West Virginia is a landlocked and heavily mountainous state known for its small towns, forests, rivers, and outdoor recreation. Fewer than two million people live across the entire state, leaving large areas surprisingly remote compared with the heavily populated cities and suburbs found just beyond its borders.
West Virginia was originally part of Virginia, but the two separated during the Civil War when the western counties broke away and West Virginia became a state in 1863. Today the state has a character all its own. Most of my travels here have focused on its mountains, forests, and historic towns, with hiking and camping during the warmer months and plenty of opportunities for skiing and other winter adventures once the snow arrives.
Explore Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry is one of my favorite towns in West Virginia and one of the most historic places in the state. The town became nationally famous after abolitionist John Brown raided the federal armory here in 1859 in an attempt to begin an uprising against slavery. Only a few years later, Harpers Ferry found itself directly in the middle of the Civil War, repeatedly changing hands between Union and Confederate forces.
Today much of the tiny town feels like an open-air museum. Historic buildings, museums, the Appalachian Trail, and the meeting point of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers are all packed into a remarkably small area surrounded by steep forested hills.
Explore Spruce Knob
Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, rising to 4,863 feet (1,482 meters). The high elevations receive considerably more snow and colder weather than most of the surrounding region, while the mountains are covered with trails, forests, and viewpoints.
You don’t actually have to hike to reach the state high point because a road leads almost all the way to the summit. An observation tower near the top provides views across the surrounding Allegheny Mountains, while hikers can use Spruce Knob as a starting point for exploring some of the more remote wilderness nearby.
Explore the Greenbrier
The Greenbrier is a famous resort located in the small town of White Sulphur Springs. The enormous property has restaurants, shops, golf courses, pools, and enough amenities that it almost feels like a small town of its own.
What interested me most, however, was hidden underneath the resort. During the Cold War, the U.S. government secretly constructed an enormous bunker beneath the Greenbrier that was designed to shelter members of Congress following a nuclear attack. Its existence remained secret from most guests for decades. Today the bunker is no longer classified and can be explored through guided tours.
Explore Monongahela National Forest
West Virginia is famous for its mountains and remote countryside, and Monongahela National Forest protects a huge portion of that wilderness. The forest covers more than 900,000 acres across the eastern part of the state and includes mountains, rivers, waterfalls, scenic roads, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
Wildlife includes black bears, deer, wild turkeys, and countless smaller animals, while the higher elevations contain some surprisingly rugged terrain. For me, this is the side of West Virginia that best explains why the state is such a good destination for hiking, camping, and simply getting away from developed areas.
