West Virginia Ranked No. 2 Most Naturally Beautiful State In America

West Virginia is receiving national recognition for something Mountain State residents have long known: few places can compete with its natural beauty.

A nationwide ranking highlighted by Travel + Leisure named West Virginia the No. 2 most naturally beautiful state in America, trailing only New Hampshire. Neighboring Virginia finished third.

The ranking was based on research from travel company Holafly, which compared the natural landscapes found across all 50 states. West Virginia stood out for its combination of mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls and federally protected lands.

Researchers pointed to West Virginia’s extensive forest coverage, more than 6,600 miles of rivers and waterways, nearly 200 waterfalls and six National Park Service sites. The state also performed consistently well across the different natural features considered in the study.

The ranking placed West Virginia ahead of several states well known for outdoor tourism and scenery, including Hawaii, Washington, North Carolina, Vermont and Maine.

The recognition comes as West Virginia continues to gain national attention as an outdoor destination. The New River Gorge has helped introduce millions of visitors to the state’s mountains and waterways, while West Virginia’s state parks, mountain communities, fall foliage and outdoor recreation continue to draw travelers from across the country.

From the New River Gorge to the state’s mountain ridges, forests, rivers and waterfalls, the latest national recognition puts West Virginia near the top of the country for the landscapes that have long helped define the Mountain State.

Photo: National Park Service