West Virginia Explorer - Travel, News & History

Trending Now

New West Virginia hunting rules could affect thousands of hunters this fall

Fayetteville businessman Sean Clarke works remotely above the New River Gorge, a region whose appeal is growing appeal not only as a recreation destination but also as a place to live, work, and build new businesses.

Economic Development

How the New River Gorge region is building a new economy beyond the national park

David Sibray July 2, 2026

Alone in the vast Appalachian wilderness, Jenny Wiley follows a rocky mountain stream toward freedom in this imagined late nineteenth-century-style wood engraving inspired by her legendary escape.

History / Prehistory

Before West Virginia, there was wilderness: Why Appalachia still remembers Jenny Wiley

The Charleston Light Opera Guild presents 1776 at the West Virginia Culture Center during West Virginia's America250 celebration. The Tony Award-winning musical concludes its Independence Day weekend run with performances July 3–5.

Arts

See 1776 during West Virginia’s America250 Celebration this Fourth of July weekend

The 230-foot America250 Wheel, billed as the world's tallest portable Ferris wheel, towers above the West Virginia State Capitol during preparations for the state's America250 Capital City Celebration in Charleston. (Photo: W.Va. Tourism)

Festivals / Events

The biggest ride ever to visit West Virginia towers above the capitol

Communities

West Virginia affordable housing group expands team as demand for rural development grows

Bianca Bosworth June 29, 2026

ELKINS, W.Va. — As communities across north-central West Virginia continue working to address housing shortages, strengthen downtowns, and support locally owned businesses, Woodlands Development and Lending has expanded its leadership team to meet the growing demand for affordable

A traveler checks into a hotel using a smartphone while a front desk employee welcomes arriving guests. Researchers at West Virginia University say artificial intelligence is changing hotel operations, but memorable guest experiences still depend on personal service. (Getty image)

More hotels are using AI this summer. Here’s what travelers should expect

Clyde Craig June 29, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As millions of Americans head out on summer vacations, many will discover that the first “person” they interact with at their hotel isn’t a person at all. Instead of waiting at the front desk, travelers

West Virginia remains one of the strongest refuges for the insects in the eastern United States.

Fireflies are peaking across West Virginia this week. Here’s where to see them

June 28, 2026

A young couple hikes to an overlook in the Dolly Sods Wilderness, where elevations above 4,000 feet and expansive mountain vistas make the high country a refreshing escape during the Fourth of July holiday. (Photo: WV Tourism)

Why West Virginia may be the East’s best escape from the Fourth Of July heat

June 27, 2026

A judge's bench stands ready for the next case. New research from West Virginia University found that while judges are increasingly using artificial intelligence to help organize information and improve efficiency, they remain committed to keeping judicial decisions in human hands. (Photo: Saúl Bucio)

West Virginia University study finds judges welcome AI, but say justice must stay human

June 25, 2026

Streams like this one may appear insignificant, but researchers say small mountain headwaters collectively play a major role in supplying and protecting Charleston's drinking water. (WVExplorer Photo)

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

June 24, 2026

Attractions

Sandstone Falls, near the southern end of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, spans nearly the entire width of the New River and offers one of the park's most impressive landscapes. (Photo: Rick Burgess)

Most visitors never see this side of the New River Gorge National Park

David Sibray June 29, 2026

HINTON, W.Va. — Millions of visitors have now discovered New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, but many leave having experienced only a small portion of one of America’s newest national parks. For countless first-time visitors, the trip

The Madonna of the Trail stands beside the historic National Road in Wheeling, honoring the pioneer women whose strength and sacrifice helped open the American frontier. The 1928 monument is one of only 12 identical statues erected across the United States. (Photo: David Sibray / WVExplorer)

The forgotten story behind Wheeling’s historic Madonna of the Trail monument

David Sibray June 26, 2026

WHEELING, W.Va. — Thousands of motorists pass it every day along the historic National Road. Many may glance up, see a stone woman carrying a child, and keep driving without realizing they’re looking at one of the nation’s

The Williams River flows through the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas and Webster counties. Road repairs planned for nearby Forest Road 86 could affect access to campgrounds, trailheads, and recreation areas in the Williams River and Cranberry regions this summer.

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

June 21, 2026

The ancient Teays River flowed across present-day West Virginia millions of years before glaciers reshaped eastern North America and created the modern Ohio River system.

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

June 18, 2026

West Virginia Explorer publisher David Sibray explores a remote section of Tomlinson Run within Tomlinson Run State Park. The park protects one of the largest remaining forested watersheds in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and supports plant communities uncommon elsewhere in the region.

Tomlinson Run preserves unusual Appalachian forest rarely found in Northern Panhandle

June 18, 2026

Cathedral Falls near Gauley Bridge, WV, Fayette County, New River Gorge Region

The West Virginia waterfall that stops travelers in their tracks

June 16, 2026

Recreation

A hunter walks through a forest during West Virginia's fall hunting season. The state has released updated hunting and trapping regulations for the 2026-27 seasons, including changes affecting deer, bear and turkey hunters. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

New West Virginia hunting rules could affect thousands of hunters this fall

Will Reedy June 29, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters planning to head into West Virginia’s woods this fall should review the state’s newly released hunting regulations, as several changes could affect where, when, and how they hunt during the 2026-27 seasons. The W.Va.

Illustration of a commercial rafting trip running whitewater beneath the New River Gorge Bridge in southern West Virginia. The state's combination of nationally recognized rivers, dramatic mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure has made it one of the East's premier rafting destinations.

Here’s why West Virginia is the East’s premier whitewater rafting capital

David Sibray June 26, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Travelers planning a whitewater rafting vacation in the East have no shortage of options. Pennsylvania is known for the Youghiogheny. Tennessee has the Olympic-tested Ocoee. North Carolina offers the Nantahala and French Broad. So why

A mature wild turkey gobbler displays during the spring breeding season in West Virginia. Once scarce across much of the state, wild turkeys have made one of North America's greatest wildlife recoveries and are now found in every West Virginia county. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Division of Natural Resources)

West Virginia’s wild turkeys have made one of America’s greatest wildlife comebacks

Will Reedy June 25, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It wasn’t long ago that hearing the gobble of wild turkeys at daybreak was a rare experience across much of West Virginia. By the early 1900s, unregulated hunting and widespread logging had pushed the state’s

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

June 15, 2026

Volunteers gather on Peters Mountain near Franklin to help build a new trail system in the Monongahela National Forest during a hands-on trail-building workshop.

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

June 12, 2026

Rock climbing in the New River Gorge near the New River Gorge Bridge

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

June 11, 2026

Youth gather for a fishing tournament at the Bowden Fish Hatchery near Elkins, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

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

June 9, 2026

Fisheries experts say the upward trend in fishing records is the result of several factors, including better stocking and water quality improvement.

Here’s why fishing records are being broken more often now in West Virginia

May 25, 2026

The Mourning Dove is one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird.

South Branch ends mourning dove permits; controlled hunt begin at Stonewall Jackson

May 11, 2026

John Terry, of Gallagher, in Kanawha County, set a new state record for tiger trout on March 19 by catching a 29.13-inch, 11.04-pound tiger trout from Seneca Lake in Pocahontas County.

John Terry catches record-breaking tiger trout in lake at Seneca State Forest

May 10, 2026

One of the largest networks on the East Coast, the routes activate thousands of miles of gravel roads across the Mon Forest for visitors and communities. (Photo: Getty Images)

Gravel, bikepacking network connects towns across Monongahela National Forest region

May 7, 2026

Motorboats with engines larger than 10 horsepower are now permitted to operate at no-wake speed on Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien, Stonecoal, and Woodrum lakes.

Horsepower restrictions removed on five small lakes in West Virginia

May 6, 2026

Culture

The 230-foot America250 Wheel rises above the West Virginia State Capitol Complex in Charleston during the state's official America250 Capital City Celebration. The observation wheel offers panoramic views of the capital city and is among the event's signature attractions. (Courtesy W.Va. Tourism)

Heading to Charleston for the Fourth? Here’s your guide to West Virginia’s America250 celebration

Clyde Craig June 29, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One of West Virginia’s largest Independence Day weekends in years is set to unfold in Charleston, where the state’s official America250 Capital City Celebration will coincide with the annual Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, creating four days

Before air conditioning became widespread, families across West Virginia escaped oppressive summer heat by gathering at cool mountain streams, a tradition that reached its peak during the record-breaking heat waves of the early 1900s and Dust Bowl era.

How hot can West Virginia get? A look at the Mountain State’s worst heat waves

Bianca Bosworth June 29, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As another round of dangerous summer heat settles across much of the eastern United States, many West Virginians will find relief in the Mountain State’s mountains, forests, and cool streams. Yet history shows that the

Champe Rocks rise above the South Branch Valley in Pendleton County, West Virginia. The towering sandstone formation is named for Revolutionary War Sgt. Maj. John Champe, whom George Washington selected for a daring mission to capture Benedict Arnold. (Photo Rick Burgess)

George Washington’s secret agent is remembered at West Virginia’s Champe Rocks

David Sibray June 28, 2026

HOPEVILLE, W.Va. — Towering above the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac, Champe Rocks has drawn onlookers for generations. Along with nearby Seneca Rocks, five miles to the southwest, its sandstone fins are among the

Visitors gather around the historic bandstand in Berkeley Springs State Park, where many first-time travelers discover that the town's official name is actually Bath, a distinction that has endured since 1776. (WVExplorer photo)

Lore and Legend

Effie "Aunt Effie" Wells of Tyler County recalled a family story that linked her household to John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Real Estate

Mineral Rights in West Virginia: A majority of lawnowners in West Virginia are unaffected by the ownership of minerals beneath the surface.

History and Prehistory

West Virginia Gov. William C. Marland addresses a Wyoming County audience during the 1950s. Historians remember Marland for championing school integration, economic modernization, and an early coal severance tax proposal.

State Parks

An elaborate system of boardwalks weaves throught the boulders at Beartown State Park.

Hunting

Black bears: The 2025 black bear harvest fell just ten bears short of the 2024 total of 2,479.

Fishing

Hunter Rohr, 15, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, has caught a golden rainbow trout that set state records for length and weight.

Hiking

Held at 21 state parks and forests across West Virginia, the First Day hikes are part of a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition designed to promote outdoor recreation.

Skiing

White Grass has long been a magnet for visitors from Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mountain River Media)

National Parks

Kayaking

Kayakers On The Ohio River in West Virginia

Whitewater Rafting

Biking

Latest News

Economic Development