We may not front the ocean here in West Virginia, but considering our status as *THE* Mountain State, we have to say that we think we’ve still got some pretty great beaches! We’ve got quite a few pristine mountain lakes with beaches, but there are also our rivers! Consider the beaches along the Coal River in West Virginia, for example.

For over 100 years, the Coal River beaches have been popular hangouts in West Virginia (are you one of many who grew up visiting the Upper or Lower Falls beaches?).
Coal River Group Barnette Conservation Preserve / Facebook
But over time, pollution in the Coal River spoiled the fun ... spoiled the fun, that is, until recent decades when the Coal River Group and its supporters banded together to clean up the area and turn the Coal River back into a popular waterfront destination.
Coal River Group Barnette Conservation Preserve / Facebook
Now, the Coal River is home to a popular kayaking trail.
Steven Walker / Google Maps

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It's also the site of Barnette Conservation Preserve (which comes complete with a boat landing, hiking trails, and a small, sandy beach).
Coal River Group Barnette Conservation Preserve / Facebook
The 1,000 acre preserve, located in St. Albans, West Virginia, is dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural beauty of the area, and it's home to a wide array of plants and animals.
Barnette Conservation Preserve, 1599 Strawberry Rd, St Albans, WV 25177, USA
Coal River Group Barnette Conservation Preserve / Facebook
But that's not nearly all the Coal River has to offer in terms of beaches! For example, there's another beautiful beach to enjoy at the Coal River Lock 3 in St. Albans; it's even bigger than the beach at Barnette Conservation Preserve.
Coal River Lock 3, 180 Pettigrew Ln, St Albans, WV 25177, USA
Coal River Group / Facebook
And as kayakers who have traveled the whole Coal River Trail can attest, these are just two of many pleasant places to sink your toes in the sand along West Virginia's beautiful Coal River.
Coal River Group / Facebook

To learn more about the Coal River and all it has to offer, visit The Coal River Group online at their website. What’s your favorite Mountain State beach? Have you ever visited any of the Coal River beaches?

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