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Adventure
Follow West Virginia’s famed country roads through spirited small towns to uncrowded gems and world-class outdoor adventures
FISHING
ROAD TRIPS
Family Friendly
Blackwater Falls is the signature attraction of its namesake park; the 57-foot-tall cascade is easily viewed from the flat, quarter-mile Gentle Trail or the steep, half-mile Blackwater Falls Trail, tracing the river named for the water darkened by tannins from the surrounding dense forest. Add on the nearby Elakala Falls, just a few hundred feet into the half-mile Elakala Trail, where photographers capture a distinct water swirl below the falls.
TIP: Blackwater Falls is located along the Seneca Skyway as well as the West Virginia Waterfall Trail, which highlights 43 of the best cascades in every corner of the Mountain State. (Download the digital passport to check in as you hike, run, or walk to each stop.)
WATERFALL JOURNEYS
MTB FOR ALL Base the family at Arrowhead Bike Farm, adjacent to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and camp, ride the pump track, then start pedaling the nearby beginner and intermediate trails. (Say hi to the resident goats.) Warm up on the easy, half-mile TT Loop. Just across the road is the 3.2-mile out-and-back intermediate trail to Long Point. Rack your bike to walk the last (bike-prohibited) section to Long Point and its postcard-worthy view of the iconic New River Gorge Bridge.
BIKING
BETS
NEXT LEVEL
The 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River—a designated National Scenic River—flows between launch at the Old Mill camping area in Bluestone State Park. Paddle upstream for mellow Class I water along a secluded river stretch or downstream on Bluestone Lake, created by the dam. Plan time to pit-stop at the Pipestem Resort State Park Adventure Lake and Splash Park, which includes a dozen large inflatables that notch up the fun of a lake day.
LAKESIDE VOYAGES
NEXT LEVEL The Upper Gauley River isn’t just the preeminent whitewater in the East; it’s one of the best whitewater runs in the world, featuring numerous high-volume Class IV–V rapids. Every September for six weeks, the U.S. Army Corps releases water from the Summersville Dam, kicking off West Virginia’s “fifth season”—Gauley Season. Kayak or raft a whitewater torrent through chutes, drops, and rapids with names like Collision Creek, Thumper, and Nemesis. Don’t expect solitude; rather, embrace the scene at the three-day Gauley Fest, the world’s largest whitewater festival.
TIP: The Gauley isn’t the only beautiful river on the Cranberry Corridor, which also accesses the Kanawha and Greenbrier rivers, as well as the New, which is highlighted on Bridge Day. During this free festival, held annually on the third Saturday of October, the iconic New River Gorge Bridge opens to both pedestrians and BASE jumpers.
WHITEWATER THRILLS
RIVERSIDE CAMPING The Middle Fork River in Audra State Park is full of cannonball-worthy swimming holes, and half of this park’s campsites are a literal stone’s throw from the waterway. Reserve a riverside campsite to stake your claim, or simply hike the Alum Cave Trail (Lower to Upper) until you find your own personal honey hole. Exercise caution: There are no lifeguards at these swimming holes, and the high water can turn the Middle Fork into a Class IV whitewater run.
PRIME
CAMPING
BEST FLY FISHING Cast the spring-fed limestone upper Elk River for wild rainbow and brook trout, some up to 20 inches. Though technical with the river’s forested shores, the fly-fishing here will leave you satisfied, even if you go home empty-handed (which you will—the upper portion is catch and release only). No matter your success, the neck-craning scenery of this remote, pristine river will make for an unforgettable day. Local outfitters like Elk River Touring Center can point you to a good section based on conditions.
TIP: Pocahontas County is known as West Virginia’s “birthplace of rivers,” as the headwaters of the Elk, Cranberry, Tygart, Greenbrier, and Shavers Fork of the Cheat all originate here. The Seneca Skyway road trip takes you through the heart of Pocahontas County.
FISHING LURES
EASY ACCESS
Valley Falls is the definition of an easy-access waterfall—you can hear the roaring falls before you even get out of the car. Start by checking out the series of four substantial cascades along the wide Tygart Valley River. From there, choose your own adventure: Hike or mountain bike the park’s ten miles of trails, or fish for bass in the river.
TIP: Valley Falls fits well into travel itineraries as it’s located along the Birdeye Bend road trip, and it’s a marquee stop on the West Virginia Waterfall Trail
UNCROWDED OPTION
Whether you visit Camp Creek State Park and Forest for a day trip or an overnighter, start at the tent-only Blue Jay Campground. From here, it’s a short walk to Campbell Falls, where the water in Camp Creek drops over a series of shelves to a natural pool. A great day hike leaves from the campground: Take the Blue Jay Spur to Farley Ridge to Mash Fork Falls Trail for a four-mile out-and-back with a turnaround at equally beautiful Mash Fork Falls.
TIP: Campbell Falls is located along two iconic West Virginia routes: the West Virginia Waterfall Trail and the Heritage Highway road trip.
Roads to
LOCAL GEM
Cheat Lake is the mecca for watersports in Mountaineer Country; everyone from swimmers to jet-skiers share this 14-mile section of the dammed Cheat River. On a kayak or SUP, launch at Edgewater Marina and paddle a mile upstream to Quarry Run, where you’ll find a waterfall near the confluence. Or sign up for a stand-up paddleboard yoga class on Cheat Lake, complete with a private put-in.
TIP: Morgantown, along with Cheat Lake, is the perfect start and end point to the Birdeye Bend road trip, with plenty of outdoor adventure options and just as many restaurants.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Summersville Lake may share a shore with West Virginia’s newest state park but paddlers have long flocked here to cruise clear waters and 60-plus miles of shoreline. From Salmon Run boat launch, kayak or stand-up paddle a mile to Pirate’s Cove for its signature waterfall. Or, make a three-mile trip from Salmon Run to Long Point. The stunning, 60-foot sandstone cliffline might tempt you to jump or try some deep-water solo climbs, though regulations prohibit cliff-jumping from higher than six feet.
UNCROWDED OPTION Although it was made famous by the John Denver song, the rocky-bottomed Shenandoah River is surprisingly under the radar compared to West Virginia’s more famous whitewater. The Shenandoah flows into the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, and both rivers provide Class I–III whitewater paddling. DIYers can launch at Millville Trace River Access below Millville Dam on the Shenandoah and paddle through the Class III Bull Falls, then take out at Sandy Hook on the Potomac for a six-mile run. Local outfitters offer options on both rivers.
FAMILY FRIENDLY Rafting or kayaking the Lower New River Gorge should top any family’s West Virginia whitewater list. Through an outfitter or on your own, launch at Cunard and navigate a series of Class III–IV rapids for seven river miles before taking out at Fayette Station under the iconic New River Gorge Bridge. Take in the 1,000-foot gorge at river level through one of America’s newest national parks, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Fun fact: The New is one of the oldest rivers on earth.
TIP: U.S. Route 60 between West Virginia’s capital city of Charleston and the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is along the Capitol Circle road trip. It features several waterfalls from the West Virginia Waterfall Trail, including Kanawha Falls and Cathedral Falls.
DARK SKIES Add a night in the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower to your bucket list. Sleep above the canopy of Seneca State Forest (one of the state’s International Dark Sky Parks designated International Dark Sky Parks) with a 360-degree view of the night sky in this restored 1930s lookout. Available May through October, any evening is spectacular, but scheduling your stay during a meteor shower or bird migration will amplify the awe. The catch? The secret is out, and you must jump on reservations that open one year in advance on the first day of the month. Set your alarm to 12:01 a.m. and book online.
FAMILY FRIENDLY The primitive Rhododendron Campground is an easy walk from all the major highlights of this popular state forest, including Coopers Rock, with expansive views of the Cheat Canyon—a must-see fall foliage stop—and practically limitless bouldering opportunities on gritstone boulders framed with thickets of rhododendron. McCollum Campground is the comfort option here, with electric sites, Wi-Fi, and a bathhouse. Both campgrounds are closed in winter.
TIP: Make Coopers Rock the overnight stay to highlight your autumn leaf-peeping tour on the Birdeye Bend road trip. Climbing aside, this adventure portal, just 13 miles east of Morgantown, boasts nearly 30 miles of multiuse trails.
NEXT LEVEL Snowshoe Mountain Resort transforms from a winter ski area into a chairlift-served bike park with 1,500 feet of vertical during the warmer months. Buy your lift ticket and brake through the downhill runs (mostly advanced technical trails). For a cross-country romp, take the Cheat Mountain Ridge Trail past the backcountry hut and climb to the fire tower, which pays off with 360-degree views. Out and back, it totals 7.6 miles. Want to add a white-knuckle challenge? Return along the 6,000 Steps Trail.
Uncrowded Option Reaching the remote 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail iis well worth the effort. The flat, unpaved trail traces the riffling waters of the (undammed) Greenbrier River, crossing 35 bridges and ducking through two tunnels. Day-trippers and bikepackers alike can camp all along the route, from primitive trailside sites and shelters to developed campgrounds in adjacent state forests. Start from the north terminus at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, or bite off the 10-mile section from Marlinton north to Sharp’s Tunnel.
FAMILY FRIENDLY Known as one of the best bass-fishing lakes in the state, the 2,600-acre Stonewall Jackson Lake, which anchors Stonewall Resort State Park, is also home to muskie, a.k.a. the fish of 10,000 casts, which hide in the lake’s shallow coves with standing snags. Amenities here engage all ages, from a local fishing outfitter to short hikes, plus a communal fire pit ready for toasting marshmallows and the full lodge and lakeside chalets.
NIGHT FISHING Reserve a site at Cokely Campground and enjoy fishing after dark at North Bend Lake. By day, cast a line for crappie from your kayak, or head downstream of the dam for stocked trout on the North Fork of the Hughes River (January through April). Continue the dark and spooky with a hike to the notoriously haunted Silver Run tunnel at North Bend State Park.
MORE STATE PARKS & FORESTS CAMPING
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TIP: The Greenbrier River Trail, which largely parallels the Seneca Skyway road trip, has a significant portion located within the National Radio Quiet Zone, so your cellphone might not work. Plan accordingly.
MORE BIKING OPTIONS
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The Purple Fiddle, known for its 300-plus days of live music per year, boasts an extensive beer and wine list, plus sandwiches stacked with homemade spreads. Check it out along the Seneca Skyway road trip. While the pepperoni roll may be West Virginia’s unofficial state food, skip the gas station carryout and head to Muriale’s Kitchen in Fairmont. Founded by the children of Italian immigrants, Muriale’s is as authentic as it gets. Stop by along the Birdeye Bend road trip.
MORE WATERFALL OPTIONS
After your float on Summersville Lake, have an ice cream float at Fat Eddie’s. Claim a free pup cup if you’ve brought your dog on the adventure. July sees perfect lake temperatures and Fat Eddie’s hot dog–eating contest. Near Cheat Lake is the popular downtown Morgantown restaurant Von Blaze. Enjoy a comfort-food sandwich and a craft West Virginia beer on the patio. Check the calendar regularly—events like the monthly Wakaba Ramen “takeover” sell out in minutes.
While you’re waiting for the fog to lift, head to Cathedral Café in Fayetteville. This longtime church turned café, a favorite for locals and visitors alike, features high ceilings and stained glass, as well as breakfast and Equal Exchange coffee served all day. Battle Grounds Bakery and Coffee in historic Harpers Ferry also offers great breakfast sandwiches, espresso drinks, and ample dog-friendly outdoor seating. (When timing activities, keep in mind that both restaurants close before dinner hours.)
Black Bear Burritos is a Morgantown staple for its wide variety of burritos and equally wide variety of regional craft brews. Fish Hawk Acres in Buckhannon offers farm-to-table food. Be sure to ask about the monthly and daily specials.
After a day on the trail, you’ve earned your carbs at the original Pies and Pints location in Fayetteville. Start with a generously portioned spinach salad and a house specialty pie, plus a pint from local Bridge Brew Works, like the Mountain Momma English Pale Ale.
The General Lewis Inn serves local mountain trout, deservedly the signature item on a menu featuring other ingredients sourced locally to Lewisburg, a must-stop city along the Cranberry Corridor road trip with a charming, walkable downtown.
WATERFALLS
LAKES
WHITEWATER
Camping
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ROAD TRIPS
West Virginia’s Mountain Rides are ideal routes for crafting your next road trip. Browse the five options below to connect your selected activities. And keep your eyes peeled for Mountain Rides signage along your next country road to adventure.
Seneca Skyway passes through nearly 300 miles of the beautiful Potomac Highlands. Soak up breathtaking sights on this little over 6-hour drive.
Birdeye Bend stretches 173.4 miles across Mountaineer Country. Enjoy sweeping views on this 4-hour and 19-minute round-trip drive.
In a little over five hours, complete this legendary drive along the Heritage Highway. This 194-mile scenic loop meanders through rolling hills and charming towns of southern West Virginia.
Cranberry Corridor extends across 211.1 miles of the lush Mountain Lakes region. Take your time to enjoy this 4-hour and 53-minute round trip drive. This route is accessible for both cars and motorcycles.
Capitol Circle will take you on a journey through just over 200 miles of the bustling Metro Valley. Experience the capital city and more on this nearly 6-hour round-trip drive.
WATERFALLS
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Camping
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WATERFALLS
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Camping
BIKING
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ROAD TRIPS
WATERFALLS
LAKES
WHITEWATER
Camping
BIKING
FISHING
ROAD TRIPS
WATERFALLS
LAKES
WHITEWATER
Camping
BIKING
FISHING
ROAD TRIPS
WATERFALLS
LAKES
WHITEWATER
Camping
BIKING
FISHING
ROAD TRIPS
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