What to do and see in West Virginia, United States: The Best Hiking Trails

November 14, 2021 Marissa Gamble

As you would expect, The Mountain State displays rustic charm with dramatic river gorges, large limestone caverns and spectacular mountain views. West Virginia hosts outdoor enthusiasts and family vacationers looking for fresh-air activities and serene mountain atmosphere. If stimulating city holidays are your preference, Charleston combines warm hospitality with a lovely riverside location. A family-friendly destination, you’ll discover children’s theatre, river park recreation and popular Bridge Road for shopping and dining. Smaller towns blend outdoor adventure with quaint village atmospheres. Set between the New, Greenbrier and Bluestone Rivers, Hinton is an historic rail town filled with turn-of-the-century architecture and a host of water activities at its doorstep – rafting, fishing, kayaking and more. In the heart of West Virginia, Summersville is a “Mountain Water Playground.” Its lakeside location encourages outdoor recreation from swimming and boating to scuba diving and rafting. And history buffs can trace Civil War battles throughout the states historic sites and state parks. Hiking or horseback riding along trails through deep hardwood forests is another family favorite, especially when you stop for a picnic along a clear mountain stream.
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1. Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Harpers Ferry Center 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 +1 304-535-6331 http://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 102 reviews

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Very long hiking trail spanning over 2,100 miles and 14 states.

Reviewed By 844barbaras - Alexandria, United States

We took a great walk along the scene trail. Amazing view and totally worth going. I had some 'always bored teens' lol with me and they really loved it and took lots of photos. Afterwards told me it was totally worth going to. Priceless.

2. Grandview State Park

Grandview Road, Beckley, WV 25813 +1 304-465-0508 http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/grandview.htm
Excellent
80%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 225 reviews

Grandview State Park

Reviewed By 3CuteVagabonds

The grand view is spectacular. It is only a short walk from the parking lot and is definitely worth a stop and a visit. The park ranger was super friendly and told us about the gorge and the park.

3. Glade Creek Trail

Glade Creek Road New River Gorge National River, Prince, WV http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/glade_creek_trail.htm
Excellent
83%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 6 reviews

Glade Creek Trail

4. Hatfield McCoy Trail - Buffalo Mountain Trail System

34 Oakwood Heights Rd, Williamson, WV 25661-9612 +1 800-592-2217 http://www.trailsheaven.com/Plan-Your-TRIP/Choose-a-Trail/Buffalo-Mountain.aspx
Excellent
84%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 25 reviews

Hatfield McCoy Trail - Buffalo Mountain Trail System

Reviewed By MadDogTraveler - Valparaiso, United States

All of these trails on the Hatfield-McCoy trail system are awesome! The trails are marked very clearly and are great. The system is spread out around the area so you get to see the area and visit little towns. The landscape is phenomenal. This was my first trip down, not my last. The trails are marked well on the maps and the signs for the difficulty to drive. There are parking areas along the trails so you can trailer to far-out locations from where you stay.

5. Hatfield & McCoy Trail

28 Big Pinnacle Branch Rd, Julian, WV 25529 1-800-592-22171 http://www.trailsheaven.com/Plan-Your-TRIP/Choose-a-Trail/Little-Coal-River.aspx
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5 reviews

Hatfield & McCoy Trail

6. Endless Wall Trail

Lansing-Edmond Rd, Lansing, WV 25862 http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/endlesswall.htm
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 119 reviews

Endless Wall Trail

Reviewed By xu2002 - Cincinnati, United States

We hiked this trail the day before we went rafting on the Lower New River. It was so cool to see rafts going down the river where we were going to be the next day. The hike wasn’t too long and the views were amazing. It was over 90 degrees the day we hiked it and it was so shaded that we weren’t too terribly hot. Highly recommend this trail!

7. Little Creek Park

Little Creek Park Rd, South Charleston, WV 25309 +1 304-744-5301 http://cityofsouthcharleston.com/little-creek-park/
Excellent
78%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 9 reviews

Little Creek Park

8. Cool Spring Preserve

1469 Lloyd Rd, Charles Town, WV 25414-4644 +1 304-676-3397 http://www.PotomacAudubon.org
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8 reviews

Cool Spring Preserve

Reviewed By kimmyimmy - Washington DC, United States

We walked “Linda’s Loop”, which is a fairly easy hike around the preserve. Maps say it’s a little over a mile long, but it seemed closer to 2. Beautiful!

9. Long Point Trail

Newton Road, Fayetteville, WV +1 304-465-0508 http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/longpoint_trail.htm
Excellent
92%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 72 reviews

Long Point Trail

Reviewed By jensmithrn - Hurricane, United States

Great hike that ends in beautiful views of the gorge and New River Gorge bridge! The last 0.2 miles has a bit of a steep section, but was well worth it!

10. High Rock Trail

Highland Scenic Highway, WV +1 304-636-1800 http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=77610
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

High Rock Trail

High Rocks is a popular scenic trail that ends on at an overlook with a gorgeous view into the Stamping Creek watershed. The trail is just over 1.5 miles and follows a gentle grade, with only two short climbs and switchbacks. This is a beautiful walk through the woods with a stunning view at the end that on a clear day reaches all the way to the mountains of Virginia.

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