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.
Terms of use
The terms you agree to by using West Virginia Outside, including what we publish, what we do not warrant, and who carries the risk of an outdoor activity.
West Virginia Outside is published by Appalachian Heritage Media. By using this site you agree to these terms. If you do not agree with them, please do not use the site.
What this site is
This site is an editorial guide to outdoor recreation in West Virginia. It is published for general information. It is not a booking service, a guiding service, a permitting authority, or a substitute for the agency that manages any piece of land or water described here.
We are not affiliated with the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, West Virginia State Parks, or any other agency, except where a page says otherwise. Where we describe an agency's rules or figures, the agency's own current publication governs, not ours.
Accuracy, and its limits
We take care with what we publish and we say where a figure comes from. Even so, this site is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy or non-infringement.
Conditions change faster than any website. Trails are rerouted and closed. Roads wash out and gates are locked seasonally. River levels rise and fall within hours. Fees, hours, permit requirements and regulations change without notice, and a page here may be out of date the day after it is written. Verify anything that matters with the managing agency before you travel.
Outdoor activities carry risk, and that risk is yours
Hiking, backpacking, climbing, paddling, whitewater, caving, riding, hunting, fishing, skiing and every other activity described on this site carry inherent risks, including risks of serious injury, permanent disability and death. Those risks cannot be eliminated by any description, rating or recommendation published here.
Nothing on this site is instruction, certification, or an assurance that any route, run, climb or trail is within your ability. A difficulty rating is a general guide, not a judgement about you. You are responsible for deciding whether you have the skill, experience, fitness, judgement and equipment for what you are attempting, and for the people in your party. Where an activity calls for training, certification or a qualified guide, get one.
You assume full responsibility for your own safety and for any decision you make with information from this site. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Appalachian Heritage Media and its contributors are not liable for any injury, loss or damage arising from the use of this site or from any activity you undertake.
Links to other sites
We link heavily to agencies, nonprofits, clubs and businesses because that is where the authoritative and current information lives. We do not control those sites, we are not responsible for their content or their practices, and a link is not an endorsement. Their terms and privacy policies apply once you leave here.
Directory listings and advertising
The directory lists organizations and businesses relevant to outdoor recreation in West Virginia. Inclusion is editorial and free. Where a listing or placement is paid, it is identified as advertising. Editorial recommendations are not for sale. We do not verify the licensing, insurance, safety record or fitness of any business listed, and any dealing you have with one is between you and them.
Our content
The text, photographs, design, code and compilations on this site are owned by Appalachian Heritage Media or used with permission, and are protected by copyright. You may read, print and share pages for personal, non-commercial use, and you may quote briefly with attribution and a link. You may not republish, scrape, or use this site's content to train a model or build a competing service without written permission. Facts and agency figures are not ours to own; the way we have written and arranged them is.
What you submit
If you send us a trip report, a photograph, a correction or a listing request, you confirm that it is yours to send and you give us permission to publish and edit it here with credit. You keep ownership of what you send. Do not send anything confidential.
Acceptable use
Do not use this site to break the law, to harass anyone, to misrepresent land access or permission, to interfere with the site's operation, or to collect its content by automated means beyond ordinary search-engine indexing.
Changes
We may update these terms. The date at the top of this page shows when they last changed, and continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the law of the State of West Virginia, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules.
Contact
Questions about these terms, corrections, takedown requests and permission requests: peter@ahgwv.com.