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By wonderfulwv 10/01/202410/18/2024 Ecology/October 2024/Wildlife

The Heavenly Hellbender

West Virginia’s giant salamander is a distinctive river-dweller and a unique and important member of the aquatic ecosystem.

By wonderfulwv 07/09/202407/09/2024 Ecology/July 2024/Preservation

Stiltgrass Struggles

Many West Virginians find themselves fighting a wiry invader in their yards—but what exactly is it, and how do you get rid of it for good?

By wonderfulwv 06/12/2024 Ecology/June 2024/Outdoors/Preservation

Diverse and Dedicated

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Diversity Unit works diligently to converse and protect our lesser-known and more vulnerable species.

By wonderfulwv 12/11/202312/11/2023 December 2023/Ecology

Appalachia’s Great “Untapped” Resource

Long overlooked, the sycamore tree is getting new respect.

By wonderfulwv 11/22/202311/22/2023 Ecology/Hunting

The Heart of a Hunter

West Virginia hunter Chris Ellis finds inspiration in fellow hunter Randy Benear.

By wonderfulwv 10/03/2023 Ecology/Preservation/WVDNR

Poisonous Pastures

How one invasive species arrived and spread like wildfire—and what you can do about it.

By wonderfulwv 05/02/202305/27/2025 Ecology/Outdoors/Wildlife/WVDNR

Where the Butterflies Are

Butterflies, West Virginia has your number—and it looks like it’s about 142, give or take.

By wonderfulwv 03/01/202303/01/2023 Ecology/WVDNR

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Three outdoorswomen find satisfaction in forestry in West Virginia

By wonderfulwv 01/30/202303/03/2023 Ecology/Education/Preservation/WVDNR

The Plant Morgue

A unique repository on West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus serves as a comprehensive preserved record of the region’s botanical history.  

By wonderfulwv 05/05/2022 Ecology/Outdoors

The Value of Bees

When it comes to helping the environment, native pollinators do the heavy lifting.

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wonderfulwestvirginia

Exploring the beauty, adventure & outdoor heritage of West Virginia.
📸 Photography | 📖 Stories

Jared Stewart captured the Green Bank Observatory Jared Stewart captured the Green Bank Observatory from the Allegheny Trail, showcasing one of the Mountain State's most iconic landmarks from a unique perspective!

📸 Photo by Jared Stewart, Green Bank, WV
Where two rivers meet, thousands of years of histo Where two rivers meet, thousands of years of history converge.

Long before it became a state park, Tu-Endie-Wei was a place of deep significance to Indigenous peoples and later the site of one of the most consequential battles on the American frontier. Today, this four-acre park in Point Pleasant preserves the stories, monuments, and memories that helped shape the Mountain State—and the nation.

Read "Where Two Waters Meet" by Mason Jack to discover the remarkable history of Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.

🔗 Click the link in our bio to read more.
America's 250th birthday may have passed, but the America's 250th birthday may have passed, but the celebration is far from over. 🇺🇸

Throughout this anniversary year, we're reflecting on the people, places, and stories that shaped our nation—including the frontier forts that once anchored settlement and offered refuge across what is now West Virginia.

From Fort Henry and Fort Randolph to Pricketts Fort, these historic sites preserve a fascinating chapter of our state's early history and the events that helped shape America.

📖 Click the link in our bio to read more!
A road worth taking. 🌿 Jared Stewart captured thi A road worth taking. 🌿

Jared Stewart captured this beautiful view along the road to Gaudineer Overlook in Randolph and Pocahontas counties—a reminder that some of West Virginia's best scenery is found along the journey!

📸 Photo by Jared Stewart, Randolph/Pocahontas County, WV
A flash of yellow in the heart of the mountains. 💛 A flash of yellow in the heart of the mountains. 💛🐦

Matt Owens captured this beautiful Northern Yellow Warbler along the Williams River near the Highland Scenic Highway—a perfect reminder of the incredible wildlife waiting to be discovered across West Virginia.
Jared Stewart captured the peaceful beauty of Lick Jared Stewart captured the peaceful beauty of Lick Run along Hemlock Trail in the WVU Research Forest!

✨ Have a favorite photo from the Mountain State? Submit your photos by clicking the link in our bio!
Lisa Ring captured this gorgeous Red-Spotted Purpl Lisa Ring captured this gorgeous Red-Spotted Purple butterfly in Jefferson County, reminding us that West Virginia's wildlife is full of colorful surprises!!

Have a favorite photo you've captured in the Mountain State? We'd love to see it! Submit your best West Virginia photography by clicking the link in our bio!

📸 Photo by Lisa Ring, Jefferson County, WV.
Spring's beauty meets one of West Virginia's most Spring's beauty meets one of West Virginia's most colorful backyard visitors. 🌸🐦

Steve Elswick captured this stunning red-bellied woodpecker perched among blooming dogwood flowers in Mount Nebo—a reminder that some of the Mountain State's best moments happen when we slow down and look a little closer.

📸 Photo by Steve Elswick, Mount Nebo, WV
Misty mornings. Mountain views. Moments worth shar Misty mornings. Mountain views. Moments worth sharing. 🌿📸

This stunning image was captured by Grant Bennett at Sandstone Falls, is exactly the kind of photography we love to showcase!!

Think you have a photo that captures the beauty of West Virginia? We'd love to see it! Submit your photos by clicking the link in our bio!

📷 Photo: Misty Morning at Sandstone by Grant Bennett
"Below the Sun" by Cheyenne Wolfe of Kingwood, Wes "Below the Sun" by Cheyenne Wolfe of Kingwood, West Virginia.🍄

Images like this remind us just how much beauty can be found in the Mountain State. Whether it's a breathtaking landscape, incredible wildlife, or a quiet moment outdoors, we want to see West Virginia through your lens.

📸 Click the link in our bio to submit your photos!
For generations, the bald eagle has symbolized the For generations, the bald eagle has symbolized the spirit of America—and thanks to decades of conservation efforts, it's soaring over West Virginia once again. 🦅

From just a handful of nesting pairs to nearly 200 documented nests across the Mountain State, the bald eagle's remarkable recovery is one of our nation's greatest wildlife success stories. Learn where to spot these iconic birds and discover the people working to protect them for generations to come.

✨ Click the link in our bio to read more!

📸 Featured photo by Austin Statts.
A perfect summer day in the Mountain State starts A perfect summer day in the Mountain State starts right here. ☀️💙

Twelve-year-old Owen Watson enjoying the cool waters of the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River in the Monongahela National Forest is everything we love about a West Virginia summer—simple moments, unforgettable memories, and the great outdoors.

What's your favorite place to cool off in the Mountain State?

📸 Photo by Shanda Watson — Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, Pocahontas County, WV (featuring Owen Watson).
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Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

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3 days 21 hours ago

The August/September issue of Wonderful West Virginia is officially here! 🎉🍂 Keep an eye on your mailbox—your new issue is on its way! Inside this

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Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

4 days 22 hours ago

Jared Stewart captured the Green Bank Observatory from the Allegheny Trail, showcasing one of the Mountain State's most iconic landmarks from a unique perspective! 📸

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Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

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Where two rivers meet, thousands of years of history converge. Long before it became a state park, Tu-Endie-Wei was a place of deep significance to

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Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

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America's 250th birthday may have passed, but the celebration is far from over. 🇺🇸 Throughout this anniversary year, we're reflecting on the people, places, and

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Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

1 week 5 days ago

A road worth taking. 🌿 Jared Stewart captured this beautiful view along the road to Gaudineer Overlook in Randolph and Pocahontas counties—a reminder that some

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By Meggan 07/22/202607/22/2026 Uncategorized

Frontier Forts

The nation’s 250th birthday is a great time to remember the structures that anchored settlement through early conflicts in western Virginia.

History/June / July 2026/State Parks

Where Two  Waters Meet

Fishing/June / July 2026

A Trout to Write Home About

Conservation/June / July 2026/Wildlife

Our Unmistakable American Emblem

Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

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Wonderful West Virginia Magazine
Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

Showcasing the best of West Virginia

Frontier Forts

Where Two  Waters Meet

A Trout to Write Home About

Our Unmistakable American Emblem

Star-Spangled Celebrations

Independence Day, West Virginia State Park–Style

On the Edge

Wonderful West Virginia’s Eighth Annual Wildlife Photography Issue Submission Form

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