West Virginia State Parks

Over three thousand acres of parkland surround a 720-acre reservoir, which is brimming with fish. Your family will be thrilled by the fishing opportunities here, and can spend all day swimming off 30 miles of coastline. Bike through leafy acres of woodland and meadow, or visit Heritage Farm Museum and Village, an open-air living history museum in Huntingdon that traces the story of the Appalachian region - while here, don't miss the petting zoo. And be sure to visit Camden Park, West Virginia's only amusement park, which has rides to please both children and adults.

Discover twenty miles of trails to hike, bike, and horseback ride along. You'll pass through stunning woodland, while an 18-acre lake is more than big enough to play on. Regular picnic areas and rest stops make this park especially convenient. Nearby, Winterplace Ski Resort beckons with 90 acres of slopes.

Horseback riding and boating are some of the most popular activities at North Bend. Various trails weave through the park, while water sports fans and rappelling enthusiasts will be satisfied too. Visit in April and September for the best climbing conditions.

Maryland Heights Loop is a 6.3-mi. moderate loop trail that you can hike at any time of the year. Climb the steep hills to see Civil War fortifications, which are well signposted from the trailhead. The fortifications were built by Union forces in 1862 and include ammunition pits, powder magazines, and gun batteries. Atop Maryland Heights, you'll find the remains of the fort itself.

Wildflowers welcome you to Long Point Trail, not far from Fayetteville. It is one of the most scenic of over 4,000 acres of trails through hillsides glistening with streams in Babcock State Park. Look out for Glade Creek Grist Mill in the park, which replicates the original Cooper's Mill.

Snuggled in the Allegheny Mountain Range, tannin-tinted 'black water' falls drop an impressive 57 feet within hemlock and spruce forest. Hikes to the falls are well marked from the trailhead, while Elakala Falls and Pendleton Point Overlook boast some of the state's most photogenic scenery.

For a bird's eye view of this spectacular landscape, board a WWII biplane flown by Wild Blue Adventure Company. Barrel rolls are even included in your flight over New River Gorge, offering a unique means of seeing the park. Naturally, there are hundreds of hikeable trails here too, including the New River Gorge Bridge Walk. The impressive Sandstone Falls are 1,500 feet wide, dropping fifteen feet - it is best viewed from Sandstone Falls Overlook.

Head to Summersville Lake for scuba diving and snorkelling in one of America's clearest lakes. Fishing fans take note: the lake's 28,000 acres of water are home to bass, walleye, and catfish.

No matter the season, Canaan Valley in the Allegheny Mountains is a sporting paradise. One of the state's largest parks, it is home to a superb ski resort and wetlands bursting with birdlife. Mountain Trails Rides offers horseback and sleigh rides through this stunning wilderness, while Seneca Rocks Climbing School is your first port of call for thrilling climbing adventures.