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Mike Fink grave marks site of deadly frontier encounter in Calhoun County

A historic sketch depicts Camp Allegheny, a Confederate mountaintop fortification in the Allegheny Mountains of present-day West Virginia. The site is among several hidden Civil War battlefields that formed the front lines of the 1861 Western Virginia Campaign.

History / Prehistory

West Virginia’s hidden mountaintop Civil War sites reveal forgotten campaigns

David Sibray June 14, 2026

July 4 Festivals: Spectators line the streets of Alderson during the town's annual Fourth of July parade, one of West Virginia's longest-running Independence Day traditions.

Festivals / Events

Small-town West Virginia festivals that still celebrate July 4 the old-fashioned way

Historic Harpers Ferry is dressed in red, white and blue for Independence Day, drawing visitors to one of West Virginia's most iconic destinations during the Fourth of July holiday.

Festivals / Events

Patriotic destinations worth visiting in West Virginia on Fourth of July weekend

Blackwater Falls in Tucker County ranks among the tallest and most visited waterfalls in West Virginia, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

Natural Wonders

West Virginia’s highest waterfalls ranked: The Mountain State’s tallest cascades

Communities

Mineral Rights in West Virginia: A majority of lawnowners in West Virginia are unaffected by the ownership of minerals beneath the surface.

West Virginia mineral rights: Who owns the minerals beneath your land?

Clyde Craig June 10, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is among the nation’s most mineral-rich states, with extensive deposits of oil, coal, salt, clay, limestone, natural gas, and other underground resources. Yet many landowners, especially those moving to the Mountain State, are

Katy Ryan, founder of the Appalachian Prison Book Project, has seen prisoners educate themselves, prepare for careers, repair their relationships and change their lives because of access to literature. (WVU Photo)

Appalachian prison book project delivers 70,000 books to incarcerated people

Bianca Bosworth June 10, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — For thousands of incarcerated people across Appalachia, a book is more than a way to pass the time. It can be a source of education, personal growth, family reconciliation, and hope. According to Katy Ryan,

Stonewall Resort has announced the launch of a new 40-passenger tour boat offering scenic cruises on Stonewall Jackson Lake beginning June 15.

Stonewall Resort launches new Mosaic Cruiser lake tours on Stonewall Jackson Lake

June 10, 2026

West Virginia Fireflies: While fireflies have struggled in many places, West Virginia remains one of the strongest refuges for the insects in the eastern United States.

Why West Virginia remains one of America’s best places to see fireflies

June 10, 2026

Rural Women Entrepreneurs: The findings may be particularly relevant to West Virginia, where many communities are rural, and small-business ownership is vital to local economies.

Rural women entrepreneurs fuel economic growth in America’s small towns, WVU study finds

June 9, 2026

Larvae of the New World Screwworm fly burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing serious, often deadly damage. (USDA Image)

W.Va. agriculture officials monitoring screwworm after first U.S. detection

June 8, 2026

Attractions

National Trails Day encourages people of all ages to get outdoors, connect with their community, and become trail stewards.

West Virginia state parks celebrate National Trails Day with hikes, volunteer events

Clyde Craig June 1, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In celebration of National Trails Day, officials at West Virginia State Parks announced a lineup of guided hikes and trail cleanup events across several state parks and forests, scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026. Organized

A new “Almost Heaven” swing has been added at Cedar Creek State Park in central West Virginia

Iconic “Almost Heaven” swing added to Cedar Creek State Park in central West Virginia

David Sibray May 27, 2026

GLENVILLE, W.Va. — An “Almost Heaven” swing has been installed at Cedar Creek State Park in central West Virginia, the latest of more than 60 such iconic swings that are attracting tourists who are fascinated by the idea

Forest projects have included stream restoration, erosion control, invasive plant removal, native tree planting, wildlife habitat improvements, and trail or road maintenance.

Monongahela National Forest seeks conservation proposals in five West Virginia counties

May 22, 2026

Seneca Rocks, one of the most recognized landmarks in the Appalachians, is greeting new crowds.

Seneca Rocks draws excited new crowds to West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest

May 21, 2026

A new partnership is working to improve and maintain more than 500 miles of trail in the northern region of the Monongahela National Forest.

Partnership to enhance more than 500 miles of Monongahela National Forest trails

May 20, 2026

Tourists on bicycles visit the Elk River Trail Visitor Center.

Visitor center opens as Elk River Trail extends toward West Virginia capital city, Charleston

May 17, 2026

Recreation

Rock climbing in the New River Gorge near the New River Gorge Bridge

Interior Department opens review of rock climbing policies affecting New River Gorge

Clyde Craig June 11, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The U.S. Department of the Interior has launched a nationwide review of rock-climbing management practices and wilderness stewardship policies that could ultimately affect rock climbing in some of America’s most celebrated climbing destinations, including the

Youth gather for a fishing tournament at the Bowden Fish Hatchery near Elkins, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

Bowden Fish Hatchery to host free Youth Fishing Derby during W.Va. Free Fishing Days

Will Reedy June 9, 2026

BOWDEN, W.Va. — Young anglers will have the chance to reel in trout and compete for prizes when the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources hosts its annual Bowden Fishing Derby on June 13 at the Bowden Fish Hatchery

Fisheries experts say the upward trend in fishing records is the result of several factors, including better stocking and water quality improvement.

Here’s why fishing records are being broken more often now in West Virginia

Will Reedy May 25, 2026

PETERSBURG, W.Va. — West Virginia anglers are breaking fishing records with unusual frequency, a trend fisheries experts say reflects years of better fish stocking, improved water quality, and the maturation of trophy-sized fish populations. So far in the

The Mourning Dove is one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird.

South Branch ends mourning dove permits; controlled hunt begin at Stonewall Jackson

May 11, 2026

John Terry, of Gallagher, in Kanawha County, set a new state record for tiger trout on March 19 by catching a 29.13-inch, 11.04-pound tiger trout from Seneca Lake in Pocahontas County.

John Terry catches record-breaking tiger trout in lake at Seneca State Forest

May 10, 2026

One of the largest networks on the East Coast, the routes activate thousands of miles of gravel roads across the Mon Forest for visitors and communities. (Photo: Getty Images)

Gravel, bikepacking network connects towns across Monongahela National Forest region

May 7, 2026

Motorboats with engines larger than 10 horsepower are now permitted to operate at no-wake speed on Elk Fork, North Bend, O’Brien, Stonecoal, and Woodrum lakes.

Horsepower restrictions removed on five small lakes in West Virginia

May 6, 2026

Hunter Rohr, 15, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, has caught a golden rainbow trout that set state records for length and weight.

Buckhannon teen Rohr catches record-breaking golden rainbow trout

May 3, 2026

Matt Born of Reedsville, West Virginia, has caught a new state record chain pickerel.

Reedsville man catches state record chain pickerel in Preston County pond

May 3, 2026

Black bears: The 2025 black bear harvest fell just ten bears short of the 2024 total of 2,479.

Black bear harvest remained steady in West Virginia in 2025 as predicted

January 26, 2026

Big Buck Photo Contest: Hunter Miller of Advent, W.Va. with a buck he harvested on Nov. 24, 2025, in Jackson County.

West Virginia announces winners of 2025 West Virginia Big Buck Photo Contest

January 23, 2026

West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show: The three-day event showcases leading outdoor brands, outfitters, and conservation organizations, and has become one of the state’s largest gatherings focused on hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

W.Va. DNR to sponsor West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show in Charleston

January 16, 2026

Culture

The West Virginia Department of Tourism has announced its 2026 History Heroes Award recipients, honoring volunteers, preservationists, historians, genealogists, and museum leaders from communities across the Mountain State

W.Va. Tourism announces 2026 History Heroes award winners

Clyde Craig June 8, 2026

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Department of Tourism has announced the recipients of the 2026 History Heroes Awards, recognizing volunteers and preservation advocates who have helped safeguard the state’s rich historical legacy for future generations. The annual awards

Mike Fink grave in Calhoun County marks the site of a deadly 1780 frontier encounter between a pioneer hunter and a Native warrior.

Mike Fink grave marks site of deadly frontier encounter in Calhoun County

David Sibray June 8, 2026

MINNORA, W.Va. — In a wooded gap along a rural road near Minnora, two graves have long fascinated local residents and students of West Virginia history. Known collectively as the Mike Fink grave site, the burial ground marks

With its three rivers, Summers County became a popular fishing getaway during Miners' Vacation in the 1950s.

Historical society celebrates history of W.Va. Miners’ Vacation with fish fry fundraiser

Clyde Craig June 6, 2026

HINTON, W.Va. — The New River Gorge Historical Society will celebrate a cherished tradition of life in southern West Virginia with a community fish fry and historical program on Saturday, June 13, at the Summers County Memorial Building

Wild Man of West Virginia? Orval Brown, the famed "Wild Man of Clay County, reportedly spent much of his youth sleeping in caves

Lore and Legend

David Sibray visits the Ebenezer Church (est. 1880) beyond the Low Gap at the head of Skull Run.

Real Estate

History and Prehistory

According to some accounts, an extraordinary and clandestine encounter may have unfolded on the evening of June 5, 1861, inside the covered bridge at Philippi.

State Parks

Hunting

Fishing

Trout stocking: Hatchery crews stocked trout in 46 lakes and streams across West Virginia during the week of Jan. 5.

Hiking

Held at 21 state parks and forests across West Virginia, the First Day hikes are part of a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition designed to promote outdoor recreation.

Skiing

White Grass has long been a magnet for visitors from Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mountain River Media)

National Parks

Kayaking

Kayakers On The Ohio River in West Virginia

Whitewater Rafting

Biking

Latest News

History / Prehistory