Pocahontas County: Forests, Trails and History

Discover Pocahontas County through its forests, water, trails and history. When searching for a vacation rental, it helps to have a clear focus: Should your vacation include longer stretches outdoors, a specific historical story, or a cultural event scheduled for a particular date? The destinations differ in scale and subject; these contrasts give your planning direction without requiring every day to look the same.

Forests, Water and Trails

Seneca State Forest is located in Pocahontas County. Boating is possible on Seneca Lake, and the forest also includes 23 miles of hiking and biking trails. Here, activities on the water and on the trails go hand in hand. If you’re deciding between boating and getting around on foot or by bike, this offers a concrete starting point for planning your vacation days.

Calvin Price State Forest lies in eastern Pocahontas County and Greenbrier County and is covered by more than 9,000 acres of mixed hardwood and pine forest. The Allegheny Trail runs through the eastern part of the forest. Here, an expansive woodland landscape meets a specifically named route. Its location in two counties can also help you get your bearings: the forest is not located exclusively in Pocahontas County.

Handley Wildlife Management Area is home to 5-acre Handley Pond. It can be reached via County Routes 17 and 17/1. Compared with the extensive forest areas, the pond is a smaller, clearly defined destination. When planning your trip, you can use the two county routes as reference points.

History and Cultural Events

Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is located in the southern part of Pocahontas County. It was the site of the last major battle of the Civil War in West Virginia. The park includes an on-site museum with exhibits on local history, the Battle of Droop Mountain and Civil War artifacts. This connects the landscape with a specific historical subject: you can explore the site through both its significance in the war and its exhibits.

The Pocahontas County Historical Society Museum displays tools, spinning wheels, looms, and items from the forestry and railroad industries. Tools, spinning wheels and looms complement the items from the forestry and railroad industries.

The Pioneer Days in Marlinton are a fixture on the cultural calendar. They take place every year on the second weekend of July. If you’d like to include this event in your trip, you can plan your vacation around that weekend and make the event a focal point of your schedule.

Tailor Your Vacation Rental Search

These differences make your vacation rental search more specific. For forests and trails, eastern Calvin Price State Forest and Seneca State Forest offer different points of reference; for Civil War history, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park in the south of the county is a clear point of reference. If a scheduled cultural event is important to you, the second weekend of July in Marlinton can also determine your travel dates. First decide which experience you want to define your vacation, then tailor your search to a suitable location. That way, planning starts with the character of your trip rather than a general idea of where accommodation should be located.

Discover more destinations: Edray, Cass, Raleigh, Mercer County, Lincoln County, Nicholas County, Fayette County, Barbour County.

For the broader travel overview: West Virginia.