Pipestem Resort State Park

The Bluestone River has, over ages, cut a deep gorge into the plateau of southern West Virginia, carving a wild, forested canyon that plunges hundreds of feet below the surrounding highland. Much of the river corridor is protected as a national scenic river, keeping the gorge rugged and largely undeveloped.

This mountain country was, for thousands of years, part of the ancestral homeland and shared hunting ground of the Shawnee, the Cherokee, and other nations whose descendants continue elsewhere today. The name Pipestem itself comes from a native shrub whose hollow stems were used to make pipe stems, a small reminder of the long human history in these hills.

The park's most memorable experience is its aerial tram, a cable car system that descends the steep canyon wall from the plateau down to the river. As the cabin glides over the forest and into the gorge, the plateau falls away and the Bluestone reveals itself far below, a ride that thrills first-timers and rewards return visitors.

At the bottom sits Mountain Creek Lodge, a rustic riverside lodge reachable only by the tram or by hiking the canyon trails. Staying or dining down there means being cradled deep in the gorge, with the river, the forest, and the canyon walls close around, a remove from the world that few parks can offer.

The main body of the park spreads across the high plateau, where a large lodge, cabins, and campgrounds anchor a range of recreation. Golfers have courses laid out on the highland, and miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding thread through the woods and along the canyon rim, with overlooks that gaze down into the gorge.

The park also holds a state observatory, where dark mountain skies make for excellent stargazing, and a nature center that introduces the plants and wildlife of the region. All of this makes Pipestem a place where a family can fill several days without ever leaving the park.

Spring and early summer bring wildflowers, rushing water in the canyon, and comfortable days on the plateau. Summer is the busy season, with the tram running, the golf courses green, and campgrounds full. Fall may be the finest time of all, when the deep canyon fills with color and the tram ride passes over a sea of turning leaves.

Pipestem sits within easy reach of the wider New River Gorge region to the north, one of the country's premier outdoor destinations, and of the historic town of Bramwell and the coalfields to the south. It makes an excellent base for exploring the mountains of southern West Virginia.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.