Category: Adventure Guides

Five Scenic Stops for an Adventurous West Virginia Roadtrip

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Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia…

It has been fifty years since John Denver came out with his iconic song and there’s no better time to West Virginia, also known as Almost Heaven. If you’re looking for the best things to do in West Virginia, look no further. Here are five scenic places to visit on your next roadtrip through West Virginia. This post is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Tourism. As always, all opinions are my own.

1. Stop at Harpers Ferry

Head to “The Point” where you can see West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. The Point is also the meeting point of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Hike a few miles on the Appalachian Trail, where you can see Jefferson Rock, Harper Cemetery, Lockwood House, Storer College Campus, and mountain and river views.

2. Go for a horseback ride at Lost River State Park

Enjoy seeing Lost River State Park by horseback with Hidden Trail Stables. Lost River is beautiful and scenic and the horses at Hidden Trail are friendly and well-cared for. There are horseback trails for all levels and the guides are great at explaining how to interact with the horses and giving guest trail options. One of my favorite things about visiting Hidden Stables was talking with the guides about the horses. I could tell how much they care about the animals and could see how happy the animals are.

3. Climb the via ferrata at NROCKS

A via ferrata is a protected climbing route that employs steel cables, rungs, or ladders fixed to the rock. Climbers attach a harness with two leashes to the steel cables to limit any fall. NROCKS is one of the few via ferattas on the east coast that ventures through razorback ridges jutting out from a lush forest. As you climb up the rocks, you’ll enjoy a view of these unique rock formations, unlike any other landscape! The professional guides will take you on a half-day adventure where you’ll gain 1,085 feet in elevation and reach exposed heights of 280 feet! One of the highlights of the NROCKS via ferrata is crossing a suspension bridge that is 150 feet high and 200 feet long. It’s certainly an adrenaline rush – and one well-worth enjoying!

4. Hike or climb Seneca Rocks

Seneca Rocks is a short drive from NROCKS and contains the same unique fins. Hike or climb up Seneca Rocks for more views of this special landscape.

5. Hike around Bear Rocks Preserve in Dolly Sods wilderness area

There are plenty of hiking trails around Dolly Sods and Bear Rocks Preserve is one of the most beautiful and photogenic places in the area! The sandstone boulders surrounded by diverse foliage makes a beautiful view, especially at sunrise and sunset and during the fall!

West Virginia is filled with hidden gems and is less than a day’s drive away from more than 2/3 of the US population! West Virginia is untouched, affordable, uncrowded, accessible, and filled with adventures from hiking to rock climbing to horseback riding to caving to rafting and more! No matter what your experience level or comfort zone is, West Virginia is the ultimate outdoor adventure lover’s paradise and when you visit, you will find adventure and beauty around every corner. As you make your way around West Virginia, you’ll be sure to love the small mountain towns you stop in. Friendly people, art galleries, unique restaurants, and one-of-a-kind local shops make the many towns as interesting and enjoyable as the outdoor adventures! Don’t wait – plan your West Virginia roadtrip today!

Hiking Mount Rōtui in Mo’orea

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If you’ve heard of Mo’orea, you probably associate it with beautiful beaches, sting-ray filled lagoons, and fancy resorts. But you may not have heard about the rugged mountains and stunning views they offer. During my visit to Mo’orea, we decided to hike a mountain and chose Mount Rōtui – a magnificent mountain that overlooks Cook’s Bay and offers a stunning view of the amphitheater of an old volcano. Fun fact: In Polynesian mythology, Mount Rōtui is purgatory for dead souls before their rise into Paradise.

About Mount Rōtui

Mount Rōtui is an 899 meters/2949 foot high mountain located on Mo’orea. It is the second highest peak on the island and, though challenging, is possible to hike (many of the mountains on Mo’orea are not hikeable).

Mount Rōtui’s narrow ridges ridges and steep sides can be intimidating, so you should be comfortable with easy scrambling and a lot of exposure. There are fixed ropes in two places, but they don’t look well-maintained so don’t rely solely on the ropes. We hiked Rōtui on a dry day and there were some very slippery areas, so be extremely careful if you hike after or during the rain.

Be prepared for a full day – it takes about 5 hours to get to the summit and 2 or 3 to hike back down.

How to Get There

From the Hilton, walk west on the road toward Opunohu Bay and walk down the third driveway, which has a sign that says “Art Deko.” A bit down the driveway, there is another sign which says “Rotui.”

At this sign, walk to the right along a fence next to a house. Once you pass the fence, the trail will become apparent and is easy to follow for the rest of the hike.

You can hire a guide, which I highly recommend if you are not experienced or are uncomfortable with scrambling and/or exposure.

What to Wear

Choosing the right clothing is crucial for hiking Mount Rōtui – there is a lot of growth on the trail that can scrape your legs if not covered and the heat is brutal.

I wore my Vast Terrain Excel 7/8 Leggings in Black and Aeris Technical Tank in Purple.  Vast Terrain’s premium activewear is perfect for hiking in the tropics because the technical fabrics wick away sweat and are soft, stretchy, and easy to move in – a necessity when scrambling! Vast Terrain’s fabric also reduces odor with EPA registered silver salts that are embedded at the fiber level and kill 99.99% of odor-causing bacteria! I’m sure my hiking parters appreciated that 😉 An added bonus is that Vast Terrain is entirely made in the USA!

Wear hiking boots or sneakers with good traction. The ground can be slippery and the hike is exposed.

I also recommend bringing a hat and light long-sleeved layer for sun protection.

What to Bring

Mo’orea can get VERY hot and the sun is strong, so be prepared! Below is what I brought on my hike:

 

I partnered with Vast Terrain in writing this post. As always, all opinions are my own.