Destinations
Everywhere in West Virginia, in one list
Eastern Panhandle
The Eastern Panhandle is the three-county wedge of West Virginia that reaches east between Maryland and Virginia, made up of Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. It holds Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the mineral springs at Berkeley Springs, and the state's Potomac and Shenandoah river frontage. It is the closest part of West Virginia to Washington, DC and Baltimore, roughly 75 to 100 road miles from either city.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
Trails, slopes and resorts
Potomac Highlands
The Potomac Highlands covers eight counties along West Virginia's eastern mountain spine: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph and Tucker. It contains the highest ground in the state, including Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet, along with Seneca Rocks, Dolly Sods, Canaan Valley and most of the Monongahela National Forest. Four of West Virginia's five ski areas operate here, and trout fishing, backpacking and fall color drive the rest of the overnight demand.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
Counties: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker
Mountaineer Country
Mountaineer Country is the north-central region anchored by Morgantown and West Virginia University, covering Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties. Interstates 68 and 79 cross it, putting Pittsburgh about 75 miles from Morgantown. Coopers Rock State Forest, Cheat Lake, the Cheat River canyon and Tygart Lake all sit within 40 miles of the region's two largest cities.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
Trails, slopes and resorts
Counties: Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor
Northern Panhandle
The Northern Panhandle is the narrow strip of West Virginia that runs north along the Ohio River between Ohio and Pennsylvania, covering Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel counties. Wheeling is its largest city and holds Oglebay Resort, the Wheeling Suspension Bridge and Wheeling Island. Pittsburgh is about 60 miles from Wheeling, closer than any West Virginia city outside the region.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Trails, slopes and resorts
Mid-Ohio Valley
The Mid-Ohio Valley follows the Ohio River through the western middle of the state and takes in Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties. Parkersburg is the largest city, and Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is in the river just downstream from it. The 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail and North Bend State Park run through the region's eastern counties.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
Trails, slopes and resorts
Counties: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, Wood
Mountain Lakes
Mountain Lakes is the geographic center of West Virginia, covering Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Upshur and Webster counties. Four Army Corps reservoirs give the region its name: Summersville Lake, Sutton Lake, Burnsville Lake and Stonewall Jackson Lake. Interstate 79 runs the length of it, and the Cranberry Wilderness and Highland Scenic Highway reach into its eastern edge.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
Trails, slopes and resorts
Counties: Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Upshur, Webster
Metro Valley
Metro Valley is the most populous of the nine regions and holds both of West Virginia's largest cities, Charleston and Huntington. It covers Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne counties along the Kanawha and Ohio rivers. Interstates 64, 77 and 79 converge in Charleston, which makes the region the state's main air, rail and highway hub.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
New River / Greenbrier Valley
The New River / Greenbrier Valley region covers Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh and Summers counties in southeastern West Virginia. It contains New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the Gauley River National Recreation Area, the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail and The Greenbrier resort at White Sulphur Springs. Commercial whitewater rafting, rock climbing and the New River Gorge Bridge account for most visitor traffic.
Towns and cities
Parks and forests
Lakes and rivers
Counties: Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers
Hatfield-McCoy Mountains
The Hatfield-McCoy Mountains region covers the southern coalfields: Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties. Most of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails ATV system, more than 1,000 miles of marked off-highway trail across several trailheads, runs through these counties. The region also holds the Matewan historic district, the coal-baron houses at Bramwell and the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia and Bluefield, Virginia.