State Park System
The state park system includes 35 state parks, six state forests and six wildlife management areas, as well as the Greenbrier River Trail and the North Bend Rail Trail. Hiking, camping, skiing and whitewater rafting abound.
Babcock State Park
Babcock State Park, in the southern part of the state, includes more than 4,000 acres, and isn't far from the New River and the Gauley River, West Virginia's two major venues for whitewater rafting. The park also has an iconic, working grist mill.
Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley
Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley are side by side where the Eastern Panhandle joins central West Virginia. Canaan Valley has a resort with hiking and mountain biking in the summer, and snow sports in the winter. Blackwater Falls has more than 20 miles of hiking trails, more than 10 of which can be used for cross-country skiing in winter.
Kanawha State Forest
Kanawha State Forest is only seven miles from West Virginia's capital, Charleston. Its 9,300 acres feature many trails for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, and it has an equipped campground with 46 spaces.
Pipestem Resort State Park
Pipestem is in the south near the Virginia border, and it offers 20 marked trails that are open all year. If you venture to the nearby Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, you can take advantage of paddle boating, canoeing and cycling.
