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.
Spring turkey hunters harvested 11,539 gobblers in 2017, an increase of more than 11 percent over the 2016 harvest, according to preliminary numbers provided by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The harvest is the largest since 2006 when 11,735 birds were harvested and is more than 18 percent above the 10-year average. “Weather … Read more
River Expeditions is kicking off its summer season with a Memorial Day
Hikers up for a challenge are invited to join in a free 9.5-mile trek at Pipestem Resort State Park on May 27, part of the state park system’s 100-mile hiking challenge. Led by the volunteer team of Mark and Donna Barton of Princeton, West Virginia, the hike will be steady-paced and not an interpretive walk, according … Read more
Rangers with the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will lead a particularly strenuous hike to Split Rock on the Loudoun Heights Trail May 8, 2017, according to archaeologist and interpretive ranger Andrew Lee. The six-mile round-trip hike is approximately five-hours long and very strenuous in its ascent and descent to the summit of the Blue … Read more
Whitewater rafters planning to run the Gauley River in autumn have until the end of April to take advantage of savings of up to 37 percent with Adventures on the Gorge. The adventure resort on the New River Gorge in West Virginia is offering deals on individual trips on the upper and lower Gauley and overnight … Read more
If you love music as much as whitewater rafting, now’s your chance to purchase tickets for the three-day Mountain Music Festival at ACE Adventure Resort that include an exclusive raft trip with the festival’s top bands. Two of 25 bands playing the June 1-3 festival will raft Saturday during an excursion open to festival-goers who purchase … Read more
The commercial whitewater-rafting season in the New River Gorge kicked off with high water and high hopes in March, and though water levels have already dropped, officials say expectations for the season ahead remain high. Despite a sharp decline in water-based tourism following floods in June 2016, tourists are eager to return to the region … Read more
Beginning April 24, a ranger will guide Monday evening hikes to the secluded Long Point overlook at Summersville Lake in south-central West Virginia, offering visitors a chance to encounter a singular clifftop ecosystem with a naturalist in tow. The moderate, two-hour hike to and from cliffs along the largest lake in West Virginia is ideally suited … Read more
Spring gobbler season in West Virginia opens Monday, April 17, and state officials are predicting a good season boosted by the 2016 cicada emergence. Hunters may kill only one bearded turkey per day and two during the season, which runs through Saturday, May 13, according to Gary Foster of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. Youth … Read more
One of West Virginia’s largest adventure resorts is investing again in the burgeoning outdoor-adventure community at Fayetteville on the New River Gorge. ACE Adventure Resort, which hosts more than 50,000 guests annually near Oak Hill, has opened a 5,500-square-foot gear store at the entrance to Fayetteville’s historic downtown — an investment that’s already enjoying returns, … Read more
