freezers with highly nutritious wild game. “Many West Virginians incorporate venison, wild turkey and other … Read more
Already among the most popular destinations for mountain biking in West Virginia, Mountwood Park has taken its mission a step further, unveiling a 1.4 mile “flow trail” designed for intermediate-level bikers. Wandering down a hill, rather than mounting and descending hills, the new “Pumphouse Trail” demands less energy from bikers, according to park director Jeremy … Read more
Editor’s Note: Author L.W. Oakley here considers the thoughts of a buck in the wilds of eastern North America as the hunt and winter ensue. Another long winter lay just ahead. Daylight was now longer coming and sooner leaving. The warmth of the sun did not soothe his body or calm his mind, even though … Read more
If you’re a Canadian, chances are that tamaracks are nothing new. But if you’re a West Virginian, you’ve probably never seen one. That’s because the tree’s southern natural extent is in the Mountain State’s most lofty northern reach — in an obscure corner of the state in the Cranesville Swamp. Here in a ‘frost pocket” … Read more
