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Some say that if all the mountains in the Mountain State were flattened, West Virginia would be as large as Texas. Certainly most of the state is mountainous, with the exception of a few broad river valleys, such as that of Ohio River, the lower Kanawha River, and South Branch of the Potomac River. West Virginia lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountains. Though many of its lesser ...
- Beauty Mountain
Beauty Mountain is an upland area of cliffs and boulders...
- Backbone Mountain
The Allegheny Mountains. Backbone Mountain, in Tucker...
- Burner Mountain
Burner Mountain rises in the mid-distance in eastern West...
- Big Bend Mountain
Big Bend Mountain. Big Bend Mountain is a summit in eastern...
- Armstrong Mountain
Armstrong Mountain rises steeply from the southern banks of...
- Beury Mountain
Beury Mountain. Beury Mountain, in central Fayette County,...
- Beauty Mountain
- Best West Virginia Towns For Outdoor Fun
- Best West Virginia Towns For Food
- Best West Virginia Towns For Relaxation
- Best West Virginia Towns For History
- Best West Virginia Towns For Art & Culture
Fayetteville
Adjacent to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Fayetteville is easy to love. The courthouse and its tidy square anchor the downtown area, which buzzes spring through fall with whitewater paddlers tackling the New and Gauley Rivers. Hikers, mountain bikers, and rock climbers use the town as a base camp year-round. Sunlight filters through stained-glass windows at Cathedral Cafe, setting a pretty scene for coffee and pastries. Handle Bar & Kitchen is the sudsy heart of Arrowhead Bike F...
Davis & Thomas
Sitting side-by-side in Tucker County in the Highlands, Davis and Thomas are twin beacons for fun. New businesses are revitalizing these former mining towns, where mountain bikers gather post-ride. Trails hurtle past waterfalls and natural features in Blackwater Falls State Park while the 8-mile Plantation Trail unfurls across Canaan Mountain in Monongahela National Forest. And hikers? Those in the know explore the windswept terrain of the remote Dolly Sods Wilderness atop the Allegheny Plate...
Hinton
Surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains at the confluence of three rivers, Hinton is a low-key basecamp for family-friendly adventures. A former railroad hub, downtown Hinton today is a bastion of small-town friendliness. Red-brick streets, colorful murals, the 1929 Ritz Theatre, and the Market on Courthouse Square, known for its sandwiches and pizzas, are the highlights of the 16-block Historic District. The southern gateway to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Hinton is eight scenic...
Charleston
Anchored by the state capitol building and its striking gold leaf dome, Charleston is an epicenter of politics, art, and cuisine tucked beside the Kanawha River in the foothills of the Appalachians. Perennial dining favorites in the Capitol Street area include Black Sheep Burritos, home of the tasty Flock of Tacos, and Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream, where scoops of Espresso Oreo bring families downtown year-round. Capitol Marketis an indoor-outdoor market selling locally made and sourced product...
Morgantown
Students and alumni belt out John Denver’s Country Roads after football games at West Virginia University in Morgantown, a city infused with Mountaineer spirit. Students swarm downtown on weekends during the school year while hikers and sightseers arrive after exploring Coopers Rock State Forestand other state parks in warmer months. Downtown, the multi-use Caperton Trail runs along the Monongahela River (“the Mon”), linking a slew of top-notch restaurants with riverfront patios in the Wharf...
Fairmont
Coal-carrying locomotives chugged into Fairmont for much of the 20th-century, creating livelihoods for generations of coal miners and railroad workers. Restaurants serving quick and hearty fare to workers were mainstays, and a handful of old-school eateries survive today. The city is the birthplace of the pepperoni roll, a soft roll stuffed with cured meat that was created specifically for miners, many of them Italian immigrants. It’s filling, easy to hold, blessed with a long shelf life, and...
Berkeley Springs
Tucked in the foothills of the eastern Panhandle, Berkeley Springs is known for its warm mineral waters, which remain at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees. By the terms of the 1776 decree that established the town, the mineral waters must remain free for public consumption – and visitors fill up by the jug full at Berkeley Springs State Park in the center of town. Spa services are available at the park’s newly renovated Old Roman bathhouse, which dates from 1815, as well as the Main Bath...
Lewisburg
With a robust selection of spa services, The Greenbrier– also famed for its mineral springs – is a relaxation oasis unto itself. But nearby Lewisburg rivals the resort as a center of stress-melting bliss. Antique shops, galleries, and boutiques line Washington Street downtown, and the city’s restaurants draw visitors all year. Inside a sturdy cabin, Hill & Holler evokes the best of Appalachia through live music, cold beer, and fantastic pizzas. The comfort fare at Food & Friends is a fulfilli...
Wheeling
Sprawled across 17,000 acres on the outskirts of Wheeling, Oglebayis a public park with private park amenities – including a zoo! Burn off some steam on the two championship golf courses, stroll the gardens, admire the glassworks in the Glass Museum, and explore the historic Mansion Museum – once the home of industrialist Earl W. Oglebay. For true pampering, make an appointment for a warm stone massage at the West Spa at Oglebay Lodge.
Harpers Ferry
Overlooking the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains, Harpers Ferry played a role in America’s early industrial endeavors and in the conflict over slavery – in 1859, John Brown tried to spark a slave uprising here. The town is also home to Storer College, which grew from a one-room schoolhouse for formerly enslaved people to a respected college before closing in 1955. The 19th-century buildings in Lower Town, which is the focal point of Harpers Ferry...
Parkersburg
Parkersburg, which sits at the confluence of the Little Kanawha and Ohio Rivers in the Ohio Valley, saw explosive growth after an oil-and-gas boom in the late 1800s. With its prominent tower and eye-catching turrets, the Blennerhassett Hotel – a product of the boom – exudes a grand sense of beauty and charm. Guided tours spotlight the history of the hotel, which was completed in 1889. The Oil & Gas Museum explores the story of oil and gas production in the region. May through October, sternwh...
Bramwell
Victorian- and Tudor-style mansions – the former residences of coal barons – line the streets of tiny Bramwell in the mountainous southern fringes of the state. Established during a late-1800s coal boom, the town once had more millionaires per capita than any other town in the country. Costumed guides lead tours of several houses – furnished with antiques and period furniture – in June and early December. The Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center at the Bramwell Depotdelves into the region’...
Huntington
A vibrant and diverse arts scene flourishes in West Virginia’s second-largest city. A welcoming place, Huntington feels like three separate cities rolled into one: a thriving college town thanks to Marshall University, a creative arts colony due to its burgeoning downtown arts scene, and a classic all-American city across the board. The Decorative Arts Gallery in the Huntington Museum of Art showcases West Virginia’s glass-making heritage, with 1000 pieces of glass on display. The Heritage Fa...
Elkins
On the border of the Monongahela National Forest in the Potomac Highlands, Elkins is an outdoorsy town with an artsy side. Artists at Work is a cooperative art gallery selling arts, crafts, and jewelry by more than 20 artists, while the Downtown Heritage Quilt Trailfollows a series of 8-by-8-ft quilting blocks. Most nights of the week, live music drifts from restaurants and bars downtown. An educational hub for Appalachian culture, the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College shares...
Wardensville
Dotted with white-clapboard houses, Wardensville is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it outpost of art and culture hugging the Cacapon River. Busy US 48, one of the main roads connecting Washington, DC with Lost River State Park and Seneca Rocks, is the town’s main drag. Fronted by a statue of a red cow, the Lost River Trading Post is the hamlet’s commercial and artistic heart. Antiques, art, and locally produced jams and soap jostle for attention inside this 5000sq-ft former feed store, anchored by a...
People also ask
Where can you see the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia?
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How to see the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia?
Sep 21, 2023 · Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia and a perfect place to look out over the vast Monongahela National Forest. You can drive all the way up to the lookout tower, which is faster than hiking, but it is a long, winding road up. Going in the fall when the forest erupts in reds, oranges, and yellows makes for a truly spectacular view.
Oct 2, 2022 · One of the best ways to see the West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains is on foot. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park features over 20 miles of hiking trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains, including two separate hikes with stunning overlooks. The Maryland Heights Trail is the more popular of the two, with scenic views from Overlook Cliff of the ...
3410 / 1039. There are two Castle Mountains in West Virginia. Crumpler Mountain (McDowell County, West Virginia) 3377 / 1020. Cherokee Mountain (McDowell County, West Virginia) 3190 / 1001. New Creek Mountain. 3094 / 940. Plumley Mountain.
Here are the five towns you need to visit on a day trip through the West Virginia mountains. Appalachian Scenic Trail in Harpers Ferry. Photo credit: Melody Pittman. 1. Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry is in the lower Shenandoah Valley in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It is a tiny town (population: 285) that swells to bursting year round as ...
2. Hawks Nest State Park. Just a few miles northwest of the New River Gorge Bridge is one of West Virginia’s most beautiful state parks. Hawks Nest State Park is nestled above the river and boasts incredible, rugged landscapes and a scenic overlook of the gorge and Hawks Nest Lake below.
