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.
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
West Virginia’s fall wild-turkey season opens Oct.13 — the third year that all 55 counties will have at least a one-week fall season and the first fall turkey season during which Sunday hunting is permitted on both private and public lands. “Fall seasons are based on county-specific spring gobbler season harvest, excluding the 14 traditional … Read more
October may be the biggest month yet when it comes to whitewater rafting in West Virginia. Autumn color, Halloween fun, and the epic Bridge Day weekend add up to unparalleled excitement in whitewater country. If you’ve never been rafting before, October may be a great time to introduce yourself to West Virginia’s whitewater rivers, and … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will stock 26 streams and 11 lakes in the Mountain State with trout during the weeks of Oct. 15 and 22. Autumn trout stocking traditionally occurs during the week of Columbus Day and the following week, but this year’s stocking will begin a week later to help ensure … Read more
I had the opportunity to walk the one-mile loop trail at Walter Nature Park near Winfield, West Virginia, in Putnam County, a delightful path and wanders through forest and young woodlands in the hills above the Kanawha River. If you’re looking for a good family trail in western West Virginia, this gets my vote. The … Read more
Is it too soon to talk about skiing? — not in the highest peaks in the Appalachian Mountains, in which snow is expected in less than a month. Flakes will fall west of Washington, D.C., by the end of October; and Canaan Valley Resort will be waiting. One of three ski areas in what’s been … Read more
The West Virginia Gold Rush—special stocking of golden rainbow trout—will return in 2019 with more fish and new locations, according to Stephen McDaniel, director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. “Gold Rush” will return the week of April 1-6, 2019, and include stockings and events at more than 55 lakes and streams across the … Read more
Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to Stonewall Resort State Park in Lewis County for West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day Sept. 22-23, 2018, according to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. The event is the largest outdoor hunting-and-fishing show in the Mountain State, with approximately 100 vendors exhibiting hunting, fishing and conservation-related merchandise … Read more
Archery and crossbow seasons for white-tailed deer, black bear, and wild boar will open Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in West Virginia, and its archery and crossbow deer and bear seasons will run through Dec. 31. The wild boar archery and crossbow season is a split season, with the first segment also from Sept. 29 to … Read more
I could hardly have chosen a more sweltering afternoon on which to hike the Alice Knight Memorial Trail — a 1.1-mile loop that follows the upper course of Coonskin Fork, a tributary of the Elk River for which Coonskin Park is named. Temperatures were hovering in the mid-90s, remarkable in September even in the lush, … Read more
