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Hinton
Camping Southeast the
Dark Sky Camping. Photo by Steve Shires, courtesy of Visit Lexington
Great Adventures in the National Coal Heritage Area, W.Va. Encompassing 13 southern counties in West Virginia, the National Coal Heritage Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground located just a short drive from many eastern metro areas. From the New River Gorge National Park and several state parks to miles of trails in between, discover a whole range of sights to see as you hike, bike, or ride ATVs through the area. For the water enthusiast, the Guyandotte Water Trail is the hidden gem of the region. Whether you prefer paddling, floating, or fishing, take in beautiful mountain vistas as you flow through historic small towns like Gilbert, Pineville, Logan, and Man. Bring your own boat or rent one from Guyandotte River Kayak. Their shuttle service makes it easy to experience a small section or paddle all 160 miles. To make the most out of your trip, find a local campground to use as your basecamp. Twin Falls Resort and Chief Logan state parks offer well-maintained campgrounds, plus other amenities like scenic trails and swimming pools, to make your stay enjoyable. Just off the waterway, R.D. Bailey Lake Guyandotte Campground has a number of camping options from secluded campsites to RV hook-up sites. You can even make your way to the mountaintop for epic views at Twin Hollow Campground & Cabins. Choose from primitive camping to full hookup sites, plus a private fishing pond and hiking trails. Once you’re done on the water and camp is set up, explore two National Scenic Byways and Chief Logan State Park over 1,000 miles of winding roads packed with history along the Devil’s Den Driving Tour. It’s easy to see something spectacular and learn something new along the way. At the end of the day, wind down and fuel up at one of the local restaurants. Trail 12 BBQ near Gilbert has some of the best dining views and award-winning barbecue that will have your mouth watering the moment you step through the door. Don’t miss out on a glass of small batch corn whiskey from the microdistillery Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine. In the town of Pineville, the Ole Jose Grill & Cantina serves everything from woodfired pizza to authentic Mexican cuisine with chimichanga cheesecake for dessert while the Pinnacle Drive Inn is the place for great hot dogs and hamburgers with that classic diner feel. Find your next great outdoor adventure in the National Coal Heritage Area of West Virginia. WVtourism.com/NCHA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA
C am p i n g s e a s o n h as ar r i v e d j us t i n ti m e f o r a su m m e r o f mu s i c , m o un t ai n s , and m a k i n g m e m o r i e s. We’ v e m ad e y o ur j o b e a s y w i th t h i s r ou n d u p o f f i r s t - r at e c am p i ng o p ti o n s in o u r r e gi o n. F r o m q ui e t b ac kc o un tr y s i te s a n d f a m i l y - fr i e n d l y c am p g r o un d s to th e be st of c a r c amp i n g and g l am p i ng , th e r e’s a spo t f o r e v e r y t y p e o f ad v e n t u r e r w h o w a n t s t o s p e n d a ni g h t un d e r t h e s ta r s .
