West Virginia

West Virginia is an Appalachian adventure state — whitewater rafting (the Gauley's autumn dam releases are world-famous, and the New is a classic), rock climbing at Seneca Rocks, hiking, mountain biking, and caving. New River Gorge National Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness, Blackwater Falls, and the Monongahela National Forest anchor it.

Fall (October) brings spectacular Appalachian color; spring and summer are prime for whitewater and climbing. Winter brings snow and skiing to the high country at Snowshoe and Canaan Valley.

Black bears (abundant), white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and a recovering elk population inhabit the mountains, while the high, boreal-like Dolly Sods hosts species more typical of Canada.

Appalachian hardwood and high-elevation red spruce forest, the unique windswept heath and bog of Dolly Sods (a relic northern ecosystem), and extensive karst caves make up the ecology.

Entirely mountainous, West Virginia lies in the rugged Appalachian Plateau and the folded Ridge-and-Valley, with the deep New River Gorge (cut by one of the world's oldest rivers), the quartzite fins of Seneca Rocks, extensive caves, and 4,863-ft Spruce Knob, the state high point.

The Shawnee and other peoples used these mountains as hunting grounds. West Virginia split from Virginia during the Civil War to remain in the Union, becoming the 35th state in 1863.

A premier whitewater and rock-climbing destination, deep Appalachian heritage, and a growing outdoor-recreation economy replacing coal define the state's identity.

Protecting the New River Gorge and the high-country wilderness, recovering forests and streams from the legacy of mountaintop-removal coal mining, and conserving Dolly Sods are key efforts.

Charleston and the New River Gorge area (Beckley) serve the south; the eastern highlands are reached from D.C. A vehicle is essential in this rugged, rural state.

Powerful whitewater (use licensed outfitters), exposed climbing at Seneca Rocks, fast mountain weather, and remote terrain are the main concerns. Watch for venomous snakes and check for ticks.

State parks charge no general entrance fee, and the WV Division of Natural Resources administers licenses; New River Gorge is free, and backcountry climbing follows standard access rules.

Use licensed outfitters for the New and Gauley, especially during fall Gauley releases.

Raft the New and Gauley rivers (book outfitters ahead, especially for fall Gauley releases), climb or hike Seneca Rocks, and explore the wild Dolly Sods. Visit in October for peak color.

West Virginia borders Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky, linking the New River Gorge, the Appalachian highlands, and the Allegheny Mountains.