Walking directly "under" the bridge. A first for me! Kinda scary when I stared looking down, but…read moreI think I held it together pretty good. It took about half an hour to get our harnesses on and get shuttled to the bridge walk site. We spent about an hour walking the bridge one way and the shuttle picked us up at the opposite end. Our guide was Pete and he was full of bridge knowledge. He snapped a photo for us too. Most importantly, I also felt safe the entire time. The tour runs rain or shine. No refunds. We got lucky and it was clear skies (a little windy) for our 9:30am tour, but the 11am definitely got a bit wet later that day. Definitely a check off the bucket list while you're at New River Gorge NP!

What an incredible experience. You have to ask for TJ. Ohhhhhhh man he's the greatest. What an…read moreinformative guide. He definitely knew everything about the area, he's been in the industry since 95' so I'd say he has more knowledge than most. Make sure to request him and you'll have the time of your life. I'd give this 10 stars if I could...

An amazing set of Falls. See the Lower falls if you can…read more This is one of the best sights along the entire drive. There are 3 different sights to see at this stop. There are upper, middle and lower falls. Let's start at the beginning. There is a parking lot for about 30 cars directly off the road. There is a set of restrooms in the parking lot across from the trailhead. The trailhead has a solid pathway of switchbacks that leads to an observation point to the upper falls viewpoint. For people that want to shortcut the windy path, there is a straighter trail that goes directly down the hill to the first viewpoint. From there, there is a boardwalk with lots of steps that leads down the a bridge that crosses the river. Then more boardwalk and a steel set of stair to two platforms to view the middle falls. More boardwalk along the river and a large wooden stair platform leads to the lower falls. If you get a chance, you should see all three as each is unique and all are beautiful as much as the walk is enjoyable. Just remember, walking down is easy and you have to walk back up to return to the parking lot. Well worth the walk. Enjoy.

This was an unexpected find on my trip to WV. The trail was nice, if a little strenuous for this…read morefatman, and the water falls (plural) were lovely. It is a well developed trail with lots of stairs, including an actual stairwell to get you to the bottom of the falls. If you are mobile and in the area you should visit, just give yourself some time on the hike back if your a big person like myself.

The hidden gem of West Virginia!…read more If you are anywhere near or close to Spruce Knob you must come here. It's a short little hike off the road on the wet or dry side. 5 minutes. It's an amazing cave that Gandy Creek runs through. The cave itself is about 3000 feet long. It's in Osceola, but use the address I provided to find it. It's past Spruce Knob lake at the bottom of the hill. Make a left and drive until you get to a 90 degree turn. There is small parking lot on your right. There are two gates, one in front of the parking lot that is wood with a trail through a field that leads you right to the cave and one up the road about a 100 yards or so where the metal gate with the dirt road is, that will take you right to the wet entrance as well. The dry side is before you get to the 90 degree turn on your right. There are two gates. It will be the first one where you can see the tail. There are two dry exits and one wet on that side. This is a captivating cave system inside. It's pretty straight forward though, you just follow the flow of the water. The best time to go is when the water is low and during the summer months. There aren't many parts that are above your knees(I'm 6'1"), but you navigate through most of the cave walking on dirt. FYI: the waters depth can fluctuate depending on the season and rain. If it's flowing good then expect the water to be to your waist in certain areas depending on your height. Try to avoid going after heavy rains. It will take you approximately 30-40 mins to get through this cave. It's an excellent adventure! Make sure to bring a headlamp or two and extra batteries if yours is not the rechargeable kind. Have fun and be safe! Enjoy :D

I've been to so many parts of this forest that it's mind boggling. It's beautiful in ways that…read morewords could never describe. There is so much to see and so many cool places to explore. One of my favorite parts is Bickle Knob because the views from the fire tower are beyond spectacular. Bowden Cave is also a great place to explore as well. There is a ton of great places to camp, mountain bike, and hike. If you are ever able to stop in any part of the Monongahela National Forest please do yourself a favor and do it. Have fun and be safe!

Driving through WV, Monongahela National Forest is a must do. It's absolutely beautiful with tons…read moreof hiking trails. Many of the trails have adequate parking spots and restrooms. We went through the Cranberry Glades and also found a random trail that led to waterfalls. This forest is GIANT. We want to come back again and find a camping ground because this national forest is truly stunning.

I stopped by recently for a little adventure :)…read more I've been here more times than I can count and at all times of the day and the night, but I never get tired of this place. The peace and tranquility here is off the charts. It was a beautiful day, the temperature was about 68, and the sky was perfect. Every time I leave here I go a different way out to try and get lost, but after about two hours of exploring and finding some cool new roads and places, I made it back onto US-33 off of Glady Fork Rd by The Lodge in Alpena. What a great place to relax and unwind and learn news roads in and out. I have always loved this whole area and I always will. I'll be seeing you again very soon Spruce Knob :D

Road was super curving and some was gravel . We stopped at a overlook and even though the light…read morewas going away it was a great view. I def wish we had more time and better light to appreciate it. We saw so many deer which i loved seeing. in the end light was going too fast we made it to the lake but didn't make it to the top because sun was going down. driving those roads in low light was a bit scary. I know my husband really had wanted to be heading home much earlier and not be driving those roads in the dark. But once he realized I was wanting more exploring he went with it. I really would like to return. I wish we had spent more time in WV and skipped skyline drive. I have fell in love with WV. He kept wanting to move on to SKyline drive and down to Gatlinburg. I was wanting all WV.

Tony and I went to Roaring Run Furnace In the Jefferson National Forest. This is a stone Built Pig…read moreIron Furnace built in 1830. This 192 yr old construction is still standing and looks like they could just start using it again today The park was easy to find with GPS. It is free to enjoy. Plenty of parking and restrooms. Well marked trails. The Furnace is located about 500 feet from the parking lot and bathrooms. There is plenty of picnic tables and a creek for fishing and cooling off in warmer weather. There is also a waterfall to hike to!! Nice park and highly recommend especially for the historic value! Great day trip or field trip for home schooling!!

The waterfall was gorgeous and listening to the water flow was so tranquil. I could've spent all…read moreday there just relaxing by the water. The hike was short and easy.

There's good spots for sightseeing at both the top and bottom of the dam. We stopped here on a road…read moretrip to stretch our legs and this was a good spot to get some fresh air. There are bathrooms and water fountains, but they were off for the winter. :( There's also a playground, picnic tables, and a pavilion that you can rent to reserve.

Sutton, WV was first settled in 1792 in what was then Bath County, Virginia. It served as a…read morecrucial spot in the Civil War for the Union. In the mid 1800's Confederates burned most of the town to the ground. We rebuilt. This review comes from my memoirs. Wait, I haven't written them, but, if I did, I would give at least one chapter to my teenage years spent partying and hanging out at Sutton Lake. I went to high school in Sutton, and, we often skipped school and headed for the lake for a day of fun filled drankin' and smokin' and, well, you know. The early 80's were for socializing and partying with my gang of peeps. It's amazing I graduated. That any of us did, for that matter. Everytime I go home, I always visit the lake. When I was going there in my teens, it was simply a beautiful lake enveloped by the beautiful Appalachian Mtns, with picnic areas. Sometimes it felt as if those mountains were hugging you. Today, there is much more recreation to be had, but, this review is about my memories. All through high school, this was the spot. I had a music (Jazz Chorus) teacher who knew what was going on, so he would sometimes show up and stay with us. I didn't realize what he was doing until I became a mature adult. He was our protector, not, enabler. In the 80's, where I was from, kids would be kids. No matter what ma' and pa' said. I lived 40 miles from the school. If I missed the bus, which I often did, I had to hoof it home on my thumb. Many a time I would arrive home at 2100 or later, drunk, high, sober, hungover and famished and tired, only to be met at the door with my very angry grandmother (God love her, she raised me) and a fist full of brier switches! Let me tell you, that is the best time to take a beating because you are so numb you feel nothing. It's like, "Hey! You missed a spot!" I miss those years. I like to refer to them as my "rebel without a clue years", and, I have not one regret! Thanks for letting me share my personal story!

Gorgeous State Park and one of my favorites since I was a kid. My parents used to take us camping…read moreand fishing here. My brothers and I used to love to swim in the streams and ride our bikes. I love to go here and hike with my own kids. The area is so quiet and so lovely, extremely peaceful. I always leave feeling refreshed and alive. I love to walk calmly through the forest and think. When I was a kid, I would pretend to be an indian or a pioneer, sometimes an escaping captive fleeing through the woods. I have always had an overwhelming creative imagination. The park is lovely to camp in and great locations for fishing. No huge waterfalls but still nice small ones. If you are like me, you just enjoy being outside!!!

Joined the trail by crossing into "downtown" hot springs to the left of the Spa. Look for the…read morestairs to the right of the corner restaurant caddy corner to the Homestead property. We walked up a short but steep path to a sign for "sunset overlook". Another short walk brought us to a a few benches in a clearing with a beautiful overlook of the Homestead. Overall, a nice relaxed 20 minute roundtrip walk for a great vista.

This trail starts on the grounds of The Homestead. From the valet entrance take a left on a side…read moreroad that winds behind the kid's pool and water slides. Runs left by the golf course and across the grounds of The Homestead then crosses Sam Sneed Parkway into the woods behind the town. See my pics from Sunset Overlook.

I love visiting Cass. It's quite the trek out to this part of WV, but it's worth it!…read more Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, as the name indicates, is both a state park and a heritage railroad. The park also includes the former company town of Cass, but for this review I'll focus on the railroading experience. Historically this railroad was used for logging, which is why the locomotives you see here will look a little different than the typical steam train. Most of the engines that pull and push trains here today are Shays, which are geared steam locomotives. To keep it simple: these engines are designed to slowly and steadily climb steep grades without slipping and sliding on the track (while standard locomotives are made to steadily zip along relatively level tracks). These unique engines are why the drive to Cass is worth it: because you'll get to ride in a train being pushed or pulled up and down the mountains of West Virginia. There's nothing quite like it! That said, I definitely have tips for first timers. One: earplugs. The coaches used for these trains are not 100% enclosed; they're actually historic converted log cars. That means there is absolutely nothing to muffle the sound of your train's whistle. (I can't believe I have to say this, but: trains are loud!) And two: layers. The weather as you climb the mountain is not going to be the same as the weather in the railroad parking lot. At a minimum it's going to be chillier. During one of my visits it was actually rain pouring at the summit that the engine took us too, but it stayed clear and sunny down below - so much so that I came back to a completely dry car. Don't forget to go into the museum to read about the town of Cass during your visit; it adds so much historical context and makes the whole experience that much more special. Just be sure that you don't miss your train!

I have to say a 4.5 hour train ride in an open rail car was a long trip. This trip teaches you what…read morea difficult job getting logs out of the mountains by train was. If you enjoy trains and coal powered steam engines this could be a trip for you. The best part of the trip was getting to the Bald Knob overlook. View is very nice. Also on the way down the mountain you stop at a logging camp to take a look at how the workers lived - you had to be a hardy and tough individual to have worked in the logging business. This trip is "not" something I would do again but it was a way to experience how difficult working in the outdoor resource business really was! If you enjoy trains this might be for you. It was 4.5 hours of smoke, whistle's and clanking track,