West Virginia is the best place to visit on the East Coast if you enjoy outdoor adventures! Known as the Mountain State there are many, many trails to choose from and incredible overlooks to enjoy. There are also many more wild and wonderful outdoor activities to mark down on your bucket list for this summer! Here are the top five you must try!
Beech Fork State Park
Looking for a great place to walk in the woods? Beech Fork State Park offers miles of hiking trails. Plus, 3,144 acres of natural beauty in West Virginia’s greater Huntington area. Situated on the idyllic shores of Beech Fork Lake, Beech Fork State offers four spacious campgrounds. A boat launch, along with mountain biking trails, fishing access, and other amenities.
While there are several trails to choose from, most are relatively easy. Lost Trail is a 3.5-mile jaunt through the woods that provides lovely peek-a-boo views of Beech Fork Lake. The Overlook Trail is another popular hike that leads to a small hill. This 2-mile trail must have provided views of the lake at some point. Now the view is mostly obscured by trees. At 5 miles in length, the Mary Davis Trail is the longest hike in the park. It is accessed via the Lost Trail.
Located about 10 miles south of the Hal Greer Exit (Exit 11) of Interstate 64. Beech Fork State Park is a popular destination for residents of nearby Huntington and Barboursville. The park is easy to access and busy during the summer months. Despite the park’s popularity, the trails are not terribly crowded. It is a great place to enjoy some quiet time in the woods.
There is no fee for day use of Beech Fork State Park. Overnight guests can expect to pay around $40/night for a campsite with full hookups. Or around $150/night for a luxury vacation cabin
Recommended by: Katy Shaw at A Rambling Unicorn
Lost River State Park
Lost River is the ultimate hidden gem. this lovely little park has everything you need for an outdoor adventure! Picnic areas with tables, grills, and a park to play at. Cabins, if you plan on staying for more than a day. Plus the hiking trails double as a horse trail. Take the Miller’s Rock trail and hike to an elevation of 3,200 feet. At Cranny Crow Overlook you will enjoy a scenic panorama of five counties!
It’s also home to the Lee Cabin, the summer retreat of Henry Lee, a Revolutionary War general, and father of Civil War General Robert E. Lee. The restored cabin is across the creek from Lee Sulphur Spring, known for its sulfuric smell and rumored healing properties.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
A visit to Harpers Ferry needs to be on everyone’s West Virginia summer bucket list. If you’ve never heard of Harpers Ferry; it’s a Civil War-era town located along the borders of Maryland and Virginia. Harpers Ferry is also where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. In an area known as “The Point”, and is the half-way point on the Appalachian Trail! There’s a lot to do in Harpers Ferry, so I highly recommend staying here for at least one night. Aside from hiking a part of the AT, I recommend one of Harper Ferry’s ghost tours.
Harpers Ferry is actually one of the most haunted cities in the US. Being the location of several Civil War battles; their ghost tour is one of the top-rated in the country. While in Harper’s Ferry, be sure to visit the only historic candy store in the world. Which sells candy dating back to the 1500s! My last recommendation for Harpers Ferry is to go white water kayaking, tubing, or rafting! I took a guided white water kayaking tour that lasted about 3 hours and costs $65. It was a great way to see the local scenery and to learn more about the history of the area. Harpers Ferry is the perfect place to stop while on a USA road trip. Being on the east coast, it borders several states.
Recommended by: Nicole Rosania at The Abroad Blog
Lansing, West Virginia
White water rafting is an exhilarating pastime that provides a fantastic adrenaline rush and wonderful memories. This activity is great whether it is your first time or if this a regular hobby for you. If you are concerned about the danger involved, do not worry, it is quite safe. As long as you are aware of your limitations and follow all the safety precautions. Make sure you book with a company you can trust. They will help pair you with the proper trip itinerary. You will find many rafting companies and rivers to choose from around West Virginia. Each individual company will offer different packages that will cater to your needs.
New & Gauley River Adventures is a highly rated rafting company located in Lansing, West Virginia. Plan on spending anywhere between $90 and $250 depending on the time of year and length of trip you choose. Lansing is less than 60 miles from three different domestic airports if you choose to fly in for your experience. If you do choose to fly in, you will most likely want to rent a car. This will assist in getting you to the site and where you choose to stay. New & Gauley River Adventures also has cabins and a campground on site. Along with dining options to meet all your needs during your stay. White water rafting is a great experience for your whole family or group of friends. Since you can find appropriate trips for all ages and adventure levels. Take a trip that no one will forget!
Recommended by: Tiffany Smith at Pennies, Places, and Paws
New River Gorge National Park
West Virginia has some of the best rafting on the East Coast! ACE Adventure Resort in New River Gorge West Virginia is an excellent location to explore rafting and other water sports. Located 5 hours west of DC and 4 hours south of Pittsburgh, there is a ton to do at this resort.
There are many different rafting trips that will vary by season. My husband went with his friends in April when the water was high. Their trip included lots of Class 3 and 4 rapids and even some Class 5s. He reported that the Class 3 ones were actually the most fun to paddle through. If you raft at a different season, you may have different routes and rapid levels. Their website details all of the types of trips by challenge level and season.
Many of the whitewater rafting trips include other fun experiences like cliff jumping, playing in the water, and riverside lunches. They also offer kid-friendly rafting experiences starting at age 6. Each trip cost depends on length and challenge level so check out their website for lots more details! The River Guides do a great job going over the safety and rafting techniques. And as you road trip back home, be sure to check out this list of road trip with kids activities
Recommended By: Jennifer at DC Family Travel
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