West Virginia Tourist Attractions

If the outdoors is for you, you are bound to love West Virginia. Whether your preference is for camping, fishing, hunting, or caving, West Virginia is your playground. No visit to West Virginia would be complete without a visit to Seneca Caverns in Riverton or Smoke Hole Caverns in Seneca Rocks. Both are open year-round. For more information about Seneca Caverns, call 1-800-239-7647. Smoke Hole Caverns information can be obtained by calling 1-800-828-8478. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are great spots to just view the wildlife, hike, hunt, or fish. WMA oversees more than a million acres in the Monongahela, Washington, and Jefferson national forests, and well as in the nine West Virginia State forests. Among the most popular WMAs are Sleepy Creek, Handley, Bluestone, and McClintic. Touted as the greatest hunting area in the East, it is estimated that each year more than 350,000 hunters try their skills at harvesting deer, turkey, bear, and wild boar from West Virginia’s fertile hunting areas. Small game can also be found in many of the WMAs . West Virginia’s proactive wildlife management has positioned the state to continue its capacity to produce enough game for hunters now and in the future. Fishing is a popular pastime for locals and visitors, alike. A great experience for novices or advanced anglers is a West Virginia guided fishing trip. Mountain State Anglers will guide you along the 53 miles of world-class river fishing area of New River Gorge National River. The name is deceptive, because New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in the world. There are huge sandstone boulders, deep pools, and swift currents, where smallmouth bass thrive. Trout are also plentiful, and lessons in fly fishing are available. Current license fees are low for both residents and nonresidents and may be obtained by calling 1-800-Call-WV

A: If you are interested in the guided tour, contact Mountain State Anglers at 1-877-359-8463 or info@mountainstateanglers.com. Another fun place for fishing and other water-related activities is at Dog Run Nature Preserve

about one mile northeast of Salem. A 22-acre lake is the centerpiece of this 363-acre area featuring picnic shelters, hiking trails, and comfort stations. While visiting Harrison County, you can also enjoy the North Bend Rail Trail. It is a reclaimed 72-mile stretch of abandoned railroad that stretches through four counties. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities take place along this trail. A five-mile model section of the trail runs through downtown Salem and Depot Park, and is a part of the American Discovery Trail, a 6,000-mile series of connecting trails that stretch from California to Delaware. Best of all, the trail is free to the public and open year-round.