10 of the best state parks in West Virginia

With the highest average elevation of any state east of the Mississippi River, West Virginia is a natural playground defined by its mist-shrouded mountains, rushing rivers, verdant peaks, and tunneling valleys. Visitors can plan a road trip to explore it along thousands of miles of winding, scenic highways, too.

Home to the National Park Service’s newest National Park—New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, one of the East Coast’s most spectacular backdrops for whitewater rafting and hiking—the state delivers year-round recreational adventures beyond its national jewel. 

West Virginia’s 36 state parks and nine additional state forests scattered across the state offer free day-use admission and vast, varied terrain for everything from lake and river fun to lodge stays, camping, mountain biking, and more. 

The state’s ease of access makes it more enticing for a visit, too. Nearly the size of Ireland but with only a fraction of its population, West Virginia’s central location places it within a day’s drive of half of the U.S. population. The state lies within 500 miles of major cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City, and a third of Canada’s population can also reach West Virginia by road in a day. 

But for all its logistical ease, it’s the untrammeled and crowd-free adventures in West Virginia’s pristine nature that most set the state and its state parks apart.

“West Virginia is a bit undiscovered; many people don’t think of it as a tourist destination. We’ve traveled to the major national parks, and they’re all amazing, but you’re always waiting in line or in traffic. We never encounter that in our West Virginia state parks,” says Rhianna Schoeller, a West Virginia-based content creator who vlogs about her family’s adventures in the Mountain State and beyond.

West Virginia’s heritage is alive in its state parks, from Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in the eastern part of the state, where you can ride a historic steam train, to Hawks Nest State Park near the national park and New River Gorge, known for an overlook that takes its name from a folklore tale. 

“The humble state is home to some serious outdoor fun,” confirms Emily Pennington, author of “Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks.” She adds, “West Virginia really earns its state slogan: Wild and wonderful.” And there’s a West Virginia state park here for every wild-hearted traveler to visit. 

(The essential guide to visiting West Virginia.)

1. Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis

Best for: Sledding

Less than a three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., this beloved West Virginia state park in the Allegheny Mountains attracts visitors to stroll along a boardwalk and ogle a 57-foot-high waterfall that sends amber-hued water pounding into the narrow gorge below. During the fall, birch, beech, and maple trees surrounding the falls create a remarkable canvas of shimmering reds and golds. And while it’s not possible to swim in the Blackwater River near the falls, pretty Pendleton Lake, close to the Nature Center at Blackwater Falls State Park, is a good place for a dip during the warm summer months. 

However, winter might be the most magical time to plan your trip, when the falls may partially freeze over. From roughly mid-December to mid-March, the longest sled run of its kind (a quarter-mile downhill screamer) opens at the park, too, with a convenient “magic carpet” conveyor built to tow riders back up the mountain. Warm up around the fire with a hot chocolate at the Warming Hut at the base of the hill to hit pause, then do it all again. 

2. Pipestem Resort State Park, Pipestem 

Best for: Family fun

Federal grants awarded during President John F. Kennedy’s administration built this park, which opened on Memorial Day in 1970, about an hour’s drive south of Fayetteville and the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. 

Pipestem Resort State Park takes its name from Native Americans, who used hollowed-out twigs from the meadowsweet plant found in the surrounding forest for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. 

Sprawling across more than 4,000 acres, the park is a darling among families who frequent its Adventure Zone for activities such as 3D archery, mini golf, skeet shooting, and soaring across nine ziplines through the forest canopy. 

Open seasonally from May to October, an aerial tram makes a 1,200-foot ascent from the park’s Mountain Creek Lodge to the rim of Bluestone River Gorge, an ancient gorge cut through by the Bluestone National Scenic River, home to walleye and largemouth bass. You can stay within the park year-round at 26 cozy cabins, complete with fire rings and outdoor grills, surrounded by the dense woodlands. 

3. Camp Creek State Park and Forest, Camp Creek 

Best for: Chasing waterfalls

West Virginia’s Waterfall Trail traces regional driving routes across the state that lead visitors to more than 40 of the state’s most striking waterfalls (among hundreds). 

Two of the prettiest waterfalls for swimming can be found in the state’s southern stretches within Camp Creek State Park and Forest, with 33 miles of hiking trails, 27 miles of mountain biking trails, and horseback trails in the adjacent State Forest to explore. 

It’s an easy two-mile hike from the park’s office to reach gently cascading Campbell Falls, which drops into a shallow oval pool you can wade into at its base. 

You can walk to the clear waters of Mash Fork Falls from the parking lot or via the longer 7.5- mile Turkey Loop Trail, with several creek crossings to ford. The cascade spills over a picturesque sandstone ledge, offering another serene place to refresh in the cool waters during the summertime, surrounded by a forest blooming with rhododendrons, West Virginia’s state flower. 

4. Babcock State Park, Clifftop

Best for: Cabin stays

Zipping into a tent is hardly your only option when it comes to staying overnight within one of West Virginia’s iconic state parks, where several make it easy to settle in and stay a while in comfort, thanks to fully furnished cabins available for rent. A collection of 28 cabins awaits at Babcock State Park, known for the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a replica of an original 1920s mill, and a popular autumn backdrop for foliage photos. Some cabins sit along Glade Creek near the grist mill, and all are outfitted with modern appliances, linens, and Wi-Fi. Some are pet-friendly, too. New River Gorge Bridge is known for its annual autumn Bridge Day BASE jumping festival, but travelers can make the short drive south of the gorge to Babcock State Park for tamer outdoor pursuits, such as canoeing, cycling along paved and gravel roads, and fishing for bluegill and bass on Boley Lake.

5. Hawks Nest State Park, Ansted 

Best for: Whitewater rides 

Hawks Nest State Park is located near Fayetteville, and a walk along Lover’s Leap Outlook Trail provides visitors with one of the most incredible bird’s-eye views of the rugged whitewater within New River Gorge. The trail was named for a folklore tale about two Native American lovers from different tribes who leaped from the clifftop instead of being separated. “Hawks Nest has the most beautiful views, and they're also the most accessible. You park, and barely walk around a corner along a boardwalk, and then you're at the most amazing gorge,” says Schoeller. 

At the heart of West Virginia’s whitewater rafting country, the park is a must-stop if you’ve come to rush down the rapids of the Lower New River Gorge with an outfitter like Ace Adventure Resort, located near the park, or tackle the Gauley River’s class III to class V+ rapids in  September or October, with Adventures on the Gorge. 

For something tamer, jet boat rides operate seasonally from a marina within the park, accessible via an aerial tram ride from the park lodge, which offers 31 mid-century modern rooms for an overnight stay. 

(Nine of the best hotels to stay when visiting West Virginia.)

6. Coopers Rock State Forest, Bruceton Mills 

Best for: Fall foliage 

A favorite day trip for students at West Virginia University and visitors to the quaint college town of Morgantown, Coopers Rock State Forest shines brightest around mid-October. That’s when the changing leaves of the oaks, hickories, and maples switch into overdrive in this stretch of the Allegheny Mountains, but you should always check the state’s Live Leaf Map for more precise timing. The park’s more than 50 miles of hiking trails include the out-and-back, mile-long Clay Furnace Trail that leads to a historic coal-burning furnace, a remnant of an 1800s mining community. 

For more on-high views of the colorful forest canopy, sandstone cliffs within the park make it one of the most popular destinations on the entire East Coast for bouldering and top-rope climbing. Climbers should be sure to launch their adventures from a mandatory sign-in station found near the park’s main overlook parking lot. 

7. Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Davis

Best for: Skiing 

Canaan Valley Resort State Park makes a great base for exploring the region year-round. Cabins and cottages are available for rent within the park, in addition to rooms at the main lodge. It’s located roughly a mile from one of West Virginia's oldest and largest ski resorts, Canaan Valley Ski Resort, and just three miles from the 22 ski trails at the more modern Timberline Mountain. In addition to downhill skiing in winter, park activities include snow tubing and ice skating with views of the Allegheny Mountains. 

The park is an hour’s drive from wild hiking destinations within  Monongahela National Forest and the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, known for its high-altitude terrain of bogs and tundra-like vistas that can be explored on rugged trails. Within Canaan Valley Resort State Park, there are 16 miles of easy-to-challenging hiking trails. A short drive away, the adorable mountain town of Davis bustles with restaurants, cafes, and shops that are well worth a visit, too. Sirianni’s Pizza Cafe is a long-standing favorite for pizza after a day of skiing. 

8. Summersville Lake State Park, Summersville 

Best for: Rock climbing 

The newest state park in West Virginia, Summersville Lake State Park, officially opened in 2023 as the 36th. But the 177-acre park on the northern shore of West Virginia's largest lake has long been a favorite among the rock-climbing set. 

Pirates Cove is a popular rock-climbing area within the park. And Pennington recommends bringing your binoculars to spot rock climbers deep-water soloing across sandstone routes high up on the cliffs lining the lake, too. 

While there’s no lake access for swimming within the state park due to its steep cliff edges, Adventures on the Gorgeoffer pontoon boat tours with stops to swim and paddleboard in quiet coves. You can also swim from the lakeshore at Battle Run Public Beach in Mount Nebo, outside of the park. You’ll want to dive in. Summersville Lake is sometimes called the Little Bahamas of the East because of its water clarity. “The water is so clear and beautiful. We always see scuba divers when we're swimming there, and there’s also paddleboarding and pontoon rentals,” says Schoeller.

9. Cacapon Resort State Park, Berkeley Springs 

Best for: Lodge life 

Cacapon Resort State Park, located in Berkeley Springs within West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle region, opened the newest lodge in the state park system in 2021. The park’s 78-room North Lodge wing sits at the base of the Cacapon Mountains, complete with an indoor pool, full spa, and a cozy fireplace to gather around with board games after a day of adventuring. Groups can also stay in the park at the 12-room Old Inn at Cacapon Resort, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s from hand-hewn log beams and chestnut and knotty pine wood. 

Activities at the roughly 6,000-acre park range from geocaching along ridge hikes and fire roads, to mountain biking along more than 30 miles of singletrack trails, to hiking along shaded forest paths. You might even find time to squeeze in a round of golf at the park’s 18-hole course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.

10. Beech Fork State Park, Barboursville

Best for: Fishing 

Calling all anglers. If you’ve come to the Mountain State to cast out a line, you’re in the right place. Beech Fork State Park has everything from trophy smallmouth bass and walleye to wild brook trout and rainbows in West Virginia’s many streams, rivers, and lakes. Be sure to purchase your fishing license online before casting a line. 

For one state park that targets any fisher’s heart, head to Barboursville in the western part of the state, and the fruitful waters of this park. The more than 31 miles of shoreline along Beech Fork Lake include a handicap accessible fishing pier. You can also pack your tackle box and rods and rent a kayak or jon boat at the park to try your luck out on the water itself. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill are among the species commonly landed in the 720-acre reservoir. When you hang up the rods for the day, classic West Virginia hiking and biking trails are yours to enjoy, too.