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.
Big-game hunters in West Virginia will have the opportunity to take part in West Virginia’s first “Mountaineer Heritage Season” this week. Running Thursday-through-Sunday, Jan. 10-13, hunters during the four-day season may take a deer or a bear using only primitive weapons. “This new season is a great opportunity to hunt in January and test your … Read more
West Virginia’s 2019 trout-stocking season is underway. Through May 31, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will stock lakes and streams around the state each week. Beginning in March, the stocking schedule will shift to Tuesday-through-Saturday, according to division fisheries supervisor Jim Hedrick. Currently, the stocking schedule is Monday-through-Friday, Hedrick said. “The Saturday stockings … Read more
Thanks to an early cold spell, Canaan Valley Resort’s ski area is operating 19 downhill runs and trails despite milder-than-normal temperatures, according to Steve Drumheller, general manager for the highland resort. “We expect to have mild days between our cold spells, so we take every advantage we can to make snow in abundance whenever possible … Read more
First Day hiking has become enormously popular across the U.S., providing would-be enthusiasts the opportunity to jump-start their engines with a group of like-minded companions. However, a January 1 hike planned in the New River Gorge in West Virginia is offering participants something beyond the usual — the opportunity to hike with active-living mentor Levi … Read more
A little-known, practically inaccessible ghost town in the mountains of southern West Virginia may soon be open to those willing to hike there — once the National Park Service opens a new recreational trail. Little remains today of Dun Glen, perched 700 feet above the New River, perhaps the most unapproachable of many former coal-mining … Read more
NOTE: Since this story was made, Timberline resort has rescheduled the opening date of its ski area for December 21, 2018. Fortified by ideal weather, three ski resorts in West Virginia will open for the 2018-2019 season this weekend, according to the state ski areas association. Ski areas at Timberline, Winterplace, and Canaan Valley are set to … Read more
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
