There’s nothing like a good adventure and visiting new places for the first time. I’m fortunate in that I’ve had the opportunity to travel all around this great state. There’s literally a weekend adventure awaiting right out our backdoors.
When I think about the eastern panhandle the first thing that comes to mind are those delicious apples and peaches growing in the orchards high along the Allegheny Plateau. The South Branch and Cacapon River Valleys are beautiful anytime of the year. I enjoyed my time in Hampshire County exploring an area of the state I had never been to before.
Traveling south on up to the headwaters of the South Branch you’ll come into Pendleton County. Here you’ll find caverns, high rocky ridgetops, and the highest elevation of the state at Spruce Knob. North Fork Mountain resides here as well and has one of the most scenic views in all of West Virginia. From high atop the ridge you can look across to the Dolly Sods Wilderness area, down through Germany Valley towards Spruce Knob with Seneca Rocks below. It’s absolutely breathtaking!
In neighboring Tucker County, you can visit Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls State Parks. Randolph County is the largest county in West Virginia and contains a large chunk of the Monongahela National Forest which is full of outdoor activities. Continuing south down our high mountain counties you’ll come into Pocahontas County.
Pocahontas County is one of my favorites and a place where I still spend a good bit of time in. Cass Scenic Railroad, Snowshoe Mountain, Seneca State Forest, Watoga, Droop Mountain Battlefield, and Beartown Rocks all can be found in Pocahontas County. The Greenbrier River runs right through the middle of it from north to south and provides miles of pristine water to float and fish. It also provides miles of a great trail system for the mountain bike enthusiasts.
The Cranberry Wilderness is one of the more remote areas of the state and a place where you can escape into the mountains. The Falls of Hills Creek is where you can see the highest falls found in West Virginia. The Williams River is one of the many great trout streams along with the Elk and Cranberry. Pocahontas County is known as the birthplace of rivers and as an avid fisherman why I love it so much.
Greenbrier County is another beautiful place with lots of history. The famed Greenbrier Resort is in White Sulphur Springs where a recent stop on the PGA tour took place. The president of the US even paid a visit. I’m sure all of you golfers know all about the Greenbrier but they offer other outdoor activities as well. It’s a fancy, expensive, but neat place to see.
In central West Virginia you will find a plethora of mountain lakes in Lewis, Braxton, and Nicholas counties. Stonewall Jackson, Burnsville, Sutton, and Summersville Lakes are found here. All of them provide excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The WVDNR is in the process of bringing back the native strain of walleye to the Gauley River and Summersville Lake. They are doing an excellent job of adding wood and debris structure as well as stocking juvenile fry back into the system. Good things are in store for the walleye fisherman on Summersville Lake.
Fayette County contains the New River Gorge which is another iconic location in West Virginia with the New River Gorge bridge. The smallmouth bass fishing on the New is world class and as good as it gets. It’s also known for it’s whitewater rapids. I always make it a point to fish the New River every year.
If you like to ride ATV’s head to the southern coalfields and ride the Hatfield and McCoy trail. It’s popular with the out-of-staters as I see out of state tags pulling trailers of side by sides and 4 wheelers on a daily basis heading that way. And while you’re down there you can check out the newest addition of wildlife brought back to West Virginia, elk. That’s right; elk are now roaming our southern coalfields for the first time in over 100 years.
I only scratched the surface of what West Virginia has to offer for the outdoorsman and women. There are so many neat places tucked into these hills and hollows. We’re blessed with several state parks and forests as well as National Forests that each provides their own unique scenic beauty.
There’s something for everyone here especially those that love nature, peace and serenity, with pristine rivers and streams along with beautiful rolling mountains. This place is no doubt Almost Heaven.
Get out and take a weekend adventure before summer is over and see what can be found right here in our backyards.
