West Virginia Day is June 20 and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate our state’s 159th birthday than enjoying a weekend at one of our state parks or forests.
Why Do We Celebrate West Virginia Day?
If you grew up in the Mountain State, you might take West Virginia Day for granted. But this special day is more than a day to celebrate all things West Virginia. Celebrated annually on June 20, West Virginia Day commemorates the state’s admission to the United States in 1863 during the American Civil War. Over the next 60 years, West Virginia Day was informally celebrated until the state Legislature made the holiday official in 1927.
Celebrate West Virginia Day at West Virginia State Parks
Each year, West Virginia Day is celebrated with festivities at the state capitol in Charleston and at other locations across the state. This year, celebrate our state’s birthday by visiting a West Virginia state park or forest, where you can enjoy all the things we West Virginians love about the outdoors. There’s hiking, fishing, camping and boating and so much more.
Plan a trip with friends or family today and celebrate your way. Campsites, cabins and lodge rooms are almost completely booked up for the West Virginia Day weekend, so here’s a roundup of parks and forests that still have accommodations for June 17-20.
Stay at a State Park Lodge
If you prefer staying at a lodge when you visit a state park, we still have rooms available at Cacapon Resort, Chief Logan, Blackwater Falls and North Bend state parks. Here’s what you need to know about each park.
Cacapon Resort
Located in the eastern panhandle in the shadow of a mountain ridge, Cacapon Resort is a great place to enjoy a weekend away from the city. Take a break and enjoy scenic beauty from the comfort of Cacapon’s newly renovated and expanded lodge, which still has rooms for the West Virginia Day weekend. When it comes time to rest your eyes and your body, Cacapon has a full-service spa where you can relax.
You might come to Cacapon Resort to escape the city, but you’ll want to get out and visit nearby Berkeley Springs, which is full of small town charm. This historic town has plenty of American history to explore and isn’t far from Harpers Ferry National Historical Park if you’re up for a little road trip during your stay.
Chief Logan
Surrounded by beautiful mountains and located in the middle of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails system, Chief Logan is your gateway to off-road adventures in southern West Virginia. The park is less than an hour from six trails in the Hatfield McCoy Trails system.
When you need a break from riding the trails, Chief Logan offers cozy accommodations where you can kick back, relax and recharge for the next day’s adventures. Spend the weekend at the park’s popular lodge, which still has rooms for the West Virginia Day weekend.
Blackwater Falls
Tucked away in the Allegheny Mountains of Tucker County, Blackwater Falls is known for its incredible waterfalls and scenic views. It’s not often that Blackwater Lodge has available rooms, so West Virginia Day is a perfect time to book a trip and enjoy all that Blackwater Falls has to offer.
In addition to the main waterfall, you’ll want to check out Lindy Point and Pendleton Point overlooks. The park also has 20 miles of hiking trails and fishing streams and is only a short drive from Canaan Valley Resort, where you can enjoy even more outdoor adventures.
North Bend
Named for the horseshoe curve of the North Fork of the Hughes River, North Bend is lush with hiking trails and abundant wildlife and is best known for the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, which follows a rail-banked B&O Railroad corridor with several tunnels along the way. The park features lake adventures and guided adventure quests.
North Bend lodge has been renovated and has rooms available during the West Virginia Day weekend, which makes it a great time to cross this park off your West Virginia State Parks travel checklist.
Celebrate With A Camping Trip
If you’re the type of family that goes camping every year or if you’re a first-time camper who wants to start that tradition, we still have campsites available at Twin Falls Resort and Tygart Lake state parks and Kumbrabow State Forest. Here’s what you need to know about each park.
Twin Falls Resort
With its mountain views, trickling streams, gorgeous waterfalls and lush forests covered in delicate ferns and hardy rhododendron and mountain laurel, Twin Falls Resort captures that Almost Heaven feeling that makes southern West Virginia so special.
You won’t run out of things to do at Twin Falls. There are hiking trails, a golf course, an pioneer farm with live animals and much more. When it comes time to turn in for the evening, you can pitch your tent or RV at the campground, which still has sites available during the West Virginia Day weekend.
Tygart Lake
Summers are made for camping and beach days. At Tygart Lake, you get both. The Adventure Lake at Tygart Lake features 25 giant inflatables where kids can splish and splash like they’re at a water park. The lake also has a sandy beach area where you can soak up some sun, read a book on your summer list or just close your eyes and do nothing. Tickets to the Adventure Lake are available for all-day and half-day sessions.
Tygart Lake also has other water activities you can enjoy, such as boating, water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Take your boat out on the water or rent one at the Tygart Lake Marina. After a day of water adventure, retreat back to your campsite for a relaxing evening. The Tygart Lake campground still has sites available for the West Virginia Day weekend.
Kumbrabow
Isolated on top of Rich Mountain along the western edge of the Allegheny Highlands, Kumbrabow is one of those magical places you search for your entire life and dream about when you’re not here.
While there are plenty of scenic hiking trails and incredible fishing streams to keep you occupied, the allure of this idyllic forest is that you can do nothing and still have one of the richest outdoor experiences you’ll ever have. Escape the crowds and spend the West Virginia Day weekend at the Kumbrabow campground, which still has primitive sites available.
Enjoy A Cabin Getaway
The cabins at West Virginia’s state parks and forests are some of the most popular places to stay in all of West Virginia, but we still have some units available for the West Virginia Day weekend at Cabwaylingo State Forest, which also has a few campsites. Here’s everything you need to know about the forest.
Cabwaylingo
Like Chief Logan earlier on our list, Cabwaylingo is the place to be if you want to enjoy offroad adventures in southern West Virginia. The forest is home to its own 80-mile ATV trail, which is the newest trail in the Hatfield McCoy Trails system. This trail includes easy and difficult routes and two miles of dirt bike-only single track trails. It also adds 10 miles of equestrian-only trails and more than 10 miles of new hiking-only trails to Cabwaylingo’s existing trails.
The forest still has cabins available for the West Virginia Day weekend. Hatfield-McCoy Trails permit holders can save 15 percent on cabin stays at Cabwaylingo. Book online and use the offer code HMTRAILS at checkout. Offer can not be combined with any other discounts. Permit must be shown at check-in.
Book Your West Virginia Day Adventures Today!
Accommodations book up fast during the summer, so now is the time to plan your West Virginia Day adventures. Book your trip today while there’s still time.
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