Randolph County: Mountain Scenery and Cultural Heritage

In Randolph County, expansive mountain landscapes meet historic sites and vibrant musical traditions. You can shape your stay around a wide range of interests: hiking trails and waterways, traces of the Civil War, or museums and events in places like Elkins, Beverly, and Helvetia.

Mountain Trails, Rivers, and Routes for Every Activity

One distinctive natural area is Kumbrabow State Forest on Rich Mountain. It covers 9,474 acres and reaches elevations of more than 3,000 feet above sea level. Scenic hiking trails lead to overlooks with views of the surrounding mountains. Mill Creek, a stream in the forest, is known for its native brook trout.

Routes in the county vary in length and the activities they accommodate. At Stuart Recreation Area, there is a 2-mile loop for mountain biking and hiking, where you can spot wildlife and birds along the way. The Allegheny Highlands Trail runs 24.5 miles from the Elkins Depot Welcome Center toward Parsons and offers panoramic views of West Virginia’s landscape. In winter, it is used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The West Fork Rail Trail runs for 22 miles through remote mountain country, mostly following the West Fork River; it is suitable for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding.

Distinct from these routes, the 330-mile Allegheny Trail offers opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, and fishing. Its trailhead in Randolph County is at the Gaudineer Scenic Area; trail conditions may vary. Waterways also shape the region: the Dry Fork of the Cheat River rises between Rich Mountain and Little Middle Mountain. The river is known for fishing for smallmouth bass, brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. At Shavers Fork in Stuart Recreation Area, you can swim in the river and fish for trout using catch-and-release practices.

Historic Sites and Exhibits

Rich Mountain was the site of a Union victory that helped make George McClellan commander of the Army of the Potomac. The Rich Mountain Battlefield Civil War Site includes the battlefield, Confederate Camp Garnett, and a connecting section of the old Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike. At Hart Farm on the battlefield, historic markers and interpretive signs commemorate the site; a 0.5-mile hiking trail also runs through the area.

The Beverly Heritage Center brings together four carefully restored historic buildings as a museum and serves as an interpretive center for Rich Mountain Battlefield. Its permanent exhibits cover early settlement and transportation, the “Courthouse War,” the Civil War in West Virginia, and the Battle of Rich Mountain. The exhibit “The 1st Campaign of the Civil War” explores this subject. Tours are available by appointment. Group experiences at the 1841 Randolph County Jail can be arranged through the Center as guided tours, living history, and demonstrations; advance contact is required. An exhibit in the jail shows the warden’s office as it might have appeared in 1845.

Beverly is also home to the Randolph County Museum, housed in the Blackman-Bosworth Store, a building dating from 1828. The building was constructed in 1827–28 and was among the first commercial brick buildings west of the Allegheny Mountains. Beverly Heritage Day and Old Fashioned Christmas are among the Beverly Heritage Center’s annual heritage events.

Music, Local History, and Traditions

In Elkins, the Downtown Elkins Historic District offers another way to explore local history: the national historic district includes 65 contributing buildings in the central business district. The campus of Davis & Elkins College is home to five National Register historic landmarks; four of them also form a National Historic District. The Augusta Heritage Center focuses on traditional music, folklore, and folk arts from many regions and cultures, and offers intensive weeklong workshops in Elkins.

Making music together is also part of the cultural scene. Pickin’ in the Park is a weekly acoustic jam featuring bluegrass and old-time music in Elkins; visitors, beginners, and experienced musicians are welcome. As the seasonal schedule may change, check current dates before your trip. Elkins and Helvetia are among the communities participating in the Mountain Dance Trail, with scheduled square dances for locals and visitors, accompanied by regional musicians and callers; dates may vary. In Helvetia, Fasnacht celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of Lent by burning Old Man Winter. The Historic Helvetia Hiking Trail passes the historic cemetery and returns to the town center along a wooded path.

When choosing a hotel in Randolph County, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: mountain trails and waterways, the history around Beverly, or music and traditions in Elkins and Helvetia. Plan around the places and dates that matter for your trip.

Explore more destinations: Elkins, Huttonsville, Dryfork, Beverly, Hancock County, Barbour County, Nicholas County, Jefferson County.

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