25 Best Day Hikes in West Virginia

The 8.9-mile Halfmoon Mountain Loop offers stunning vistas, including the Halfmoon Lookout with views of Trout Run Valley. Starting on the Pond Run Trail, you'll gradually ascend with several creek crossings. At the Halfmoon Trail junction, a hidden vista provides a peaceful break before reaching the summit. The Halfmoon Lookout Trail leads to two spectacular views, one by an old fire tower site, with a quieter westerly vista nearby. The summit offers a great campsite for backpacking but lacks water sources.

The Cranberry River loop is one of West Virginia’s top scenic hikes, especially during peak fall colors. This 17.9-mile circuit offers peaceful campsites, riverside views, and old-growth forest. Perfect for a quiet, backcountry adventure in the Cranberry Wilderness.

The Spruce Knob–Seneca Creek loop is one of West Virginia’s best backcountry hikes, packed with waterfalls, meadows, and epic campsites. This 15-mile route starts at Spruce Knob, the state’s highest peak, and follows scenic trails through some of the Monongahela National Forest's most stunning terrain. Ideal for summer and early fall hiking.

The Big Run & Leading Ridge hike is a scenic two-day loop in Monongahela National Forest, featuring wildlife-rich trails, open meadows, and peaceful streams. With only 700 feet of elevation gain over 13 miles, it’s a manageable yet rewarding backcountry adventure. Expect rough gravel roads to the trailhead, but solitude and views await.

The Allegheny & Seneca Creek hike is a stunning West Virginia loop featuring waterfalls, stream crossings, and ridge views through Monongahela National Forest. With plentiful campsites and scenic highlights like Seneca Falls, it's perfect for a weekend backpack. Expect solitude, lush forests, and refreshing creekside trails.

The High Falls Trail is a scenic backcountry hike in Monongahela National Forest leading to one of the region’s most beautiful and highest waterfalls. Winding through old-growth hemlock forest and across Shavers Mountain, this 7-mile out-and-back features peaceful woodland, a remote vibe, and a stunning 100-foot-wide cascade at the end. It's a must for waterfall lovers and solitude seekers alike.

The Seneca Rocks Trail is a popular 3.2-mile out-and-back hike in West Virginia offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valley. A steady gravel path leads to a scenic overlook, with the option to carefully scramble up Seneca Rocks for epic 360-degree views. It's a must-do for hikers visiting Monongahela National Forest, but caution is essential if climbing beyond the overlook.

The Cranny Crow & Big Ridge hike in Lost River State Park is a scenic loop and out-and-back combo featuring sweeping mountain vistas, a ridge-top meadow, and historic landmarks. Highlights include Cranny Crow Overlook, Cheeks Rocks, and the Big Ridge vista. With a mix of trails and unblazed service roads, this 10.8 mile route offers varied terrain and peaceful forest paths. Though some trail blazes are faded, the views and solitude make this a rewarding West Virginia gem.

The Beartown Boulders boardwalk loop is a short, magical stroll (0.6 mi) through towering sandstone formations, mossy crevices, and fern-capped boulders in Beartown State Park, WV. Though more walk than hike, it’s a must-stop detour along US-219—especially with kids. The boardwalk winds through narrow rock corridors and over deep fissures, offering a mix of geology, history, and whimsy. Open April–October (winter access by foot), it's a unique, easy-access experience perfect for families or a quick nature fix.

The Devils Nose hike in the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area is a scenic 1.1-mile trail (2.2-mile round trip) leading to a stunning rock outcrop with expansive views of the Meadow Branch Creek gorge. Starting from Maverick Trail Road, the hike is easy to follow with a few steeper sections. The overlook at the top offers great views, and if you're feeling adventurous, you can continue on the Tuscarora Trail for additional overlooks. The hike is accessible year-round, though the creek can run high in spring. For a longer 6.2-mile option, the Tuscarora Trail provides additional vistas and a less-traveled route.

The Glade Creek Trail in the New River Gorge National Park is a scenic 12.2-mile out-and-back hike that follows an old raised railroad bed, making it relatively flat throughout. This trail offers an excellent backpacking experience with several campsites along the way, many of which are easily accessible right off the trail. The hike includes Kate’s Falls Trail, a 0.3-mile spur, though skipping this section brings the total distance to around 11.9 miles.

The White Rock Cliff hike is a beautiful loop hike located in the Great North Mountain area, known for its solitude, scenic streams, and impressive flora diversity. One of the highlights of this trail is the Opa Overlook, which offers stunning panoramic views, including a distant look at Shenandoah National Park on clear days. The hike also passes through historic areas once settled by German and Scots-Irish migrants in the 1730s. The trail is accessible from both the Little Sluice Hike and the loop itself.

The Thorny Mountain Lookout Tower Hike in Seneca State Forest offers a unique adventure, combining scenic beauty with a rich historical backdrop. Seneca is one of West Virginia's oldest state forests, and it provides a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, boating, and a peaceful environment far from the distractions of modern life. The hike includes a visit to the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower, which offers unparalleled views from the top, with the option to spend the night in the converted fire tower for a truly memorable experience.

The Gentle Trail to Blackwater Falls Overlook in Blackwater Falls State Park is a short, accessible trail offering incredible views of the iconic Blackwater Falls and the surrounding area. This trail is ideal for individuals of all ages and abilities, as it’s wheelchair accessible and only 0.2 miles long.

The Canaan Mountain and Table Rock Hike in the Canaan Mountain Backcountry offers a beautiful, scenic adventure through the unique highland ecosystems of West Virginia. The hike showcases diverse landscapes including peat bogs, conifer forests, and stunning overlooks like Table Rock and Lindy Point Overlook. This overnight loop is ideal for those looking for a backcountry experience with plenty of opportunities for camping and exploration.

The Chimney Top Hike offers a strenuous yet rewarding experience, with breathtaking views and a challenging ascent to the summit. This 4.9-mile hike with a 1,960-foot elevation gain is part of the North Fork Mountain Trail system, known for its overlooks and backcountry camping opportunities.

The Long Point Trail at New River Gorge National Park is a moderate 3.2-mile out-and-back hike that takes you to one of the most iconic overlook views of the New River Gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge. It offers some of the best scenic views in West Virginia, especially if you're a fan of dramatic cliffs and expansive vistas.

The Loudoun Heights & Split Rock hike is a beautiful and historical trail offering great views of the Potomac River and Harpers Ferry, with fewer crowds compared to other nearby vista hikes. The hike is steeped in history, providing a chance to explore Civil War-era landmarks, as well as scenic vistas of the surrounding mountains and rivers.

The Forks of Red Creek hike explores the heart of Dolly Sods Wilderness —one of the most unique landscapes on the East Coast. This 10-mile loop features open meadows, stunted spruce, sphagnum bogs, and creek crossings with stunning campsites at the Forks. It's a must-hike for backpackers seeking rugged beauty and iconic West Virginia scenery.

The Valley View Trail in Davis, West Virginia, is a short yet scenic trail that offers breathtaking views of Canaan Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. While the trail itself is easy and relatively short, the journey to reach it requires some planning due to its location within a gated community and on the edge of Dolly Sods Wilderness. The best way to reach this trail is through the wilderness itself. It's an ideal trail for those looking to experience the stunning beauty of Dolly Sods Wilderness from an accessible ridge-top perspective.

The Bear Rocks Preservation Trail at Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia, is a short, easy hike that offers some of the best views in the region. This 0.5-mile out-and-back trail leads to a scenic overlook where visitors are rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the West Virginia mountains and, on clear days, even distant views of Shenandoah National Park.

The Lions Head Hike in Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia, is one of the most stunning and unique hiking areas on the East Coast. This 19.6-mile circuit trail showcases the very best that Dolly Sods has to offer, including high plateaus, grassy meadows, sphagnum bogs, and unique rock formations like Lions Head on Breathed Mountain.

The Rocky Ridge Trail in Dolly Sods Wilderness, Tucker County, West Virginia, is a moderate 3.3-mile one-way trail that offers some of the most scenic views in the entire Dolly Sods region. This trail is less trafficked due to its distance from the main parking areas, such as those near the Bear Rocks Trail, but it's well worth the journey for hikers looking to explore the less crowded parts of Dolly Sods.

The Northern Dolly Sods Loop is a moderate 7-mile loop trail that brings hikers through some of the most scenic and unique landscapes in Dolly Sods Wilderness. The trail connects three different trails: the Bear Rocks Trail (TR522), the Dobbin Grade Trail (TR526), and the Raven Ridge Trail (TR521), offering hikers a diverse experience of the area's natural beauty, with a mix of forested sections, open meadows, and stream crossings.

The Raven Ridge Trail in Dolly Sods Wilderness, located within the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, is a scenic and moderate 2.9-mile one-way trail. It connects several other popular trails, including the Rocky Ridge Trail, Beaver View Trail, Bear Rocks Trail, and Dobbin Grade Trail (TR526).