Our State

Allegheny Range
West Virginia (WV) is located in the Allegheny Range of The Appalachian Mountain System. The Appalachians is a mountain system of eastern North America, extending in a broad belt (about 1,600 mi/2,570 km) SW from the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, Canada, to the Gulf coastal plain in Alabama.

WV’s geography consists of four distinct regions. From east to west they are the Potomac Section, Allegheny Highlands, Allegheny Plateau and Ohio Valley.

The Official State Travel Guide for WV divides the state into eight regions: Northern Panhandle, Mountaineer Country, Mountain Lakes, Potomac Highlands, New River/Greenbrier Valley, Metro Valley, Eastern Panhandle and Mid-Ohio Valley. The Southern WV Visitors and Convention Bureau further divides the New River/Greenbrier Valley by the nine counties in it: Nicholas, Fayette, Greenbrier, Raleigh, Summers, Monroe, Wyoming, Mercer and McDowell.

The river-, land- and mountain-based adventure activities found in Southern West Virginia are based around the New and Gauley rivers. These are located in the Allegheny Plateau, which is part of the New River/Greenbrier Valley, and specifically in Fayette County.

Geographic Regions of West Virginia
In the Potomac Section, the land slopes upward from the Valley of Virginia in the East to the Allegheny Highlands in the West. The Potomac River forms the northern border. With easy access to the area, it’s not surprising that the first European settlers made their homes here.

The Allegheny Highlands are the dividing line between eastern and western West Virginia. This is a rugged region with the state’s highest point, Spruce Knob, at 4,862 feet above sea level. The Allegheny Front is the dividing line that causes rivers to flow into two separate bodies of water. East of the Front, the streams eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean. To the west of the Front, the water reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

To the west of the Allegheny Highlands is the Allegheny Plateau. The terrain appears mountainous because of the numerous cuts that have been made by the rivers. The plateau slopes westward and down towards the Ohio River.

The Ohio Valley stretches down from the Northern Panhandle to include the Big Sandy River. The lowest point, 500 feet above sea level, is at the mouth of the Big Sandy where it enters the Ohio River.

The Impact of Geography and Climate
As the rivers tumble down off the plateau, they encounter boulders, rocks and constrictions that create rapids and whitewater as they follow the path of least resistance heading down the general westward slope and making their way to the Gulf of Mexico. Ancient, exposed cliff faces lend themselves to rock climbing and rappelling. They also form precipices affording grand views of the rivers and their canyons. Coal mining and timbering from years past left many, many old roads that became trails through the lush forest. Old railroad grades have also created great places (often with great views) for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and ATV tours.

West Virginia’s climate is considered humid continental that has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter with warm summers and cold winters. Overall, the climate is moderate in temperature and humidity. Studies have concluded that moderate climates and changing weather increase human energy.

The mountainous terrain also influences the climate – the higher the land level, the colder the temperatures. This makes some regions in WV colder than areas further to the north. Maximum summer temperatures range over 85°F/29°C although it can be 5°F/-15°C to 10°F/-12°C cooler in the mountains. Minimum winter temperatures average between 25°F/-4°C to 30°F/-1°C.

Rainfall is generally plentiful throughout the state with an average around 45 inches. More rain falls on the western side of the Allegheny Front because clouds rise and cool, and precipitation falls. The predominant winds are from the south and west, although winds from the east do carry moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. Every area of the state receives snowfall. The heaviest occurs in the mountains and the lightest occurs in the southwest section of the state.

Putting it all together
The geography and the climate have created a vast outdoor playground for all kinds of sports. If it gets too hot, you can head to the mountains or jump in the river. If it gets too cool, you can bundle up and go skiing or head to the mountains for a brisk hike. Welcome to West Virginia – Wild and Wonderful!

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