Parks
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National Scenic Trail
Appalachian
Maine to Georgia, CT,GA,MA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,NY,PA,TN,VA,VT,WV
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
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National Scenic River
Bluestone
Athens, Pipestem, and Hinton, WV
The Bluestone River and the rugged and ancient gorge it has carved is a richly diverse and scenic area of the southern Appalachians. Bluestone National Scenic River is preserved as a living landscape that provides an unspoiled experience for visitors and a haven for a variety of plants and animals. The park protects a 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia.
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National Historical Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
Potomac River, DC,MD,WV
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.
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Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Watershed, DC,DE,MD,NY,PA,VA,WV
NPS helps you learn about and enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America. Here, you can visit major league cities, colonial towns, American Indian landscapes, farms and fishing villages. You can learn to kayak, pick crabs, go fishing, tour a lighthouse, slurp oysters, and slow down to enjoy the natural beauty of the Chesapeake.
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National Heritage Area
Coal
WV
The 5300 square mile National Coal Heritage Area lies in southern West Virginia, a region shaped by the history of coal deposits found in its ancient mountains. Today, the area’s communities retain much of their original character as “company towns,” reflecting local traditions, immigrant laborers and the dominance of the coal industry.
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National Recreation Area
Gauley River
Summersville, WV
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River contains several class V+ rapids, making it one of the most adventurous white water boating rivers in the east.
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National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, WV,VA,MD
A visit to this quaint, historic community, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, is like stepping into the past. Stroll the picturesque streets, visit exhibits and museums, or hike our trails and battlefields. Spend a day or a weekend. We have something for everyone, so come and discover Harpers Ferry!
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National Historic Trail
Lewis & Clark
Sixteen States: IA,ID,IL,IN,KS,KY,MO,MT,NE,ND,OH,OR,PA,SD,WA,WV
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is approximately 4,900 miles long, extending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River, near present day Astoria, Oregon. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as well as the preparatory section from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Wood River, Illinois.
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National River
New River Gorge
Hinton, Beckley, Glen Jean, and Fayetteville, WV
A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.
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National Heritage Area
Wheeling
Wheeling, WV
The Wheeling National Heritage Area celebrates the city’s dramatic setting along the Ohio River, providing experiences in Victorian architecture, waterfront park development, historic city markets, renovated industrial buildings featuring retail shops, restaurants and interpretive exhibits, and West Virginia Independence Hall, the birthplace of the state of West Virginia during the Civil War.
By The Numbers
- 6 National Parks
- 1,652,243 Visitors to National Parks
- $88,400,000 Economic Benefit from National Park Tourism »
- $242,937,853 of Rehabilitation Projects Stimulated by Tax Incentives (since 1995) »
- $49,853,531 of Land & Water Conservation Fund Appropriated for Projects (since 1965) »
- 54 Certified Local Governments »
- 92 Community Conservation & Recreation Projects (since 1987) »
- 531 Acres Transferred by Federal Lands to Parks for Local Parks and Recreation (since 1948) »
- 255,225 Hours Donated by Volunteers »
- 4 National Heritage Areas »
- 1 Wild & Scenic Rivers Managed by NPS »
- 2 National Trails Administered by NPS »
- 1,964 National Register of Historic Places Listings »
- 16 National Historic Landmarks »
- 15 National Natural Landmarks »
- 510 Places Recorded by Heritage Documentation Programs »
- 7,358,645 Objects in National Park Museum Collections »
- 544 Archeological Sites in National Parks »
- 2 Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans »
- 6 Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itineraries »
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These numbers are just a sample of the National Park Service's work. Figures are for the fiscal year that ended 9/30/2019.