Do you ever get to missing the lush greenery of spring and summer once winter hits? Good news! While it’s not quite on the same neon level as the verdant summer foliage, thanks to the variety of evergreen shrubs and trees that thrive in the West Virginia mountains, you can still take a relaxing hike through beautiful green woods even in the middle of the winter season.
1. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park (Summersville)
With both pine groves and rhododendron thickets, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park offers a double dose of green through the winter. Take the Patterson Trail to the various overlooks in the park for some absolutely stunning winter views. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is located at 1194 Carnifex Ferry Crossing in Summersville, West Virginia.
With towering rhododendron forests (that bloom pink and white in summer but keep their beautiful green leaves all winter long) and massive boulders coated with vivid green moss, Grandview is as rewarding in winter as in any season of the year! In fact, the rugged winter views will take your breath away. Grandview is part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and located at 4700 Grandview Road in Beaver, West Virginia.
A truly magical place even in the deep of winter, the never-timbered red spruce forest at Gaudineer Knob Overlook might be West Virginia's best-kept secret. You can find the Gaudineer Knob trail and overlook at the dead-end of Forest Rd 27A in Huttonsville, West Virginia. Be aware that thanks to winter snow accumulation, it's not always possible to drive the length of the forest road.
To learn more about these beautiful evergreen trails, head over to these articles on Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, Grandview, and Gaudineer Knob. Have you ever hiked at any of these scenic spots during the winter season? What other West Virginia hikes do you enjoy even in the cold months of the year?
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