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.

Nice walk around the lake and (if you like) through the woods. Picnic areas. Gazebo. Dog run. I go…read morethere in all seasons.

Took a Saturday afternoon drive out to Plum Orchard Lake with the fam in our Jeep. It's about 1.5…read morehours from us -- a mix of interstate, toll roads, winding turns, and peaceful backroads that made the ride feel like part of the adventure. When we arrived, the lake did *not* disappoint -- calm water, gorgeous scenery, and just a relaxed, welcoming energy. We didn't even try to explore the whole place (it's huge). We stopped at the first dock we saw, hopped out with our gear, and got straight to fishing. Mealworms on the hook, lines in the water, and good vibes all around. We saw fish swimming past and had a few nibbles, but no actual catches this time. Still, the whole experience was a win. It wasn't crowded at all -- just a few groups scattered around, everyone spaced out enough that it still felt peaceful. No loud music, no chaos, just people enjoying nature. **Pro Tips:** * Bring your own bait, drinks, and plenty of snacks (trust me, you'll get hungry). * There's a port-o-potty nearby *or*, you know\... nature works in a pinch (ask the boys ). * Sunscreen is a must and a hat, perhaps. We're already planning a return trip -- maybe with kayaks or to check out another part of the lake. If you're looking for a quiet, scenic spot to fish, chill, or just unwind without a crowd, Plum Orchard is a solid pick.

I was in the area and on a lark decided to check out the lake. It is truly a hidden gem in these…read morelovely hills! The southern part of the lake had a large layer of lily pads and the water caught the fall colors of the hills perfectly. I wish I had a boat there so I could go out on the water, it was a perfectly tranquil day.

Elk Fork Lake is located out Gay Road off Route 33 from Ripley, WV. It's a beautiful lake that is…read moreman made for fishing and boating. Free to use!! Great parking area to enjoy the lake for fishing! There are a lot of trees in the water so no fash speed boats allowed in this lake, but trowling motors allowed and perfect for kayaks. There is no bathroom facilities and no picnic tables. No playground or even trash cans.

This is absolutely gorgeous lake and great place to fish, hike and kayak. There is plenty of…read moreparking areas along the lake edge and lot areas. The area is FREE to use. The lake is stocked by WV DNR. A Fishing license is required. There is plenty of parking near the Mill Creek where you can slso fish and put in your kayaks to go along the Mill Creek Water Trail No camping is allowed There are also marked hiking trails. No grills available and no picnic tables. There is a dock. You can put in row boats and kayak in lake but nothing with a motor.

Tony, Kayla, Deacon & I took a Sunday drive up river on this gorgeous day to check out some of the…read morewaterfalls. We stopped at Kanawha Falls. I remember when there was a really nice swimming Beach and camping available here! Things have really changed alot! Deacon enjoyed seeing the few ducks swimming by the reeds.

Great service for me as part time resident at my Gauley Bridge home…read more Like being able to turn on water when visiting my home there and able to turn off the supply when preparing to leave the home and returning to KY home.

We were in West Virginia for my husband's work and made it a little leaf peeping Excursion. Babcock…read moreis on the top of the list of places I like to go the mill and the lake plus the colors around the area are just gorgeous lots of Reds oranges and yellows. No fee to enter they have restrooms that are easy to access and flushy bathrooms. There is a Almost Heaven swing by the mill. But what the pictures don't show is the sound of the Rushing Water it's just all so beautiful. Recommend bringing snacks in a beverage have a little picnic. Fall is the prettiest time but I'm sure it's beautiful anytime of year I'm sure with some snow would be gorgeous but I'd be a little scared to tackle all the West Virginia curvy roads with some ice and snow. This year we had such a dry drought year that no one thought the fall was going to be worth seeing so we didn't make any Leaf peeping vacations. If he hadn't had this work trip we would have missed out on on this for the year. Considering the dryness the colors were doing pretty good around here we had went to other areas where the leaves were already down around black around Blackwater and Seneca Rock. But the bugs were quite annoying mainly lots of gnats that if you stopped moving they were really annoying. We've been here a few other times in other years and this is the only time that was an issue. At the lake they have porta potties and the moved them to block the lake view Which is unfortunate. Please move them. !!

Did a quick stopover on the way to Hawk's Nest SP, and wow, this place is beautiful! One of the…read moremost frequently visited state parks in WV and it's easy to see why! The grist mill is absolutely iconic, sitting atop a picturesque waterfall. The park has a mountain lake for water activities, plenty of trails, and even cabins for longer stays! There's an Almost Heaven swing right by the mill and visitor's center, and the CCC stonework is stunning. The New River Gorge bridge is about 20-30 minutes away depending on how well you drive on mountain roads, and there's plenty to do in the area for a fun weekend or even longer! I will definitely be back myself!

The folks were extremely helpful and great to work with. Our boat was fantastic (albeit a bit old)…read moreand they moved us to a lovely cove for fishing and privacy. We would highly recommend them for anyone wanting a peaceful yet fun adventure.

I visited on a weekday in July to use the beach/swim area. Prior to arriving I used the online…read morecontact information for the Marina office to inquire whether pets were allowed in the swim area and was told "yes"; however upon arriving there was a posted "no pets" sign. At that point I had my dogs in tow and could not leave them in the car (too hot) so I let the written confirmation from the office staff supersede the signage and took them onto the sand. It was not very crowded and so we were able to unobtrusively occupy a little corner and not bother / interact with other beach goers. None of them seemed to mind our presence. The beach itself is super duper pleasant! Loved our day there. Just wish it were easier to know how to follow the rules!