I absolutely loved this park and boardwalk. If you are in the mood to get out and about, check…read moreAudra State Park out. The Boardwalk and scenery is definitely worth the trip! Check Them Out!

Audra State Park is simply beautiful! It is a relaxing get away from the real world where you can…read moredisconnect. They do have WiFi close to the little shop in the campgrounds. The campgrounds are clean, as are the shower houses. The river was nice and cool when we were there and it was nice to see others enjoying the water. We tried one of the hiking trails, some parts were easier than others.

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.

We had a wonderful few days camping at Coopers Rock! The…read moresites are a good size and decently spaced apart so we have a good amount of privacy. The campsite bathroom was clean, well stocked and regularly maintained. All of the employees at the trading post were friendly as well! Park rangers drove around regularly (4-5 time through the campsite a day I'd say). My only wish would be adding closure information onto the website so people know ahead of time. During our visit the main overlook was under construction/maintenance so there was no access to it. Which was a little disappointing since it looks beautiful online! But it was a short 5 minute walk out to the overlook so it was easy to get back to a different trail. (It is clear the individuals who work and manage the park take great pride in it, and take care of the facilities wonderfully!).

Tony and I stopped at Cooper's Rock near Bruceton Mills to enjoy the beautiful weather and to enjoy…read morethe Almost Heaven Swing located there Its free to enjoy with tons of trails for hiking

Valley Falls State Park. Fairmont, WV. My husband and I visited this scenic West Virginia State…read morePark in Sept, 2025. Its highlight is a series of four cascading WATERFALLS on the Tygart Valley River that are easily accessible by a short path from the parking lot. There are large flat rocks right next to the falls, allowing for scenic photographs but no swimming. (Fishing with license and whitewater kayaking are allowed). Fun Fact: this is one of the sites for West Virginia's "Almost Heaven" swings, installed by the state's Department of Tourism across the state for photo opps. This particular swing has the falls in the background. (As of late 2025, there are 51 swings in the state). We had a unique experience at the park in that we were approached by a park volunteer in an ATV offering us a ride down to the falls, and then continuing along some park paths with his commentary about the history of the site as a 19th-century mill town, and pointing out some gristmills. Both park admission and the ATV ride were free although we did give the volunteer a tip. There are 18 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, ranging from easy to difficult. We didn't do any hiking on this visit, but did eat our picnic lunch at one of the conveniently located picnic table. There is a gift shop on-site, as well as clean restrooms. It's also a site on WV's Waterfalls Trail, wherein you can earn prizes for checking it at specific WV waterfalls. Note that this is a day-use park, so no camping is allowed. Wi-Fi connectivity is low to non-existent. We approached the park from the south, near Pruntytown, WV, and while the distance was short (about 12 miles), it took us about 25 minutes to reach because of curvy roads. On our return, we went to Tygart Lake State Park, via Grafton, where we camped for the night.

Tony and I went for a nice hike today at Valley Falls State Park in Fairmont WV…read more The Park is lovely and the Park is free to enjoy with plenty of picnic tables, restrooms, grills, playground, and the gorgeous waterfalls

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.

Seneca Rocks Trail. A number of years ago, my husband and I visited the educational Discovery…read moreCenter for the Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, and got a great view of the Seneca Rocks from the parking lot. But, it was late in the day on a Sunday and we had a long drive ahead of us, so we decided not to attempt to hike up the trail, but we put it as yet another item on our bucket list. We returned to the area in Sept, 2025, specifically to attempt to do the hike. No concerns as to whether my husband would be able to do it, but I have to admit that I was apprehensive as to whether I could! The brochures say that it's 1.5 miles each way (up, and then back down) and you gain almost 850' in elevation. And, did I mention that I'm in my 60s, NOT a regular hiker, and with a medical condition that affects my balance? Nonetheless, my husband and I donned our hiking boots, put on some sunscreen, packed a picnic lunch, snacks, and water, and my hiking stick -- and we were on our way! The trail is wide and well-maintained and, as others have mentioned, has steep sections, especially in the switchbacks towards the top. It's a steady climb up, and my Fitbit registered some intense exercise, but my heart rate never reached its peak category. Given my balance issues, having my walking stick and an occasional hand from my husband, especially on the descent in steep areas with roots or stones, were helpful. I tried not to be discouraged by the two very fit runners who raced by us, recognizing that the majority of hikers and dogs on leash were panting at least to some degree! There are occasional benches, especially towards the bottom, and signs pointing out ecological features. There's an observation deck at the top, with gorgeous views of the valley below, as well as shaded benches to enjoy our picnic lunch. You can't see the rocks from the observation deck. However, some hikers scramble over some additional rocks for more views though signage warns that this can be dangerous. I'm happy to report that my husband and I both completed the hike, and we are now able to cross that item off of our joint bucket list. We celebrated our accomplishment by getting some ice cream at Yokum's, just down the street! Admission to the Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and parking is free. Staff in the Discovery Center are exceptionally helpful. There are picnic tables and restrooms at the base, and the Seneca Shadows Campground is about a mile down the street.

Literally a quick trip ( sadly), recommended by a friend, en route from Cass to Elkins…read more Absolutely beautiful and would have loved to have hiked this beauty. Hope to return one day ( Florida resident), preferably again in the fall to see the colors. Nature center sadly closed because of the government shut down.

Here for three train rides with my train loving husband…read more All employees were friendly, from the trains themselves to the stores. Company store had a plethora of items for all ages; hubby had a field day!! Beautiful area and very remote . Bus tours came daily, but not excessive as seating on the trains is limited, so good crowd control lol These trips book up months in advance; my husband booked it a year ago so don't drive up thinking you can get a seat. Three trips: ( different Shay locomotives too, but I am not the expert with this). 1. Bald Knob : a 4.5 hour train ride up the mountain. It was an open car, and it was pretty cold, even for those prepared. The scenery was pretty but I saw zero wildlife. We were going to have a hot cocoa, but after waiting on line for over 10 minutes, they ran out. There was a guy reading over the P.A., giving some history. They give you a " hobo lunch" : bun, turkey and ham, pasta salad, applesauce, chips, water bottle, 2 cookies and mustard and mayo. Bring additional snacks/ drinks as it's a long trip...and gloves and hats if during fall trips. 2. Greenbriar River: a more pleasant ride, 2.5-3 hours, enclosed car with table seating. Narrated as well at parts, but P.A. was terrible. Lunch was at a restaurant ( make your own sandwiches) in Durbin, our stop, and there were three choices which they determined. Saw 2 turtles and one bird. Highlight was meeting the people who Sartre across from us. 3. Whittaker Station: about a 2.5 hour trip, also on an open car. This trip had the most informative and interesting narration of the three. Got my hot cocoa lol and some pretty photos. Interesting town history. A cool experience for train buffs and company houses are available to stay in. Beautiful area.

In full disclosure, I privately messaged them this experience when I was sent an email after our…read moretrip and no one responded so I've decided to write this review to warn others so that they will be prepared in case this happens to them. Honestly our ride was awful. What was supposed to be a 4.5 hour trip ended up being 6 hours. When we were stopped with what I assume was some breakdown, no one said anything or told us what was going on. Instead we sit there looking at woods for what seemed like forever. Then on the way back we stopped at the Whitaker overlook, why I have no idea. No one told us we were stopping, we had no idea how long we were stopping for. The only reason I can gather is so you all could make more money at your concessions and most of us were cold and wanted to get back and instead we're left waiting for idiots too selfish for their nachos or hot chocolate and wouldn't come back to the train when the whistle was blown. They should've left without them. We had reservations at a bed and breakfast and were charged extra because we weren't able to get back before check in hours. It was honestly a miserable trip. I hope that they improve the way they conduct trips in the future as this could've been such an enjoyable trip. Also, we visited the general store the next day (had to make the 45 minute trip back to Cass since there was no time to visit the shops after getting in so late the day before) and made a significantly large purchase after being told that yes they give military discounts but after the clerk processed our sale she said "oops, I forgot to give you your discount", with no suggestion that she rering the sale to include the discount. Just the cherry on the top of a disappointing visit to Cass. The only good thing about the whole trip was a nice man named Danny who let us see the informative video in the theater earlier than the official next showing which wasn't for another hour.

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.

I really enjoyed walking the boardwalk and seeing the beautiful sites at this State Park especially…read morethe Falls. I also love all the information you can read about the history of the park and all it entails along the way. Want to get Out and About? Check It Out!

This stop was our two-day "play and reset" window between Acadia NP and New River Gorge NP -- a…read morequiet breather in the beautiful WV mountains. We stayed at the lodge and had breakfast there both mornings, mostly because options nearby are... well, nonexistent. Luckily the buffet was generous, the food was decent enough to fuel the day, and the views helped everything go down a little easier. Service, however, could definitely benefit from a hospitality tune-up -- a smile and a bit of warmth go a long way before coffee! That said, the park itself is lovely. We enjoyed peaceful trails surrounded by lush forest, and the falls are truly worth the trip -- dramatic and grounding. I got in a few good hikes, while my husband happily took in the waterfall views from the accessible paths, which are thoughtfully laid out and easy to navigate. In short: Beautiful park Scenic lodge views Buffet that gets the job done Service that could caffeinate their cheerfulness Perfect little nature pause before hitting our next national park.

Access to the preservation is on a narrow gravel road, with lots of uneven places. I do not…read morerecommend if you don't have AWD or have an aversion to narrow spaces and heights, one side of the road is a high drop off. I also recommend taking a map of the preservation and trails with you, as the signs posted can be confusing. That being said once you arrive and find your way to the trail you have selected, the trails are very well maintained and marked, the scenery is spectacular. I did notice signs posted that hunting is allowed Oct -Mar and hikers should wear bright clothing during this time, I think I would just prefer to avoid the area during this time. The area was also a WWII training ground, signs are posted for visitors not to touch any ordnance they may find.

One of the premier hiking locations on the east coast. The sods are a high altitude tundra like…read moreterrain at about 4000 feet of elevation. The wilderness features many different trails and lots of primitive camping. Access is from forest road 75, a gravel and dirt road that is mostly inaccessible in winter. The trails are well marked but not blaised, which can be a problem if you intend to night hike. Water is plentiful but has high levels of iron. Some of the trails are very boggy, especially the Dobbins grade trail. You are warned,! This area is so popular that on weekends it can be very crowded. Parking is limited so go early.