Signs of spring are everywhere, have you noticed? The days are getting longer and warmer. Birds are singing; spring peepers are calling. Crocuses and daffodils are sprouting and blooming. And the mountains are calling you to come to enjoy all the beauty they have to offer in this welcome season of spring.

Early spring is an excellent time to get out and hike in West Virginia, for so many reasons. After a winter of being cooped up indoors, there's nothing quite like escaping the confines of the house to revel in nature! And one excellent spring trail choice is Stone Cliff Trail in the New River Gorge near Thurmond.
Robin Smith/Alltrails
One thing that makes spring such a great time to hike the Stone Cliff Trail is that the leaves are still largely off the trees, making the views often better than they will be in summer, and the bugs, including ticks and mosquitos, aren't nearly as bad!
Another thing that makes the Stone Cliff Trail a special treat in the springtime is the vegetation. It's an excellent place to spot the first signs of spring greenery pushing up through the detritus littering the forest floor.
Ellen Linger/Alltrails
It's also a trail known for its wildflowers, especially in the springtime: trillium, bloodroot, trout lily, and more.
Ellen Linger/Alltrails

Related Stories

The Gorgeous Half-Mile Hike In West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle That Will Lead You Past A River And Ruins

The Gorgeous Half-Mile Hike In West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle That Will Lead You Past A River And Ruins

 Explore 72,000 Acres Of Unparalleled Views Of Mountains On The Scenic New River Gorge Hike In West Virginia

Explore 72,000 Acres Of Unparalleled Views Of Mountains On The Scenic New River Gorge Hike In West Virginia

 Hike A Trail To The Base Of The New River Gorge Bridge For A New View Of A West Virginia Icon

Hike A Trail To The Base Of The New River Gorge Bridge For A New View Of A West Virginia Icon
And where there are flowers, there are usually butterflies!
Amanda Staub/Alltrails
The trail itself is not a difficult one, but it does extend almost three miles one way, making for a 6-mile round trip if you do the whole out-and-back length.
NPS photo/Dave Bieri
Of course, summer is a fine time to visit this area as well and is perhaps better suited to swimming or wading even if the views of the river from the trail aren't quite as frequent.
Christina Parsley/Alltrials

To learn more, visit its Alltrails page here. The Stone Cliff Trail is located on the grounds of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, so you can also get more information and directions to the trailhead from the NPS website here.

Where do you go to enjoy the first blooms of spring? Here’s another good spot, on a quiet nature preserve in West Virginia.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore West Virginia

Featured Addresses
Stone Cliff, WV 25901, USA