Very peaceful!!! It's always very clean and well maintained. Never a bunch of people. Plenty of…read morehiking trails

It's not far at all from town but once you're there you would never know that. It's so peaceful and…read moreusually shady with lots of trails and little streams nearby. Yes, your animals are required to be on leash. There was hardly anyone there that day and no one was near the spot we were at. And my dogs wouldn't run off.

So beautiful and has a playground. Always nice to go fish around the lake catching them or not!read more

One of Nitro's best kept secrets, conveniently close to town but far enough out to be the perfect…read moreway to escape the hustle and bustle for a little while. Beautiful and peaceful place to relax, spend time with the family (including the canine members of the family), fish, hike (with a mix of clear gravel trails or rougher dirt trails), or even take a canoe or kayak out on the lake. Also great for group picnics, community events, weddings, birthday parties, or just gathering with friends for a relaxing day by the lake.

Stopped for a short hike on our road trip. Beautiful views of the river along the rim trail and…read morethe castle rock trail has some really cool cliffs and rock walls of you don't mind a little more difficult terrain.

I really enjoyed the view. WV is beautiful I never knew about this place. I've been to the Grand…read moreCanyon it is awesome but wv has so much to offer as well. It's a must see along with the new river gorge bridge.

All my life, my family has been coming here for a special treat. So, when I returned to SW Virginia…read moreafter being away for a few decades, I certainly had to take my family for a visit. The mountains are just as beautiful as they have always been. Maybe a little worn down over the ages (ok, sometimes I just feel old). The overlooks are pretty fantastic. We went to the tunnel overlook. We went the "long" way. You can go to the second parking lot from the Visitor center for a much quicker hike, but it wasn't an epic journey through tunnels of mountain laurel and rhododendrons. Your choice for the jungle experience or the straight run. Once there, the views of the tower and tunnel were spectacular. We also stopped at the Lodge Restaurant for lunch. It was just an awesome, calming time. I really wish we had spent days instead of an afternoon. Maybe when I retire, we will stay longer in the fall. I had the club sandwich which was really good. The fries in it were just the way I like them: crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Waitress was good & prompt which checks all the boxes for me. DEFINITELY recommend this for a visit. Whatever your outdoor criteria is, this place will meet it.

Wow, what a beautiful place!! Even the drive in is impressive! Stop by the Towers Overlook for an…read moreamazing view of the Breaks! The trails are well marked and well maintained. Believe them when they say they are strenuous, though! The Bottom of the Breaks Trail is stunning, but it's quite a trek! The lodge is set up hotel style, and the Dogwood Lodge is pet friendly! I saw an elk and so many deer! Hit all the overlooks, hike the trails, eat at the restaurant, and stay somewhere in this gorgeous park! There's a lake and nearby rivers if you are a boater or a paddler!

A large storm the day before made this waterfall simply spectacular! You can see it from the tiny…read moreparking lot. Otherwise it is an uneven path to get there but less than 50 steps away. See it if you can!

Tony, Kayla, Deacon & I went on a Sunday drive up river towards Hawk's Nest stopping st several…read moreother locations along the way. We stopped at Catheral Falls and the parking lot was full. We took a walk to the base of the falls. Deacon was so brave. He said "Come on Maw Maw YoYo let's go" he says he's braver when I hold his hand. I love it that he has adventure in him. He loves to pose for pics! Reminds me of my Poppie McCormick, except Poppie never made faces or stuck out his tongue Great time! Great Memories!

Beautiful lake great views plenty of fish and nice people what more can you ask for 10/10!read more

Nice place to stay , clean . close to the boat ramp and…read moredocks , bath house is nice. Boat ramp is just outside the campground, playground is nice , a good place to go for the week or weekend.

Tony Vanoy and I stopped at Stephens Lake in Beckley WV area. It's free to go to park no admission…read morefees and the Swing is free to Enjoy! It's located near the Frisbee Course! Lisa Diane Boyce-Vanoy #wvswings #2025endofsummerroadtrip #AlmostHeaven

Very clean and well run again this year. Snack bar surprisingly had good food and reasonable in…read morethere prices

We set out for the Auxier Ridge Trail at Natural Bridge State Park, which we have repeatedly done…read morefor the last twenty years. Our goal was to hike, not necessarily to see Natural Bridge. When we arrived, it was packed, meaning zero parking, and we saw groups of twenty plus, with no social distancing and no masks. I had seen a vlog about a newly created trail from 2014 called Dawkins Line Rail Trail (DLRT). It is a trail built in 2013 after RJ Corman decided to close the railroad line in 2004. So, we decided to give it a try; it was another 40 miles east of the Natural Bridge exit. The trail park is located in a small Kentucky mountain town; the people were friendly, waved, and asked us if we were doing okay. Since the wife is hearing, she struck up a conversation with several locals as we walked the trail. Still, it had far fewer people, and it was an unknown for us. Also, when we arrived at the park, I'll admit that parking was hard to figure out, but a path runs parallel for vehicles. So, you'll follow it to the parking lot. The parking lot has four spaces for handicap parking too. The trail has plenty of wooden bridges, a tunnel, a small waterfall, and the entire path is made of caliche, which is a thin mineral deposit of gravel, sand, and nitrates. The DLRT is an excellent place for observing birds, as we saw several yellow finches. So, if you get tired of the same trails, give the DLRT a try the next time. Honestly, I cannot imagine the scenery during the fall months, when we plan on returning.

This trail surface was not even fit for gravel bikes. Then in a 2 mile stretch we were chased by 10…read moredogs!!! We have ridden many rail trails and would never recommend this rail trail to anyone. The maintenance of this trail was non existent. The trail head bathrooms were locked and it was 9:30 am.

If you're cruising through South Charleston and spot a big grassy hill tucked between antique shops…read moreand quiet streets, that's the Criel Mound. It's worth a stop. It's not flashy, but there's something grounding about standing next to a structure built over 2,000 years ago by the aboriginal people. The steps leading up are wide and gentle, and once you reach the top, you get a surprisingly peaceful view of the neighborhood. It's a quick visit. The mound itself is steeped in mystery and history. Archaeologists found 13 skeletons inside, including a central figure surrounded by others. There's a small park around the mound with interpretive signs that give you just enough context to spark curiosity. Some locals say horse races were once held around it, and there's even talk of burials that might represent alliances between different tribes. It's wild to think about how much has happened on that patch of earth, and how little we still know. The Criel Mound stands to quietly anchor the town. Kids run up the steps, people are walking dogs, and there's me, pausing to read the plaques. There is a sense of reverence here if you feel it. It's not at all a playground. [Review 569 of 2025 - 154 in West Virginia - 24130 overall]

The Criel Mound is a historic and cultural gem nestled in South Charleston, WV…read more The small park which houses it has plenty of street parking available and several interpretive signs around the mound explaining its history, importance, and what archaeologists discovered inside the mound when excavating. The mound is the second largest Adena mound in West Virginia and is believed to have been developed between 250 and 150 B.C. The Criel Mound was originally one of 50 mounds and prehistoric earthworks located in WV but unfortunately most have since been destroyed due to industrialization. It's definitely worth a visit (plan on about 30 minutes) if you're in the area.

This is a really cool park on top of Keen Mountain. It is great for kids with the coolest…read moreplayground consisting of wood boats, tractors etc. that they can play in-see my photos! There is a stage for events and a large covered picnic shelter with pit BBQ. Clean bathrooms. Playing field and what looks like a horse jump area. The park has wooded areas surrounding it... only thing is it is across from a waste center but while I was there this was okay just heard trucks backing up occasionally. Watch out for bees in the clover flowers. Must where shoes here!