Hiking is all about getting out in nature and enjoying some fresh air while basking in the beauty of West Virginia. While it can certainly be good exercise, it doesn’t have to be hardcore to be legit. Here are a few easy picks for the best hikes in West Virginia (ever!) that just about anyone can handle. These easy hikes in West Virginia are where it’s at; which will you do first?
- Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park
CherylB42/TripAdvisor
CherylB42/TripAdvisor Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park is the halfway point along the 2,178-mile long Appalachian Trail. The park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, varying in difficulty. For a super easy hike, take the paved trail across the bridge and over the Potomac River. The scenery is amazing. While you’re here, be sure to check out the most beautiful historic town in West Virginia. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, 171 Shoreline Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
- Marion County Trail
Lara Sieck/AllTrails
Jess Stuart/AllTrails This riverside trail starts at Prickett’s Fort State Park and meanders along for about three miles. Visit the historical fort at the state park beforehand, where docents dress in 18th-century garb and show you what life was like back then. Learn more about this fascinating hiking trail in West Virginia on AllTrails. Marion County Trail (Mctrail), Fairmont, WV 26554, USA
- Greenbrier River Trail
tccampa/TripAdvisor
goneagain2/TripAdvisor The Greenbrier River Trail stretches 77 miles through Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. Choose your section of the trail - they all offer stunning scenery and are very walkable. This is a great hiking trail in West Virginia, whether you opt to do the entire thing or not. Greenbrier River Trail, Renick, WV, USA
- Grandview State Park Overlook
Harry M./Trip Advisor
Steve1362/Trip Advisor Take the paved trail from the parking lot to the overlook for a stunning view with minimal effort. Don’t forget your camera! Come see why Grandview State Park in West Virginia is one of our favorite places! Grandview, Grandview Rd, Beaver, WV 25813, USA
- Allegheny Highlands Trail
PhotoCrawler/TripAdvisor
PhotoCrawler/TripAdvisor This trail takes you through some of West Virginia’s most gorgeous countryside scenery. Some sections have a bit of a grade; others are totally flat. The trail is groomed the entire way. This is one easy hike in West Virginia you’ll want to do again! Allegheny Highlands Trail of WV, Montrose, WV, USA
- Glade Creek Trail
JDemaria/TripAdvisor
JDemaria/TripAdvisor The Glade Creek Trail is about six miles out and back, and mostly easy with just a few spots where you’ll navigate some rocks and tree branches. The payoff is this gorgeous waterfall! Well, that, and this awesome swimming hole in West Virginia. Glade Creek Trail, West Virginia, USA
- White Oak Rail Trail
bdaygirl/TripAdvisor
bdaygirl/TripAdvisor Most of this eight-mile trail is paved, making it the perfect spot for an easy walk. The trail runs through Oak Hill and connects Summerlee and Carlisle. You’ll pass by some pretty, rural spots along the way, and find plenty of places to sit and have a rest. Learn more about this rail trail in West Virginia on AllTrails! White Oak Rail Trail, Oak Hill, WV, USA
Ready for some more great hikes in West Virginia? Us too! Take a look at these 15 incredibly scenic hikes!
CherylB42/TripAdvisor
Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park is the halfway point along the 2,178-mile long Appalachian Trail. The park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, varying in difficulty. For a super easy hike, take the paved trail across the bridge and over the Potomac River. The scenery is amazing. While you’re here, be sure to check out the most beautiful historic town in West Virginia.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, 171 Shoreline Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Lara Sieck/AllTrails
Jess Stuart/AllTrails
This riverside trail starts at Prickett’s Fort State Park and meanders along for about three miles. Visit the historical fort at the state park beforehand, where docents dress in 18th-century garb and show you what life was like back then. Learn more about this fascinating hiking trail in West Virginia on AllTrails.
Marion County Trail (Mctrail), Fairmont, WV 26554, USA
tccampa/TripAdvisor
goneagain2/TripAdvisor
The Greenbrier River Trail stretches 77 miles through Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. Choose your section of the trail - they all offer stunning scenery and are very walkable. This is a great hiking trail in West Virginia, whether you opt to do the entire thing or not.
Greenbrier River Trail, Renick, WV, USA
Harry M./Trip Advisor
Steve1362/Trip Advisor
Take the paved trail from the parking lot to the overlook for a stunning view with minimal effort. Don’t forget your camera! Come see why Grandview State Park in West Virginia is one of our favorite places!
Grandview, Grandview Rd, Beaver, WV 25813, USA
PhotoCrawler/TripAdvisor
This trail takes you through some of West Virginia’s most gorgeous countryside scenery. Some sections have a bit of a grade; others are totally flat. The trail is groomed the entire way. This is one easy hike in West Virginia you’ll want to do again!
Allegheny Highlands Trail of WV, Montrose, WV, USA
JDemaria/TripAdvisor
The Glade Creek Trail is about six miles out and back, and mostly easy with just a few spots where you’ll navigate some rocks and tree branches. The payoff is this gorgeous waterfall! Well, that, and this awesome swimming hole in West Virginia.
Glade Creek Trail, West Virginia, USA
bdaygirl/TripAdvisor
Most of this eight-mile trail is paved, making it the perfect spot for an easy walk. The trail runs through Oak Hill and connects Summerlee and Carlisle. You’ll pass by some pretty, rural spots along the way, and find plenty of places to sit and have a rest. Learn more about this rail trail in West Virginia on AllTrails!
White Oak Rail Trail, Oak Hill, WV, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in West Virginia April 04, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the greatest kid-friendly hikes around West Virginia? West Virginia is a great place for hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. There are so many amazing kid-friendly hikes in West Virginia that it’s tough to decide which ones to start with, so why not start with the easier ones? Some of our favorites include the Blackwater Falls Trail at Blackwater Falls State Park; it’s 0.4 miles long, short and sweet, and it leads to one of the best waterfalls in West Virginia. While at the state park, be sure to also check out the Lindy Point Overlook Trail, which is 0.8 miles long and offers up epic views of Blackwater Canyon. Other excellent kid-friendly hikes in West Virginia include the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail, at New River Gorge National Park, and the Long Point Trail at Summersville Lake State Wildlife Area is another great one with a stunning payoff. What are the most popular hikes in West Virginia? Did you know there are more than 700 amazing hiking trails in West Virginia, all of which are definitely worth a gander? Yep, it’s true – but with so many to choose from, as we said above, how do you know where to start? If the easier hikes mentioned in the previous paragraph aren’t quite your thing, how about other scenic hikes in West Virginia, like the Maryland Heights Loop Trail; it’s tough, at 6.6 miles long, and it’s home to lots of steep climbs – but the views are totally worth it. Then, check out the Endless Wall Trail at New River Gorge National Park; it’s much easier than the Maryland Heights Loop, and it’s just 2.3 miles long, so it’s easier for a short trek. That one will lead you through rich forest, amazing creeks, and awe-inspiring cliffside views. Finally, be sure to look into the Seneca Rocks Trail, which is rated as moderate and extends just 3.6 miles, leading to an observation platform with excellent rock face views.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in West Virginia
April 04, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the greatest kid-friendly hikes around West Virginia? West Virginia is a great place for hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. There are so many amazing kid-friendly hikes in West Virginia that it’s tough to decide which ones to start with, so why not start with the easier ones? Some of our favorites include the Blackwater Falls Trail at Blackwater Falls State Park; it’s 0.4 miles long, short and sweet, and it leads to one of the best waterfalls in West Virginia. While at the state park, be sure to also check out the Lindy Point Overlook Trail, which is 0.8 miles long and offers up epic views of Blackwater Canyon. Other excellent kid-friendly hikes in West Virginia include the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail, at New River Gorge National Park, and the Long Point Trail at Summersville Lake State Wildlife Area is another great one with a stunning payoff. What are the most popular hikes in West Virginia? Did you know there are more than 700 amazing hiking trails in West Virginia, all of which are definitely worth a gander? Yep, it’s true – but with so many to choose from, as we said above, how do you know where to start? If the easier hikes mentioned in the previous paragraph aren’t quite your thing, how about other scenic hikes in West Virginia, like the Maryland Heights Loop Trail; it’s tough, at 6.6 miles long, and it’s home to lots of steep climbs – but the views are totally worth it. Then, check out the Endless Wall Trail at New River Gorge National Park; it’s much easier than the Maryland Heights Loop, and it’s just 2.3 miles long, so it’s easier for a short trek. That one will lead you through rich forest, amazing creeks, and awe-inspiring cliffside views. Finally, be sure to look into the Seneca Rocks Trail, which is rated as moderate and extends just 3.6 miles, leading to an observation platform with excellent rock face views.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
West Virginia is a great place for hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. There are so many amazing kid-friendly hikes in West Virginia that it’s tough to decide which ones to start with, so why not start with the easier ones? Some of our favorites include the Blackwater Falls Trail at Blackwater Falls State Park; it’s 0.4 miles long, short and sweet, and it leads to one of the best waterfalls in West Virginia. While at the state park, be sure to also check out the Lindy Point Overlook Trail, which is 0.8 miles long and offers up epic views of Blackwater Canyon. Other excellent kid-friendly hikes in West Virginia include the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail, at New River Gorge National Park, and the Long Point Trail at Summersville Lake State Wildlife Area is another great one with a stunning payoff.
What are the most popular hikes in West Virginia?
Did you know there are more than 700 amazing hiking trails in West Virginia, all of which are definitely worth a gander? Yep, it’s true – but with so many to choose from, as we said above, how do you know where to start? If the easier hikes mentioned in the previous paragraph aren’t quite your thing, how about other scenic hikes in West Virginia, like the Maryland Heights Loop Trail; it’s tough, at 6.6 miles long, and it’s home to lots of steep climbs – but the views are totally worth it. Then, check out the Endless Wall Trail at New River Gorge National Park; it’s much easier than the Maryland Heights Loop, and it’s just 2.3 miles long, so it’s easier for a short trek. That one will lead you through rich forest, amazing creeks, and awe-inspiring cliffside views. Finally, be sure to look into the Seneca Rocks Trail, which is rated as moderate and extends just 3.6 miles, leading to an observation platform with excellent rock face views.
