The American Discovery Trail in West Virginia reaches it's highest elevation east of the Rockies, just over 4,000 feet. The 287 miles of West Virginia ADT are extremely diverse and definitely deserve to be nicknamed the "Mountain State".  We really enjoyed our hike through West Virginia, partly due to our love for the mountains, but mostly because of the connections we made with the incredible people of the “Wild” and “Wonderful” state.  To "discover" some of the unique West Virginia points of interest along the ADT take a “Virtual Hike” by clicking on the links throughout this article.

WEST VIRGINIA:

The American Discovery Trail in West Virginia reaches it's highest elevation east of the Rockies, just over 4,000 feet. The 287 miles of West Virginia ADT are extremely diverse and definitely deserve to be nicknamed the "Mountain State".  We really enjoyed our hike through West Virginia, partly due to our love for the mountains, but mostly because of the connections we made with the incredible people of the “Wild” and “Wonderful” state.  To experience some of the unique West Virginia points of interest along the ADT take a “Virtual Hike” by clicking on the links throughout this article.

To check out the Geography of West Virginia: http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/wv_geography.htm

We followed lightly used roads through a valley of the Appalachian mountain range to Green Spring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Spring,_West_Virginia

We felt at home back in the Appalachian Mountain Range: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Mountains

You can see an original fort built be George Washington in Fort Ashby: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ashby

Just a few miles off the ADT you can find “The Friendliest Town in the United States” in Keyser: http://www.keyserwv.com/

Check out the small valley town of Ridgeville: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgeville,_West_Virginia http://www.roadsidethoughts.com/16/c16_3317600.htm

See where Abraham Lincoln’s mother was born at the Nancy Hanks Memorial: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvminera/nancyhanksmem.htm

There is a great wildlife viewing area at theGreenland Gap Nature Conservancy Preserve: http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/westvirginia/preserves/art1203.html

Some of the oldest mountains and hardwood forests in the world are in the Potomac Highlands: http://www.wvdot.com/7_tourists/7b5_potomachighlands.htm

We shared a few miles with a four legged friend in Streby: http://www.roadsidethoughts.com/16/c16_3362000.htm

The elevation changes became challenging in the Allegheny Front (Allegheny Mountains): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_Mountains

There is a rugged beauty in the Monongahela National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/general_info/general_info_index.shtml

To see landscape typical of the Canadian Tundra check out the Dolly Sods National Wilderness Area: http://www.patc.net/hiking/destinations/dolysods.html

For great panoramic views of the Allegheny Mountains visit Bear Rocks Red Creek Campground: http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/westvirginia/preserves/art13865.html

You’ll find a small town just outside the wilderness area in Laneville: http://www.roadsidethoughts.com/16/c16_3208400.htm

For a great outdoor playground try the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Resort State Park): http://www.fws.gov/canaanvalley/

If you are up for a 290 mile hike through the mountains of West Virginia head for the Allegheny Trail: http://www.wvnet.edu/wvsta/a-trail.html http://www.aldha.org/alleghen.htm

Check out the five story high falls at Blackwater Falls State Park: http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/

Don’t blink on your way by or you might miss Hendricks: http://www.city-data.com/city/Hendricks-West-Virginia.html

Drop down into the river valley to visit Parsons: http://www.wvexp.com/index.php/Parsons,_West_Virginia

To see small town living in West Virginia visitNestorville: http://www.roadsidethoughts.com/16/c16_3268500.htm

There is some beautiful countryside around Moatsville: http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Moatsville-West-Virginia.cfm

You will find eleven miles of fun on the water at Tygart Lake State Park: http://www.tygartlake.com/rates/rates.html

You can’t help but think about mom while visiting Grafton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafton,_West_Virginia

Starting way back on May 10, 1908, the first observance of Mother’s Day was at the International Mother's Day Shrine: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvtaylor/shrine.htm

If you are looking for a pretty place to vacation try Valley Falls State Park: http://www.valleyfallsstatepark.com/

We loved railroad grade hiking on the Harrison County Rail-Trail: http://www.wvrtc.org/trails/harrisonco-dirs.html

If you ever want to visit the birthplace of General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson you need to go to Clarksburg: http://www.cityofclarksburgwv.com/

To get a look at the Birthplace of "Stonewall" Jackson: http://www.nndb.com/people/596/000050446/

With over 40% of the population coming from Italian descent, Clarksburg is a great place for the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival: http://www.wvihf.com/

We had great hiking along the seventy miles of the North Bend Rail-Trail: http://www.northbendrailtrailsp.com/

We enjoyed Rail-Trail hiking maintained by North Bend State Park: http://www.northbendsp.com/

Sheri felt right at home due to the settlers from New Jersey at New Fort Salem at Salem: http://www.museumsofwv.org/museum.cfm?Museum=6

To see an 1800’s original check out the Old Stone House at Pennsboro: http://www.museumsofwv.org/museum.cfm?Museum=120

For a side trip on a stern-wheeler visit Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park and Museum: http://www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com/

Leaving out of West Virginia we crossed over the wide Ohio River: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_River