Places to Go
Discover four distinct regions packed with national parks, historic towns, wilderness areas, luxury resorts, and hidden gems that define the Mountain State's wild character.
Established as a National Park in 2020, New River Gorge is West Virginia's crown jewel. The 1,000-foot-deep gorge carved by one of North America's oldest rivers features the iconic 3,030-foot bridge, 70+ miles of hiking, and world-class whitewater rafting.
Named for its tannic amber waters, the 57-foot falls are WV's most visited natural attraction. The surrounding canyon blazes with color each autumn, and the park offers excellent lodging, cross-country skiing, and 20+ miles of trails.
Perched where the Shenandoah meets the Potomac, this storybook town witnessed John Brown's famous 1859 raid. Cobblestone streets, Civil War museums, river overlooks, and the Appalachian Trail passing right through make it endlessly compelling.
Rising 900 feet above the North Fork Valley, these dramatic quartzite fins in Monongahela National Forest are one of the most spectacular geological features in the East — a legendary rock-climbing destination and a jaw-dropping scenic overlook.
A high-altitude plateau unlike anything else on the East Coast — open heathlands, wind-swept red spruce, cranberry bogs, and sweeping vistas reminiscent of Canadian tundra. Backcountry camping here under the stars is an unforgettable experience.
America's Resort since 1778. This National Historic Landmark in White Sulphur Springs offers world-class spa treatments, 11 championship golf courses, fine dining, and a jaw-dropping secret — a Cold War-era Congressional bunker beneath its grounds.
America's first spa town — George Washington himself bathed in these mineral springs. Today Berkeley Springs is a charming arts town with galleries, eclectic restaurants, the famous state bath house, and a thriving wellness scene.
Known as the "Little Bahamas of the East," Summersville Lake stuns with crystal-clear turquoise water and towering 80-foot sandstone cliffs. A paradise for cliff-diving, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, and stand-up paddleboarding.
The most photographed landmark in West Virginia — a beautifully restored 1890s grist mill still grinding corn beside a rocky creek in Babcock State Park. Framed by 26 different tree species, it's absolutely magical in fall foliage season.
West Virginia's five tourism regions each offer a distinct character and experience. Use this guide to plan a focused getaway or a grand cross-state road trip.
Home to Spruce Knob (WV's highest peak), Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, and Blackwater Falls. The highest and most rugged region — a backcountry paradise for hikers and naturalists.
Centered on the national park, this region offers whitewater rafting, the iconic bridge, Summersville Lake, Babcock State Park, and the charming arts town of Lewisburg nearby.
WV's most accessible region from the DC/Baltimore corridor — Harpers Ferry, Berkeley Springs, Shepherdstown (WV's oldest town), and rolling farm country along the Potomac.
The Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trail system, the legendary Greenbrier Resort, historic coal country, Bluefield, and Coal Heritage Road — rugged, authentic, and utterly unique.
Charleston (the capital), Huntington, and the Kanawha Valley — urban culture, the State Capitol, museums, Marshall University, dining, arts, and gateway to southern WV adventures.
Morgantown and WVU anchor this region, with Cheat Lake, Coopers Rock State Forest, and access to Monongahela National Forest making it a blend of college energy and mountain escape.
