Best West Virginia Places to Picnic

Welcome to West Virginia

In 1861, Virginians in the northwestern part of the state defied Virginia's secession from the United States. 

The region chose to remain in the Union and form a new state. West Virginia was admitted into the Union in 1863, after conditions requiring the gradual emancipation of slaves had been met.

The state motto is "Mountaineers are always free," and West Virginia lives up to its nickname of the "Mountain State."  With an average altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level, it's the highest of any state east of the Mississippi River.

For a long time, West Virginia was a leading producer of coal in North America, but many people left to pursue better employment opportunities.  That trend has turned around, and now the state's economy is in a more stable condition.  The capital is Charleston, and the state flower is the big rhododendron.

Delicious Recipe Ideas

Sample of Picnic Recipe Ideas

• Devilishly Good Eggs
• Double Onion Grilled Cheeseburger
• Country Fresh Potato Salad
• Pork and Beans
• Butter Pecan Squares
• Apple Cinnamon Iced Sun Tea

See all the Picnic recipes.

West Virginia Picnic Places

• West Virginia State Forests & State Parks (List of 38 State Parks and 8 State Forests)
• US Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Sites  (List of 16 sites)
• National Park Sites
  1. Bluestone National Scenic River
  2. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
  3. Gauley River National Recreation Area
  4. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
     Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
  5. New River Gorge National River
• National Forest Sites
  • Monongahela National Forest
    1. Bear Heaven Picnic Area
    2. Bickle Knob Observation Tower
    3. Blue Bend Recreation Area
    4. Dolly Sods Picnic Area
    5. Gaudineer Picnic Area
    6. Highland Scenic Highway Overlook
    7. Horseshoe Picnic Area
    8. Lake Sherwood Recreation Area
       Lake Sherwood is a complete family recreation area offering a wide variety of activities.
    9. North Bend Picnic Area
    10. Old House Picnic Area
    11. Olson Observation Tower
        Olson Observation Tower is one of the few remaining fire towers in Monongahela National Forest. Olson is located at the southern end of Backbone Mountain northeast of Parsons in Tucker County, West Virginia.
    12. Seneca Rocks Picnic Area
    13. Spruce Knob Picnic Area
    14. Stuart Recreation Area
    15. Woodbine Picnic Area

  • George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

• City, Town & County Sites

  • Cities
    1. Bluefield City Park
    2. Bridgeport City Parks
    3. Buckhannon Parks
    4. Charleston City Parks
    5. Clarksburg Parks
    6. Elkins Parks
    7. Grafton Parks
    8. Huntingdon Parks
    9. Martinsburg Parks
       The Martinsburg - Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Board is a combined City - County Board which develops, operates and maintains all City of Martinsburg and Berkeley County recreation facilities and programs.
    10. Parkersburg Parks
    11. Princeton Parks
    12. Wheeling City Parks
  • Counties
    1. Berkeley Co. Parks
       The Martinsburg - Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Board is a combined City - County Board which develops, operates and maintains all City of Martinsburg and Berkeley County recreation facilities and programs.
    2. Grant Co. Parks
    3. Hampshire Co. Parks
    4. Harrison Co. Parks
    5. Kanawha Co. Parks
    6. Marion Co. Parks
    7. Mineral Co. Parks
    8. Wood Co. Parks

* This section is being built and updated daily.  Check back and Thank You.

Do you know…
…that West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east with the capital and largest city is Charleston?

Read more Do you know - West Virginia Facts...