West Virginia is widely known for its immense natural beauty and there is no better way to take in this splendor than a hike in The Mountain State’s national and state parks. This Appalachian state has hikes geared toward all visitors including those with small children. Parents will enjoy these short, easy, and history-laden family hikes in West Virginia with their young ones.
- Virginius Island Trail
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails Virginius Island, West Virginia, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Liv Monahan/AllTrails This one-mile loop trail, located within Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, lies along the banks of the Shenandoah River and historic train tracks still used by the Winchester and Potomac Railroad today. For about 100 years Virginius Island was home to a succession of mills - including a cotton mill and a sawmill - and hikers can see the ruins of the mill site - specifically the ductwork - in several spots along the trail. This trail has a small elevation gain of only 22 feet and allows dogs on it so it’s perfect for families with both young children and furry friends. Check out this trail’s National Park Service page for more information.
- Lower Nuttallburg Mine
Michael Reid/AllTrails Nuttallburg, WV 25840, USA
Will G/AllTrails Located in the popular New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, this 1.4-mile out-and-back trail near Edmond in the south-central part of the state has an elevation gain of just 125 feet and takes half an hour to complete. The payoff for this trail is a wealth of historic buildings and structures from an abandoned mining community including a tipple (the building where coal was loaded onto railroad cars), a furnace, and the foundations of the miners’ houses. While the surviving portions of the homes may be interesting to look at, the National Park Service, in an effort to prevent erosion of the structures, reminds visitors not to climb on them. To learn more about the Lower Nuttallburg Mine trail, check out the trail’s NPS page.
- Blennerhassett Island
Doug Woolley/AllTrails Blennerhassett Island, West Virginia 26101, USA
Doug Woolley/AllTrails The final trail on our list includes an adventurous boat ride to get to. Visitors who wish to visit Blennerhassett Island, which contains the state park named after it and which is located in West Virginia’s northwest, must take a riverboat from nearby Parkersburg. The trip to the island takes about 30 minutes and a ticket - good for both directions - currently costs between eight and twelve dollars based on the passenger’s age. Once ashore, visitors can hike the 1.5-mile loop trail on Blennerhassett Island’s eastern side, much of the west side of the island being closed to the public. The trail, shaded by walnut trees, passes by several horse corrals and perhaps the island’s most notable landmark, a reconstruction of Harman Blennerhassett’s Palladian-style mansion which burned down in 1811. While this trail may be family-friendly, this doesn’t include family pets - dogs are not allowed on Blennerhassett Island. To learn more about the trail and the island visit the state park’s website. Tickets for the riverboat can also be purchased on Blennerhassett Island State Park’s website.
West Virginia is arguably one of the most scenic states in the country and with so many family-friendly hiking trails available to visitors, The Mountain State’s natural beauty is also very accessible. National and state parks within this Appalachian state abound with easy, short, and sometimes even educational excursions for everyone in your group to enjoy. Old mines, grand mansions, and crumbling mills await around the state for people young and old to discover. Have you hiked any of the family hikes in West Virginia on this list? Let us know about it in the comments!
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails
Virginius Island, West Virginia, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Liv Monahan/AllTrails
This one-mile loop trail, located within Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, lies along the banks of the Shenandoah River and historic train tracks still used by the Winchester and Potomac Railroad today. For about 100 years Virginius Island was home to a succession of mills - including a cotton mill and a sawmill - and hikers can see the ruins of the mill site - specifically the ductwork - in several spots along the trail. This trail has a small elevation gain of only 22 feet and allows dogs on it so it’s perfect for families with both young children and furry friends. Check out this trail’s National Park Service page for more information.
Michael Reid/AllTrails
Nuttallburg, WV 25840, USA
Will G/AllTrails
Located in the popular New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, this 1.4-mile out-and-back trail near Edmond in the south-central part of the state has an elevation gain of just 125 feet and takes half an hour to complete. The payoff for this trail is a wealth of historic buildings and structures from an abandoned mining community including a tipple (the building where coal was loaded onto railroad cars), a furnace, and the foundations of the miners’ houses. While the surviving portions of the homes may be interesting to look at, the National Park Service, in an effort to prevent erosion of the structures, reminds visitors not to climb on them. To learn more about the Lower Nuttallburg Mine trail, check out the trail’s NPS page.
Doug Woolley/AllTrails
Blennerhassett Island, West Virginia 26101, USA
The final trail on our list includes an adventurous boat ride to get to. Visitors who wish to visit Blennerhassett Island, which contains the state park named after it and which is located in West Virginia’s northwest, must take a riverboat from nearby Parkersburg. The trip to the island takes about 30 minutes and a ticket - good for both directions - currently costs between eight and twelve dollars based on the passenger’s age. Once ashore, visitors can hike the 1.5-mile loop trail on Blennerhassett Island’s eastern side, much of the west side of the island being closed to the public. The trail, shaded by walnut trees, passes by several horse corrals and perhaps the island’s most notable landmark, a reconstruction of Harman Blennerhassett’s Palladian-style mansion which burned down in 1811. While this trail may be family-friendly, this doesn’t include family pets - dogs are not allowed on Blennerhassett Island. To learn more about the trail and the island visit the state park’s website. Tickets for the riverboat can also be purchased on Blennerhassett Island State Park’s website.
For more fun in the great outdoors, check out 7 Of The Greatest Waterfall Hiking Trails In West Virginia For Beginners!
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