West Virginia National Parks

National Parks in West Virginia

As big as West Virginia is, it’s surprising that there are only 5 National Park sites. One of them, New River Gorge, was re-designated from a National River to a National Park and Preserve in 2020, which was a huge boost for West Virginia tourism.

Follow the links below to read reviews, tips for planning trips, and the insider scoop for each park. If a park is not linked, it means I have not visited it yet. Obviously I have some work to do in West Virginia!

Note: the Appalachian Trail runs from GA to ME and you can get bonus stamps in each state. However, the headquarters are in West Virginia, so it is considered West Virginia’s National Park. If you’re a stamp purist, you’ll have to go to WV for the main stamp (in the ATC building or Harpers Ferry Visitor Center).

Appalachian NST
Bluestone NSR
Gauley River NRA
Harpers Ferry NHP
New River Gorge NP & PRES

Appalachian Trail in West Virginia

Only 4 miles of the Appalachian Trail officially belong to West Virginia, but about 20 miles weave in and out of the Virginia and West Virginia border.

Harpers Ferry, WV is considered the “mental halfway point” of the trail, even though the actual halfway point is about 80 miles north at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Harpers Ferry is pretty famous to walk through, and the view from the bridge is spectacular. Otherwise, you won’t find any good overlooks or mountainous terrain until you cross the border into Maryland and head up Weverton Cliffs.

West Virginia State Parks

State Parks

Babcock – camping, hiking, fishing, rafting, boating
Berkeley Springs – camping, swimming, golf, historical sites
Blackwater Falls – camping, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, snow sports
Cacapon – hiking, fishing, swimming, golf

Hot spots in Monongahela National Forest

Dolly Sods Wilderness – excellent hiking and wildlife viewing
Seneca Rocks – popular rock climbing destination
Spruce Knob – highest point in WV

Weekend trip ideas in West Virginia

Enjoying the fire pit at the Bavarian Inn

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry is one of my favorite places to do day trips. I’ve been dozens of times, but I never get tired of walking through the old buildings or finding a new place to eat. A weekend trip could include one full day in the town of Harpers Ferry and/or hiking some nearby trails, and another full day spent doing some sort of outdoor activity – depending when you visit. River Riders or River & Trail provide white water rafting trips, ziplining, and bike rentals. There’s also a casino 10 minutes away if adventuring isn’t your thing!

Shepherdstown

Shepherdstown is only about 15 minutes from Harpers Ferry, so really you could see both towns in one trip. However, I used to work at the Bavarian Inn Resort and I 100% recommend staying there for a weekend! There are 4 different locations on site that you can eat from, they have an infinity pool overlooking the river, and a fire pit/corn hole boards up near the main building. You can walk down to the C&O Canal from the resort, or you can go in town and rent bikes. It’s truly a magical place.

Canaan Valley

Canaan Valley is located about 3 hours West of Washington DC, and 1 hour South of Oakland, MD. The closest town is Davis, WV, which is an adorable little town with shops and breweries strewn about. Canaan Valley is the perfect winter getaway, but there are plenty of things to do year-round. In the winter you can enjoy the ski slopes or snow tubing at both Canaan Valley and Timberline Ski Resorts. If it’s not too cold, you could enjoy the falls and some hiking at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Fayetteville

I have never been to this town so it’s hard to recommend specific places to stay or eat, but it is the town closest to New River Gorge National Park. New River Gorge is famous for it’s 3,000 foot bridge with stunning views of the New River, and sits right up against Babcock and Hawks Nest State Park, which give even more outdoor entertainment options. Be sure to check out the river outfitters nearby, who offer rafting and kayaking trips, the famous bridge walk, and so much more!

Other cities of interest

I go to West Virginia a lot, and even lived there for a few years during college. However, I’m mostly only familiar with the Eastern Panhandle. I really need to start digging deeper into WV, because I know there is so much to see and do!

In addition to the places mentioned above, you could also check out other popular cities like Charleston (the capital), Morgantown (home of WVU), Wheeling, Huntington, Beckley, and Berkeley Springs.

Last Updated: April 7, 2023