West Virginia
Nature|Hiking

Spend The Day Or The Night At Blue Bend, A Swimming Hole, Campground, And Trail Loop In West Virginia

Blue Bend Recreation Area in West Virginia's Greenbrier Valley offers hiking, swimming, camping, and family-friendly activities.

Published May 26, 2021

Written by 

Cristy

Do you love to hike? Do you love to swim, soak, or wade? Do you love to camp? Do you love to send your kids to play on the playground while you sit on a nearby bench and relax? Oh, boy, do we have news for you: you can do all of this and more at Blue Bend Recreation Area in West Virginia's Greenbrier Valley.

Welcome to West Virginia's beautiful Greenbrier Valley. This lush, verdant valley defined by the Greenbrier River is full of opportunities for adventure: trails, caves, museums, restaurants, and more.

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Greenbrier County CVB

One specific Greenbrier Valley gem is Blue Bend Recreation Area near White Sulphur Springs.

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Greenbrier County CVB

Blue Bend is the perfect place to spend a day - or a night. It's got a fabulous swimming hole, a beautiful five-mile hiking loop, a wooded campground, and even a small playground.

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Greenbrier County CVB

The Blue Bend swimming hole is a beautiful natural pool along Anthony Creek that's a great place to cool off during the hot summer months.

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Greenbrier County CVB

It's a popular spot with nature lovers of all ages!

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BG2013Pete/Tripadvisor

The Blue Bend Loop Trail is a five-mile loop that winds through the forest to three beautiful overlooks. There's even a camping shelter along the trail if you want to do some backpacking.

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Oatmeal Ridgewalker/Alltrails

If you're not a backpacker, but you still want to spend the night, there's also a campground at the recreation area entrance. This campground boasts single family, first come, first serve campsites along with two large picnic shelters, restrooms, water pumps, and - during the summer months - running water for showers.

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Management/Tripadvisor

So what are you waiting for? Bring a tent, bring a chair, bring a towel, bring hiking shoes, bring a picnic, bring some friends.

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BG2013Pete/Tripadvisor

Have you visited Blue Bend? To learn more about this recreation area, visit Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau's website. And while you're in the area, check out some of the other adventures White Sulphur Springs has to offer, like this top secret bunker!

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Nature|Hiking

The Stunning Top-Secret Hiking Trail in West Virginia Nobody’s Ever Heard Of

Uncover West Virginia’s hidden gem, the Hawk’s Nest Rail Trail—an easy hike with waterfalls, historic bridges, and stunning scenery. Perfect for all ages!

Published Sep 6, 2024

Written by 

Jasmine Vieau

I'm sure you've heard of Hawks Nest State Park, known for its aerial tram, scenic overlooks, huge cliffs, and jet boatrides. But often overlooked by visitors is the underrated and kind of top-secret Hawk's Nest Rail Trail. Have you heard of it?

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Ali Majdfar/Moment via Getty Images

The Hawk's Nest Rail Trail is an easy to moderate, almost two-mile out-and-back trail (or about a four-mile round-trip) that starts near the Gift Shop and Nature Center at the base of Hawks Nest State Park, near the aerial tram, and ends close to the town of Ansted.

The trail follows Mill Creek down to the New River and is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It's a popular trail for bikers, hikers, and runners due to its gradual incline and decline alongside the creek.

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Gary Mott/AllTrails

As you hike or bike along this trail, you'll encounter natural and historical landmarks that make it unique. You'll see beautiful waterfalls like the Mill Creek Falls, which is the largest of the many waterfalls dotted along the trail. There are also lots of spots for you or your pup to take a dip during the summer months - an added bonus!

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Bkamprath/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

I love trails with trestle bridges, and the Hawk's Nest Rail Trail will not disappoint with its two historic ones. The trestle bridges are a great place to stop and enjoy the scenery and maybe snap a few pictures. You might even get lucky and spot some wildlife along your trek, as it's pretty common to see around these parts.

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Haley Lambert/AllTrails

The trail also provides a look into West Virginia's history, as it used to be a railway for the Mill Creek Colliery Mining Company. You can still see parts of the old mine, such as the entrance and old objects, along the trail. It's a truly one-of-a-kind experience, and this alone makes the trail worthwhile.

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On the trail, there are so many interactive signs and displays to check out, as well. You can even take part in the West Virginia Waterfall Trail by downloading a passport. As you visit waterfalls like Mill Creek Falls, you can earn prizes with a waterfall theme. It's a fun way to explore the area!

And if you visit the trail at the Ansted end, don't worry about parking; there is a small parking area at the main access point that makes it easy for you to start your hike or bike ride.

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Chris M/AllTrails

So, grab your outdoor gear and go explore the Mountain State - it's not referred to as Almost Heaven for nothing!

Have you hiked the Hawk's Nest Rail Trail? For more details about it, take a look at Hawk's Nest Rail Trail's official website. Are there any other hidden gem hiking trails you think I should know about? Let me know - I'd love to hear your recommendations and insider tips.

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Nature|Hiking

Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail In West Virginia Leads To One Of The Most Scenic Views In The State

Discover the stunning Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail in West Virginia's New River Gorge National Park, offering breathtaking views and a short, accessible hike.

Updated Aug 15, 2024

Written by 

Clarisa

Have you been trying to fit more adventures into your travels where you have extra time? A stunning adventure can be had in many places in West Virginia, but the hiking trails at the New River Gorge National Park are something special. If you've been looking for a boardwalk trail that comes with stunning views, then you've found it at Canyon Rim Overlook. Why not bookmark this for a day when you're near the park and have a moment to spare? Adventures don't have to take a long time to be amazing.

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Today's adventure starts at the New River Gorge National Park. The Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail is a beautiful and short hike but contains some of the best scenery the state has to offer. Just take a look for yourself!

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Taylor Likens/AllTrails

It may be a short hike but it remains as one of the best hikes in New River Gorge. It was a favorite in our family.

The trail itself is less than a mile long, but this 0.6-mile hike is all about taking in the views, and not so much about endurance.

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Michael Flavin/AllTrails

A big part of the stunning scenery is the New River Gorge Bridge, and the views around it. Misty fog tumbles under the bridge, or flows over top of everything. When it's clear, there are trees as far as the eye can see that change colors with the season and make this a view worth revisiting.

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The elevation gain is only 88 feet, but if you want to add more to your hike, there are connecting trails that will change the length and elevation on your adventure.

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The beautiful scenery over the river is always a welcome sight. Since there are two paths you can take, the bottom path on the left is over 150 steps down to a different vantage point, and the one on the right is a flat path to a viewpoint that is easier on joints and mostly wheel friendly.

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Even though much of the trail is paved or boardwalk paths, make sure to pack out everything you brought in, including food scraps. Keeping trails as natural as possible is a goal everyone should strive for. Happy hiking!

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Sarah Dodge/ OnlyInYourState

We will finish off with one more view of this gorgeous spot. We hope it inspires you to visit and see the beautiful as much as we did when we took off on this glorious boardwalk trail. Trust us when we say the Canyon Rim Overlook in West Virginia is one of the best places to visit within our amazing national park.

If you'd like to bookmark this beautiful hike for a future trip, check out the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail page on AllTrails. There, you'll find a trail map, reviews, and even a local weather forecast. Make sure to check it before you head out, to make sure there aren't any surprise closings! This is a tool we have used many times and we never hit the trails without it. New River Gorge is such a beautiful place and well worth the trip no matter how far you have to travel to get here. Another great spot to see the bridge is on the Long Point Trail. If you would like to learn more about the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk Trail check out this Adventuring in the Moment video where we hiked this very spot.

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