One of West Virginia’s biggest offerings is its beautiful rivers. Whether it is fishing, boating, kayaking, inner tubing, rafting, or swimming, West Virginians enjoy their rivers to the maximum. All of the waterways in West Virginia are unique and treasured, but these 10 rivers really stand out.

1. Blackwater River
Flickr U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The beautiful Blackwater River is 34.3 miles long. It is a popular destination for fishing and swimming.
2. Buckhannon River
By Valerius Tygart (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Buckhannon river is 45.4 miles long. It is famous for its trout fishing.
3. Cherry River
By Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) (Own work (Self-made photograph)) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Cherry River is part of the waterdshed for the Mississippi River. This amazing photo speaks volumes to why it is so special.
4. Elk River
flickr/R.L. Smith
The beautiful and popular Elk River is 172 miles long. It is famous for its bass and trout fishing. During the summer it is the destination for kayakers, fishermen, inner tubers and swimmers.
5. Gauley River
National Parks Service
The Gauley River is 105 miles long. It is well known for its top-rated white water rafting.

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6. Middle Fork River
By Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) (Own work (self-made photograph)) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Middle Fork River is only 35.4 miles long, but it is a popular destination. It even has a campground named after it.
7. New River Gorge National River
Flickr Mark Goebel
The gorgeous New River Gorge National River is 113.8 miles long. it is protected by the United States National Park Service.
8. Potomac River
Justin A. Wilcox [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Potomac River is 405 miles long. It offers great fishing, swimming, boating and so much more.
9. Shenandoah River
Flickr David
The Shenandoah River is 55.6 miles long and is a tributary of the Potomac River. It runs through the historic Harper's Ferry where it is used for some of the best white water rafting in the state.
10. Williams River
By Ken Thomas (KenThomas.us (personal website of photographer)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Williams River is 33 miles long and a tributary of the Gauley River. It is a popular destination for trout fishermen.

Visit a West Virginia river and see what all of the excitement is about!

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