In wild and wonderful West Virginia, there is a huge diversity of attractions – from waterfalls to caverns, hikes to history. But there’s one thing West Virginia lacks: urban sprawl. According to the 2010 US Census, there are thirteen counties in West Virginia that are 100% rural. That means they contain no urban areas (concentrated areas in which more than 2,500 people reside). Only two states – Maine and Vermont – have greater rural populations than West Virginia.
While urbanites might sneer at this record, we love it. These thirteen counties (listed together at the end of this article) exhibit the huge variety of West Virginia’s natural and man-made treasures that no metro area will ever match. Together, these counties hold some of the state’s (and the country’s) greatest treasures.
The counties include some of the region’s oldest and most untouched forests: the Cranberry Wilderness in Pocahontas and Webster Counties, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Tucker County, Seneca State Forest in Pocahontas County, Big Ugly Wildlife Area in Lincoln County, and huge areas of Monongahela and George Washington National Forests.
In these areas, take in world-renowned breathtaking views from heights like Table Rock on Bald Knob in Pocahontas County, North Fork Mountain in Pendleton County, Bear Rocks at Dolly Sods in Tucker County, and Prospect Rock in Morgan County.
Follow unforgettably scenic mountain drives and rail excursions through Appalachian ridges and valleys, including the Highland Scenic Highway, the Washington Heritage Trail, and the Cass & Durbin Scenic Railroad.
See and climb incredible rock formations: Seneca Rocks and Nelson Rocks in Pendleton County, Beartown State Park in Pocahontas County, and Prospect Rock on Cacapon Mountain in Morgan County.
These areas contain some of the state’s deepest underground treasures and the state’s highest mountain peaks, from Seneca Caverns in Pendleton County and Sharps Cave and Cass Cave in Pocahontas County to Spruce Knob in Pendleton County and Bald Knob in Pocahontas County.
Find extraordinary ecosystems that seem to have been dropped in from faraway places at Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge and Dolly Sods in Tucker County or Ice Mountain Preserve in Hampshire County or Cranberry Glades in Pocahontas County.
Bring friends and enjoy amazing outdoor adventures in all seasons, from ski slopes in Snowshoe in Pocahontas County to acclaimed biking trails such as the North Bend Rail Trail or Greenbrier River Trail or Snowshoe Mountain Bike Park to hiking along some of the most iconic trails in the country such as Allegheny Trail and the American Discovery Trail.
There's also water adventures galore to be had along sparkling and undeveloped rivers that drain both sides of the Eastern Continental Divide (like the Coal River Water Trail, Greenbrier River Water Trail, Elk River Water Trail, or Cheat River Water Trail).
Advertisement
And venture into areas that are so remote they are truly and officially off the grid (like the National Radio Quiet Zone or the Cranberry Wilderness).
And across these thirteen rural counties, find diverse and thriving communities for business, industry, science, and arts, like Berkeley Springs, one of 100 best small art towns in America or the Green Bank Observatory that aids in communication with satellites as far away as Mars.
Then there’s the human aspect of these thirteen rural counties. You can visit quaint mountain villages and old towns steeped in history, like Parsons or Davis in Tucker County, Romney in Hampshire County, Berkeley Springs in Morgan County, Cairo and Pennsboro in Ritchie County, Santa Clara in Doddridge County, and Cass in Pocahontas County.
There are mansions and resorts including Canaan Valley Resort, Berkeley Castle, or Berkeley Springs. Speaking of, see historic and renowned springs including Berkeley Springs in Morgan County or the Salt Sulphur Well in Webster County.
Be amused and shocked visiting the sites of infamous, surreal, and paranormal events, including but not limited to Confederate troops setting miles of the Little Kanawha River on fire at Burning Springs in Wirt County, mysterious murders and mob violence in Booger Hole in Clay County, and unexplained alien activity at the Flatwoods Monster Museum in Braxton County.
Learn about remarkable historical firsts that happened here: North America’s first oil well at Burning Springs in Wirt County, America’s first Asphalt Mine in Ritchie County, the world’s first Golden Delicious Apple discovered in Clay County.
Participate in some of the nation’s most fascinating and fun festivals. Here’s just a few: West Virginia Wood Festival and Molasses Festival in Calhoun County, Golden Delicious Apple Festival in Clay County, Flatwoods and Bigfoot Festivals in Braxton, Woodchopping Festival in Webster County, Treasure Mountain Festival in Pendleton County, or Maple Days in Pocahontas County.
… and of course, much more that we’ve missed.
Here are the thirteen 100% rural counties of West Virginia (several other counties were 99% rural, so if you expected to see them on this list but don’t, that’s probably why): Morgan, Lincoln, Hampshire, Braxton, Doddridge, Calhoun, Clay, Wirt, Ritchie, Tucker, Webster, Pendleton, Pocahontas. Each of them deserves a visit! Which ones have you been through?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
