Outdoor Activities in WV's Greenbrier Valley
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The Mountain State…West Virginia’s nickname is no exaggeration! It’s the only state fully encompassed within the Alleghenies, making it the most mountainous in the nation (sorry, Colorado). Greenbrier Valley's scenic landscape is year-round adventure, filled with hiking, biking, float trips and lots of fresh air. Plan your getaway to include any number of public access destinations or ask a professional guide to help you navigate the trails, find that secret fishing hole and reveal the “best of” in West Virginia’s mountains.
HAPPY TRAILS
Get in the groove by starting with the Greenbrier River Trail. For 78 miles, the trail gently meanders from Caldwell (near downtown Lewisburg) north to Cass, WV. This wide, graded trail is never more than a stone’s throw from the river and delivers stunning views year-round. It’s great for hikers and bikers alike. For another leisurely option, and a few hills for bikers, take the 3.7-mile Lake Trail around Lake Sherwood. Expansive views and wildlife sightings are a regular occurrence. Look closely and you just might spy a beaver dam. For an out-and-back trek complete with creek crossings, Anthony Creek Trail, promises canopied rhododendron groves and some of the region’s “secret” swimming holes.
Free Spirit Adventures and Greenbrier Outfitters offer shuttle services and any bike rentals you may need. If you have your own equipment but need a tune-up before you hit the trail, Hammer Cycles can get your bike in tip-top condition.
UNDERGROUND TREASURES
If ancient creations formed by “mother nature” herself sound captivating, head below ground to weave among the stalagmites and stalactites at Lost World Caverns. Take the self-guided tour—it’s 45 minutes at a leisurely pace—or, if curiosity is calling, head deep into its winding tunnels on a Wild Cave Tour.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Lake Sherwood is a 156-acre lake perfect for an afternoon pleasure cruise by kayak or SUP. Bring a lunch and paddle to the island for a beachside picnic. It’s well worth spending a lazy summer afternoon tubing the Greenbrier River. On the warmest weekends of the year, you’re bound to make friends along the way! If you’re looking to get away from it all, head up to Summit Lake. Tucked deep in the Monongahela National Forest, this 43-acre reservoir has a boat launch and permits small, electric motors for those with fishing in mind.
For watercraft rentals in the valley, contact Greenbrier Outfitters or Greenbrier River Campground.
GET IN THE SWING
Golf has been a centerpiece of social activity in the Greenbrier Valley for more than a century. The first links quite literally carved from rolling meadow lands adjacent to The Greenbrier’s Springhouse and the original Old White Hotel (1858-1922). With The Greenbrier’s world-class courses on which golf-greats have played to county courses regularly enjoyed by locals, golf enthusiasts will find the valley’s terrain challenging but still fun for all skill levels.
If you’re looking to experience one of the finest on U.S. soil, be sure to book a tee-time on The Old White Course at The Greenbrier. Part of the PGA TOUR for ten years, much of the original 1914 course was modeled after favorite links found across Europe. Recently, major updates were made to the fairways, bunkers and greens, returning it to those first designs.
Other local courses offer nine and eighteen-hole options featuring mountain-style golf along with the valley’s signature, scenic views. The Lewisburg Elks Country Club is beautifully maintained and is favored by many local golfers. It’s the most challenging 5,600-yard course you’ll play, so don’t let the yardage, slope and rating fool you! Valley View Country Club is a picturesque nine-hole course featuring open fairways that are more forgiving and smaller, challenging greens. The Greenbrier Hills Golf & Tennis Club is a walkable par 70 course (played twice) with level, open fairways and manicured greens. Wherever you choose to play, each presents unique terrain that you'll want to revisit again and again.
