This rail trail starts in Glen Dale and travels along the Ohio river to Moundsville. It is a paved easy trail recommended for elderly or young children. The Glen Dale to Moundsville Rail Trail is shaded in some spots with many park benches and work out areas.

The renowned Wild Oak Loop is perhaps the most popular backpacking trip in the George Washington National Forest, or at least a close second to commensurate sections of the Appalachian Trail. It can also be hiked in smaller portions, as many hikers choose to split the trail into one-way sections that go between the network of roads that intersect the trail. Alternatively, local trail runners have made this loop a destination for runners from around the region. The loop has so much to offer, including ridgeline views of Todd Lake and summit vistas from Little Bald Knob. As the path veers southwest, continuing along the White Oak Trail, numerous verdant deciduous forests await to enclose the avid runner in their shady embrace. Returning along the Hankey Mountain Trail (and the summit of this peak) runners will be rewarded with views of Elkhorn Lake and Staunton Dam, even a brief stint along the edge of the North River Gorge before returning to the parking area.

As part of the West Virginia Rail Trail system, the Brooke Pioneer Trail begins in Wellsburg as it follows along the east bank of the Ohio River. This trail has many reminders of the area’s industrial past as well as interpretive signs along the trail that describe the extensive history of the Panhandle Railroad in this area. A shuttle plan is recommended for this trail unless you plan on doing an out and back.

The second section of the Wheeling Heritage Trail known as the Wheeling Creek Trail begins in downtown Wheeling at Heritage Port and heads towards Elm Grove. This old rail trail provides the opportunity to experience local history and modern industries. This part of the trail crosses the Hempfield Viaduct above Wheeling Creek and passes through Hempfield Tunnel. Along this section, the Wheeling Heritage Trail travels along a wooded corridor and is less urban as the first section.

Begins at the Schrader environment center and explores Oglebay Park. Very scenic.

The Old Rag is a popular summit among the Shenandoah peaks because climbing it feels like an actual mountain, perhaps due to its rocky mount, unique among mountains in the Blue Ridge. This particular route begins from the parking area on VA 600 and follows the Ridge Trail up the spine of Old Rag. Continue following this trail along the rocky summit of Old Rag, soak in the views, and then descend along the easterly side of the mountain. When the trail rejoins Weakly Hollow Road, make a hard right along the Weakley Hollow Fire Road that parallels the main road. This will eventually return to the parking area.

This beautiful day hike follows the Chessie Nature Trail as it parallels the course of the Maury River from Lexington to Buena Vista. Popular with kayakers and canoeists, this section of the river is full of tumbling rapids and whitewater gorges, with cliffs of limestone and beautiful ruins of old stone buildings hugging the edges of the water. In essence, this trail is a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. For bicyclists: The Chessie Nature Trail has recently been opened to bike traffic, much to the joy of local cyclers – it is a fantastic bike ride out and back. For road bikes, make sure to have multi-purpose tread as some sections of the trail are somewhat rough.

Beginning from the same parking area as the Tuscarora Overlook Loop, this rigorous loop trail begins along the Beards Gap Trail that snakes its way through the valley and switchbacks up to Beards Gap. After a brief detour to the overlook, return down to the ridgeline for a scenic hike along the aptly-named Mountain Top Trail that snakes along the ridge of Beards Mountain. Coming to the height of the ascent, veer left onto the (also aptly-named) Mountain Side Trail that wends its way along the face of the mountain, offering views of Douthat Lake sparkling below. Arriving back at the intersection of the Beards Gap and Mountain Top Trails, veer right this time along the Buck Hollow Trail which will trace the edge of the Buck Lick Creek, the Wilson Creek, and then lead back to the parking area.

Perhaps one of the most pristine and remote sections of the Blue Ridge Mountains (thanks to a 1994 Congressional Bill protecting the area from commercial use), the Mount Pleasant Special Management Area offers an array of beautiful hikes and summit vistas for the adventurous hiker. Though short in distance, the hike to the summit of Mount Pleasant (some say one of the most beautiful summit vistas in Virginia), begins hugging the edges of the mountains through this misty-sloped wilderness. At the trail intersection, bear left along the Mount Pleasant Summit Spur and come to the peak. After gazing across a seemingly endless sea of green mountains, take the spur back to the Mount Pleasant Trail and veer left along the second half of the loop to return to the parking area.

A short, but scenic trail through a portion of Mingo Creek County Park, this trail is an out-and-back route that follows next to the creek. Near the beginning of the trail is the bright red Ebenezer Covered Bridge. The trail turns around at the Henry Covered Bridge, also a bright red color.