Putnam County: Trails, History and Special Experiences

In Putnam County, nature trails and recreational activities meet a rich history: from a settlement dating to the Roosevelt era to the legacy of a World War I boomtown. There are also places for art and crafts, as well as seasonal events. Which side of the county you’d like to explore can shape your travel plans.

Nature and trails with different highlights

Valley Park brings together a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors. A main trail loops around the entire park, and there is also a Fairy Trail in the pine forest. The paths on the Bear Wood Fairy Door Trail pass numerous handmade, painted fairy doors. The park also has an inclusive playground designed for children with different abilities. The hands-on, immersive Wildlife & Discovery Center of WV is located at The Commons at Valley Park. Its focus is on reptile and amphibian rescue, as well as environmental education.

Other trails offer different highlights. The Esther and Walter Norman Memorial Nature Trail is one mile long and located on Red House Hill. The Mary Ingles Trail near Winfield is 11.3 miles long and rated moderate; it is intended for hiking, walking and nature outings. The Meeks Mountain Trails cater to different experience levels, with routes for beginners, intermediate users and experienced trail users. They are used for hiking, trail running and mountain biking. This makes it possible to distinguish between a trail with a specified length and rating and a trail network with several difficulty levels and types of activity. Trail conditions and seasonal access may change; check before setting out.

History, culture and local stories

Eleanor was one of three Subsistence Homesteads built in West Virginia during the Roosevelt administration. The original “Red House” served as an administrative building at the center of the settlement. The Nitro Wars Museum explores Nitro’s legacy as a World War I boomtown: Nitro was initially built as “Explosive Plant C.” The museum’s exhibits include artifacts from World War I and later wars, including a recreated trench, uniforms, blueprints and photographs.

The history of Putnam County can also be seen in individual buildings and public art traditions. The Hoge House is a historic landmark and served as the county’s first courthouse annex and first library. The Putnam County Quilt Trail includes several quilt squares in Winfield, Buffalo, Red House, Pliny and Eleanor. The WV Drag Racers Hall of Fame displays memorabilia from West Virginia drag racing in the lobby of the Winfield Municipal Building. The Winfield Riding Club hosts shows for the WV Quarter Horse Association, the Kanawha Valley Horsemen’s Association and the WV High School Rodeo Association.

Outdoor recreation and seasonal experiences

When it comes to activities on the water, the offerings are distinct: Winfield Boat Ramp has a wide concrete ramp, a dock, a paddlecraft launch ramp and ample parking. Hurricane Reservoir is next to Hurricane City Park. Fishing is permitted there, but boating and paddling are not. These details can help you plan the right activity for each location without treating their permitted uses as the same.

Other experiences are tied to specific times or changing conditions. Waves of Fun is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The wave pool holds 500,000 gallons and has waves up to three feet high; water slides are also available. Check the seasonal schedule before your trip. Tastes & Talents is Putnam County’s annual celebration of food and art in March. Since the program may change from year to year, it’s a good idea to check the event dates for your planned visit. Workshops that include classes on painting fairy doors may be offered in connection with the Bear Wood Fairy Door Trail; availability varies.

When planning a trip, you can weigh up trails and nature-related experiences, regional history, sports activities and seasonal events. Conditions may change on the Mary Ingles Trail and the trails at Teays Valley Acres. Teays Valley Acres has trails for walking and horseback riding. Check conditions if these trails are part of your plans.

Explore more destinations: Hurricane, Berkeley County, Cabell County, Barbour County, Grant County, Hardy County, Logan, Wetzel County.

For the main travel overview: West Virginia.