Places to Play
Explore the Mon Forest Towns of West Virginia through regions that offer something for every kind of outdoor experience, from easy trails, rivers, and rail trails to remote wilderness, rugged ridgelines, and high-elevation landscapes. These places connect towns, recreation areas, and the Monongahela regionโs most memorable ways to get outside.
National Forest
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking
Historic CCC-built campground near Parsons with riverside camping, trout fishing, classic stonework, and hidden waterfalls.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Hiking โข Hunting
Steep looped trail network above Marlinton connecting the Greenbrier River Trail, Seneca State Forest, and Monday Lick.
Wilderness
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
One of the East's largest wilderness areas with 60+ miles of trails, legendary trout waters, and premier backpacking solitude.
Wilderness
USFS
Camping โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Iconic windswept plateau with 47+ miles of trails, tundra-like barrens, and dramatic Allegheny Front views.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Gated trail network for hikers, bikers, and equestrians offering remote valleys, trout streams, and camping near Cranberry Wilderness.
State Forest
WVDOF
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
5,100 acres of trails, cabins, and camping near White Sulphur Springs with valley views and summer swimming.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Hiking โข XC-Skiing
Panoramic observation tower and rugged canyon trails near Parsons with rare wetlands and railroad history.
National Forest
USFS
Camping โข Climbing โข Fishing โข Hiking
Iconic 900-foot sandstone fins with steep overlook trail, world-class climbing, and Discovery Center.
Preserve
TNC
Hiking
Expansive high-elevation wetlands linking Dolly Sods and Canaan Valley with primitive trails on historic railroad grades.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
19,600 acres with 60+ miles of trails, waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and connections to Spruce Knob.
Wilderness
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Nearly 15,000 acres of spruce forests and trout streams with 18+ miles of backcountry trails and historic CCC cabins.
State Forest
WVDOF
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข Kayaking
West Virginia's oldest state forest with 23 miles of trails, historic CCC cabins, and a restored fire tower.
Rail Trail
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding โข Kayaking โข XC-Skiing
A 16-mile rail-trail from Richwood following three rivers through scenic valleys with historic tunnels and bridges.
National Forest
USFS
Boating โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking
Quiet 43-acre mountain lake near Richwood with trails, fishing, camping, and stunning reflections.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Nearly 45 miles of trails near Marlinton, connecting the Williams River, Cranberry Wilderness, and Gauley Base.
National Forest
USFS
Hiking
Living research forest near Parsons offering interpretive trails through American chestnut plantings and restoration projects.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Remote high-elevation backcountry between Durbin and Laurel Fork Wilderness offering rugged trails and off-the-grid solitude.
State Park
WVDNR
ADA โข Hiking
Massive sandstone boulders and cool rock crevices with an accessible half-mile boardwalk near Marlinton.
National Forest
USFS
Hiking
Three of West Virginia's tallest waterfalls on a 1.4-mile trail with boardwalks and an accessible viewing platform.
Trail
Multiple
Camping โข Hiking
A 316-mile footpath from the Mason-Dixon Line to the Appalachian Trail, crossing state parks and Monongahela National Forest ridges
Rail Trail
USFS
Biking โข Hiking โข XC-Skiing
A challenging 10-mile backcountry rail-trail dropping through Blackwater Canyon past waterfalls and historic industrial remnants.
State Park
WVDNR
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Golf โข Hiking โข Skiing โข XC-Skiing
Four-season resort offering downhill skiing, golf, 18 miles of trails, and panoramic lift-served views in Canaan Valley.
Wildlife Refuge
USFWS
ADA โข Biking โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding โข Hunting โข Kayaking โข XC-Skiing
Premier wildlife refuge with 30+ miles of trails through rare high-elevation wetlands, meadows, and spruce forests near Davis.
Water Trail
WVDNR
Boating โข Fishing โข Kayaking
A 40-mile calm-water paddle trail from Parsons to Rowlesburg with abundant access and mountain scenery.
Wilderness
USFS
Hiking โข Hunting
Accessible wilderness near White Sulphur Springs offering hiking, fishing, and birdwatching across 5,000 acres of hardwood forest.
National Forest
USFS
Camping โข Hiking
Bear Heaven Recreation Area offers dramatic sandstone formations, peaceful camping, and trail access into the Otter Creek Wilderness.
Preserve
TNC
Hiking
Dramatic sandstone outcrops and sweeping Allegheny Front views along a short, family-friendly loop at Dolly Sods' edge.
National Forest
USFS
Biking
Purpose-built mountain bike trails near Marlinton with flowy ridgelines and connections to downtown.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Hiking โข XC-Skiing
West Virginia's highest peak stands at 4,863 feet and offers panoramic views, an observation tower, and subalpine forests.
Wildlife Area
WVDNR
Biking โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
A 3,168-acre recreation hub in Davis with 15 miles of trails connecting Canaan Valley and the national forest.
National Forest
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hunting
Scenic river corridor with premier trout fishing, dispersed camping near Cowen, and connections to Cranberry Wilderness.
State Park
WVDNR
ADA โข Biking โข Boating โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข XC-Skiing
Home to West Virginia's iconic 57-foot amber waterfall with trails, paddling, and year-round recreation near Thomas and Davis.
Rail Trail
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Remote 22-mile rail-trail from Glady to Durbin with dispersed camping and historic railroad ghost towns.
State Park
WVDNR
Biking โข Boating โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Kayaking
West Virginia's largest state park with 10,000+ acres of trails, lakes, cabins, and rich CCC-era history.
State Park
WVDNR
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding
West Virginia's second-largest state park with 8,100+ acres of waterfalls, wildflowers, trails, and family camping.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
Internationally recognized mountain bike destination with 30+ miles of stacked loops and dispersed camping near Durbin.
State Park
WVDNR
Hiking
Civil War battlefield with lookout tower, ridge trails, and interpretive exhibits overlooking the Greenbrier Valley.
Rail Trail
WVDOT
ADA โข Biking โข Hiking โข XC-Skiing
A 26-mile rail-trail from Elkins to Hendricks offering paved and gravel sections for biking, walking, and accessible recreation.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
CCC-built riverside camping near Elkins with access to Bickle Knob Observation Tower and valley views.
Wilderness
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
Remote 7,000-acre trail-less wilderness along the Greenbrier River for experienced explorers.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
Remote mountain biking zone near Snowshoe with rugged trails connecting to Tea Creek for off-the-grid adventure.
National Forest
USFS
Boating โข Camping โข Hiking
Quiet 22-acre mountain lake near Durbin with fishing, boating, camping, and trail access to highland views.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Kayaking โข Swimming
The forest's largest lake, with 156 acres of swimming, paddling, camping, and an easy lakeside loop trail.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Wild plateau between Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley with 30+ miles of rugged trails for experienced hikers and bikers.
Trail
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Hiking
A 24-mile ridge trail with nonstop panoramic views from Chimney Rocks to Smoke Hole Canyon.
Wilderness
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Windswept 6,800-acre plateau with rocky outcrops and big-sky views south of Dolly Sods.
Wildlife Area
WVDNR
Boating โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
A 122-acre riverside green space in Elkins with easy trails, river access, and fishing for quick outdoor escapes.
National Forest
USFS
Hiking
Rare old-growth red spruce forest with easy interpretive trails and panoramic overlook near Durbin.
Wildlife Area
WVDNR
Boating โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
A quiet 55-acre lake near Cowen with warmwater fishing, accessible trails, and picnic facilities perfect for family outings.
Rail Trail
WVDNR
Biking โข Camping โข Hiking โข Horseback Riding โข Kayaking โข XC-Skiing
A 78-mile rail-trail along the Greenbrier River offering scenic, easy riding from Caldwell to Cass with camping.
Wilderness
USFS
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
20,000 acres of primitive wilderness with 45+ miles of trails and creek-side camping near Parsons and Elkins
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข XC-Skiing
Remote river corridor with dispersed camping, backcountry trails, and trout fishing along Shavers Fork.
State Forest
WVDOT
Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
West Virginia's highest state forest with cool high-country terrain, trout streams, and rustic CCC cabins.
National Forest
USFS
Biking โข Camping โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting
Remote, lightly visited backcountry at the forest's edge favoring solitude and loop trails.
National Forest
USFS
Camping โข Climbing โข Fishing โข Hiking โข Hunting โข Kayaking
Dramatic limestone gorge offering premier climbing, fishing, paddling, and scenic driving near Petersburg.
National Forest
USFS
Hiking
Rare high-elevation bog with accessible boardwalk, carnivorous plants, and a nature center along the Highland Scenic Highway.
