Posted in West Virginia Small Towns March 15, 2023 by Robin Jarvis

The Tiny Town In West Virginia That’ll Take You A Million Miles Away From Everywhere

Can we all just admit that we may be a little bit spoiled by the untouched natural beauty found in the Mountain State? For a state whose main source of income has shifted over the years to tourism, we do a fantastic job of maintaining the gorgeous status quo so that we can enjoy (and share) the peace and serenity found in Almost Heaven, WV (a.k.a. Cairo, West Virginia). Go, us! When it comes to small towns, West Virginia has no shortage of quaint options to choose from. But this little hidden gem is something special.

One such peaceful and unspoiled tiny little town that flies under the radar is located in Ritchie County among the gently rolling hills of the Mid-Ohio Valley. The town sits along the North Fork of the Hughes River and is so lush, it was incorporated as Cairo — after the city in Egypt along the Nile River.

Cairo was settled long before it was incorporated in 1895 and was originally called "Egypt." It was renamed after the B&O Railroad station was built in the 1850s. The sleepy community has fewer than 300 residents, but was once a booming oil town.

A quick ride through town doles out a glimpse of the former Bank of Cairo (the brick building pictured above), which juts up on the landscape like a lone spike hammered into the ground.

Speaking of North Bend, the much loved state park is located in Cairo. The 2,500-acre park provides an ideal nature break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It features hiking, biking, boating, fishing, swimming, and more.

It also provides access to the North Bend Rail Trail.

The historic rail trail extends for 72 miles and features an astounding 10 old railroad tunnels and 38 bridges. Whether you hike or bike the entire trail or just a segment, either the Town of Cairo or North Bend State Park are great places to start.

North Bend State Park is an ideal place to extend your day trip to Cairo to an overnight or longer. In addition to a restaurant, the park features a lodge, cabins, and two campgrounds. Which one will you reserve for your quiet escape that feels a million miles from everywhere?

Ready to check out the beautiful little town of Cairo, West Virginia? There are oodles of things to do in Cairo that aren’t mentioned here – but take our word for it, and start exploring!

Learn more about the fabulous North Bend Rail Trail that runs right past Cairo Town Hall, and then continue on to visit North Bend Lake as well!

For more peeks at some of the most charming small towns in West Virginia, take a weekend to visit one of these seven darling WV towns.

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Address: Cairo, WV 26337, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Cairo, West Virginia & Related Info

March 21, 2023

Jennifer

Where is Cairo, West Virginia?

As a mere point of reference, Cairo, WV is located in the Northwest corner of the state, approximately 25 miles east of Parkersburg, 98 miles north of Charleston, 92 miles south of Morgantown, and 240 miles west of Martinsburg.

Are there any museums in West Virginia?

West Virginia is chock full of both colonial and modern history. Fortunately, dozens of museums around the state capture centuries of stories, beauty, and art of WV in unique and modern ways. Many of West Virginia's best museums are located in historic homes and feature specialty collections, while others document the history of the unique small towns in which they are located. Some of the best and most popular museums in West Virginia are:

Avampato Discovery Museum, Charleston
Beverly Heritage Center, Beverly
Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation Museum, Madison
Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, Parkersburg
Greenbrier Historical Society, Lewisburg
Heritage Farm Museum and Village, Huntington
Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington
Hinton Railroad Museum, Hinton
Mountaineer Military Museum, Weston
Museum Of American Glass, Weston
Watts Museum, Morgantown
West Virginia Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, Mt. Clare
West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, Matewan
West Virginia Railroad Museum, Elkins
West Virginia State Farm Museum, Point Pleasant
West Virginia State Museum, Charleston
Youth Museum of Southern WV, Beckley

What are some of the weirdest museums in West Virginia?

In addition to its many phenomenal art and history museums, West Virginia is also home to a number of unique small-town and local specialty museums, including: