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Wildlife Viewing

Black bear, elk reintroduced in the southern coalfields, river otter, beaver, bobcat and one of the densest whitetail populations in the region. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the Ohio River Islands refuge are the flagship viewing areas.

Elk were reintroduced to the southern coalfields beginning in 2016 after an absence of more than 140 years. The herd is managed by WVDNR and is centered on reclaimed mine land in Logan, Mingo and Boone counties.

Black bear, reintroduced elk, river otter, beaver, bobcat and one of the densest whitetail populations in the region.

A spotted white-tailed deer fawn standing in tall grass in a West Virginia meadow
A spotted white-tailed deer fawn standing in tall grass in a West Virginia meadow
Our recommendations

Where we'd send you

Practical note

Elk viewing in the southern coalfields requires planning. The herd occupies reclaimed mine land with managed access rather than open public land, so arrangements should be made through WVDNR in advance.

What to know before you go

  • Elk viewing is centered on the Tomblin WMA area in the southern coalfields
  • Dawn and dusk on refuge roads and forest edges produce the most sightings
  • iNaturalist is the best way to log and identify what you find

Regions that do it best

Highest terrain, ski areas, wilderness backpacking

Potomac Highlands

All terrain in West Virginia above 4,000 feet lies in this region, including Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet.

 Off-road trail towns and reclaimed mine country

Southern Coalfields

The five southernmost counties, where deep mining shaped the settlement pattern and, more recently, the recreation economy.

 Ohio River islands and the North Bend Rail Trail

Mid-Ohio Valley

The Ohio River corridor and the counties inland from it.

Every place we cover for wildlife viewing

State Park · Potomac Highlands

Canaan Valley

The highest large valley east of the Mississippi, at about 3,200 feet — a 14-mile-long bowl of wetland, bog, beaver meadow and northern hardwood that behaves climatically like central Canada.

3,200 ft valley floor17,000+ ac refuge
River · Potomac Highlands

The Trough

A six-mile gorge on the South Branch of the Potomac between Romney and Moorefield with no road access — reachable only by boat or by the Potomac Eagle excursion train that runs alongside it.

6 mi no road accessBald eagles reliable
Wilderness · Potomac Highlands

Laurel Fork Wilderness

Two adjacent wilderness units, North and South, totaling around 12,000 acres along Laurel Fork — a beaver-worked stream valley with meadows, spruce and one of the quietest backpacking experiences in the state.

Local knowledge 11,839 ac two units18.5 mi trails
Refuge · Mid-Ohio Valley

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Twenty-two islands and several mainland tracts scattered along nearly 400 river miles of the Ohio, protecting some of the last relatively undisturbed island habitat on the river — critical for freshwater mussels, migratory birds and river-bottom forest.

22 islands~400 mi river span
AdvertiseThis space is available

Guides and rentals for wildlife viewing

Reserved for a West Virginia operator serving this activity. The listings above and below it are unpaid.

List your business here

Questions people ask

Are there elk in West Virginia?
Yes. Elk were reintroduced to the southern coalfields beginning in 2016 and the herd is managed by WVDNR, with viewing centered on reclaimed mine land in Logan, Mingo and Boone counties.
Organizations, agencies and resources · 10

Groups that handle access, maintenance, licensing and conditions data for this activity. Starred entries publish updates worth following.

WV Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) Fishing, hunting, wildlife, boating, wildlife management areas, public lands and recreation. The licensing and regulatory authority for hunting, fishing and boating statewide. Visit WVDNR Wildlife Management Areas Hunting More than 80 public WMAs with boundaries, permitted uses, facilities and area-specific regulations. Visit Ducks Unlimited Hunting Wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation, with Ohio River corridor projects. Visit Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunting Elk habitat conservation, relevant to West Virginia's reintroduced southern coalfields herd. Visit eBird — West Virginia Birding Hotspot data, recent sightings, checklists and species distribution for every county in the state. Visit Brooks Bird Club Birding West Virginia's statewide birding organization. WVDNR specifically recommends it as a way to connect with other West Virginia birders. Visit iNaturalist Birding Community species identification and biodiversity logging — the best tool for recording what you find in West Virginia. Visit WVDNR Birding & Wildlife Birding Wildlife diversity program, species information, viewing areas and non-game conservation. Visit Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Birding Wetland complex in the highest large valley east of the Mississippi — birding, wildlife viewing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Visit Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge Federal lands Protected island chain along the Ohio main stem — paddling, birding and mussel habitat. Visit

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Birding

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Outdoor Photography

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Nature Observation

Year-round

Every organization we link to: local tourism offices, the state and federal agencies that manage the land, the nonprofits and clubs that keep access open, and the universities doing the research.

West Virginia has roughly 1.5 million acres of public land and a handful of places that carry almost all of the attention. The consequence is that a great deal of very good ground sits nearly empty, usually for one of three reasons: nobody has heard of it, the road in is gated or rough, or it is undeveloped and has nothing to advertise. Those are the places below — of them across regions.

Almost Heaven Swings