West Virginia

The Mountain State

Stunning scenery awaits visitors to this State which is nearly 80% forested laced with 2,000 miles of streams and rivers and 36 state parks - a scenic landscape for John Denver’s Country Roads. Luxury resorts, rustic lodges and quaint B&Bs in small towns offer real American hospitality, while outdoor activities range from whitewater rafting, mountain biking, fishing, hiking and golf. In the northeast corner, the delightful little town of Harpers Ferry has been protected with national park status as well as being the base for the Appalachian Trail HQ. There are many charming spa towns and Washington family homes set in acres of rich farmland. The Shenandoah and Potomac rivers are popular for summer activities while the area is good for skiing in the winter.

The New River/Greenbrier Valley region in the southeast is ideal for challenging whitewater rafting. Here the spectacular New River Gorge National River is crossed by the 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge, the western hemisphere's second longest single-span arch bridge, the renowned Greenbrier Resort and small towns like Lewisburg can be enjoyed. West Virginia is the most northerly of the southern states, located entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range. Once part of neighbouring Virginia, it became a separate state in 1863. West Virginia offers a wealth of natural resources, dramatic scenery and warm hospitality to visitors.