7 Cool And Calming Hikes To Take In West Virginia To Help You Reflect On The Year Ahead

A New Year opens the door to new opportunities, new experiences, and the chance to reflect on what we hope will happen in the year ahead. We all have our favorite spots for reflecting and planning. Hiking provides the peace and quiet we need to think and to find inspiration. Here are seven cool and calming hikes in West Virginia that you might want to take in 2020.

All Trails/Dana Rukse

Slip on those hiking boots, and follow the Long Point Trail. The nearly three-mile trail, rated between easy and moderate, can get pretty busy at times. However, you’ll likely find yourself inspired by the sensational views of the New River Gorge Bridge. The picturesque trail is also popular with mountain bikers, if you prefer biking.

All Trails/Holly Itzo

If feeling the mist of a waterfall provides the perfect backdrop for reflection, you’ll love the Blackwater Falls Trail that leads to Blackwater Falls, West Virginia’s tallest waterfall. The trail spans less than half of a mile. Follow the boardwalk and be prepared to climb stairs for spectacular views of the falls. (Wear sturdy hiking boots or shoes, too, especially if you’re visiting after a rainfall or a snowfall or if it’s icy out.)

All Trails/Luke Sherer

Bring plenty of water and snacks along for your journey along the Huckleberry Trail, a nearly nine-mile trail that will take you into a forested area. Rated moderate, the trail promises plenty of quiet, spruce trees, and rocks covered with moss. You’ll also pass Seneca Creek.

All Trails/Lee Rishel

Nestled in Coopers Rock State Forest, Rock City Trail offers an abundance of natural beauty. The 1.4-mile loop trail is predominately flat and will lead you past large boulders, providing an ideal backdrop for photos or for just stopping to relax. Follow the red blazes and watch where you’re hiking as there are some jagged rocks along the trails.

All Trails/Amanda Dluzneski

If it’s peace and quiet you seek, you’ll find it along North Fork Mountain Trail. The trail isn’t often busy, but that’s likely because it’s rated as difficult, and it spans nearly 18 miles. If you’re up for the challenge, however, you’ll be rewarded with sensational mountain views. (Should you have enough time, you might even want to backpack overnight.)

All Trails/Marissa White

Short and sweet, the hike along the 1.8-mile Island in the Sky Trail promises breathtaking scenery – from vibrant wildflowers in the spring to a picturesque footbridge. Hikers rate the trail between moderate and difficult. Just be careful if you visit after a rainfall or a snowfall, as the trail can get pretty slippery.

All Trails/Kayla Clyburn

Listen to the sound of your footsteps echo off of the boardwalk that leads you along the Beartown Boardwalk Trail. At just .07 miles, the loop trail features sheer natural beauty – rock formations, overhanging cliffs, and boulders. The trail is considered easy for hikers of all skill levels.

What are your favorite hikes in West Virginia? Let us know in the comments! If you like chasing waterfalls, you’ll definitely want to add these seven easy waterfall hikes to your bucket list.