The wild and beautiful West Virginia is often overlooked by travellers because of the negative stereotypes it carries. And that is a shame because West Virginia is one of the most beautiful states in the USA. With its unbroken barrier of green mountains, rushing streams and snow-covered ski resorts, it is a paradise for outdoor adventurers. It is also only a few hours' drive from Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Richmond, Virginia.
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Sunrise in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area in West Virginia ©Photography by Deb Snelson/Getty Images
The inhabitants of this state founded as a reaction to the secessionist choice of eastern Virginia still see themselves as children of miners who struggle hard to make a living, and the perception is not entirely untrue. But it is also true that the Mountain State is undergoing a phase of social and cultural transformation with several positive consequences. The first is the blossoming of the arts in its valleys, whose towns often offer a welcome alternative to outdoor activities, which continue to steadily develop in a move away from fossil fuels and towards an increasingly green choice.
Eastern Panhandle
West Virginia's most easily accessible area has always been a favourite destination for Washington residents to holiday in the mountains. Secession War sites, spas, forests, rivers and hiking trails are enough to keep visitors occupied for a long weekend.
One of the unique features of the Panhandle is that the region spans three states - West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland - while a fourth, Pennsylvania, lies immediately to the north. When planning your itinerary, check the maps of the individual states and their respective sites of interest.
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Sunset at Harpers Ferry ©MarkVanDykePhotography/Getty Images
Harpers Ferry
History lives on in this beautiful town criss-crossed by steep cobbled streets and squeezed between the Shenandoah Mountains and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. The lower town is an open-air museum where one can wander among some fifteen period buildings and get in touch with the daily life of a small 19th century town. The exhibition spaces tell the story of the leading role played by Harpers Ferry in the pioneering expansion to the West, in the development of American industry and, above all, in the debate over slavery. In 1859, old John Brown tried to spark the slave revolt here, but his attempt failed and he was hanged. The affair contributed to worsening dissension between the North and the South, effectively accelerating the outbreak of the Civil War.
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Douglas Falls in the Monongahela National Forest ©AppalachianViews/Getty Images
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Monongahela National Forest
The map of West Virginia shows in green almost the entire eastern region of the state, an immense natural heritage placed under protection by the name of this extraordinary national forest. The park's 3626-square-kilometre territory is criss-crossed by rushing rivers and contains caves and the state's highest peak, Spruce Knob. Over 1360 km of trails include the 199 km Allegheny Trail, ideal for multi-day hikes, and the 120 km Greenbrier River Trail.
Elkins, on the western edge of the forest, is a good starting point and the surreal landscape of the Seneca Rocks, 56 km south-east of Elkins, with steep sandstone walls reaching up to 300 metres in height, attracts many rock climbing enthusiasts.
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The New River Gorge Bridge seen from Fayette Station Road ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock
Southern West Virginia
This part of West Virginia has won the title of adventure sports capital of the eastern states in recent years, offering adrenaline-fuelled white-water runs, fantastic mountain biking and beautiful forest walks.
New River Gorge National River
The New River, one of the world's oldest rivers, flows through a narrow gorge cloaked by dense primeval forest and offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Appalachian Mountains. The NPS protects a stretch of the New River that plummets 230 metres over 80 km with a series of close (even grade V) rapids concentrated at the northern end. The Canyon Rim visitor centre, immediately north of the scenic bridge over the gorge, is just one of four NPS visitor centres located along the river. It distributes useful information on scenic routes (including the memorable hike to the abandoned mining village of Nuttallburg), operators who rent equipment for river activities, gorge climbing, hiking and mountain biking, and rafting opportunities further north on the Gauley River. The descents down the rapids of the Gauley at the opening of the dam are among the most adrenaline-pumping experiences one can have in the United States. From the trails that run along the edge of the gorge and inside it, you can admire splendid panoramic views.
In Hawks Nest State Park there are a number of hiking trails, a nature centre and a cable car that runs from May to October down to the river. The lodge offers comfortable rooms with spectacular views of the gorge.
Babcock State Park is equipped for hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, camping and overnight stays in bungalows. Its main attraction is the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a much-photographed mill.