5 Stargazing Sites in West Virginia

Splotchy sunlight streams across the path as we hike our way upward, toward the craggy rocks above. Earlier in the day, we had woken up in a fern paradise, the tent covered in morning dew, before breaking down camp and heading out for another day of adventuring in the Mountain State.  

West Virginia promises a rugged and wild landscape, with towering vantage points and incredible views that stretch on for miles. As a northeast Ohio-based photographer, such sights fill me with wonder, and I’ve traveled to West Virginia for over a decade now, continuously drawn to its natural beauty. 

The state is home to some of the best sunrises in the eastern United States and wildlife that ranges from black bears to numerous owl species to rattlesnakes. West Virginia is also a stargazer’s paradise. Limited light pollution and low population density make it an incredible place to create night-sky photography.

Seneca Rocks 

This eye-catching rock formation towers above the North Fork River and is named in honor of the Seneca tribe that called this area home. It is one of West Virginia’s most recognizable landmarks — a jagged spine of white and gray, erosion-proof quartzite that has made it a top rock-climbing destination in the eastern United States.

Given the area’s natural beauty, it comes as no surprise that Congress designated Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks as the United States’ first National Recreation Area in 1965,

I came for the views, the astrophotography and the 2.6-mile Seneca Rocks Trail, which starts at the Discovery Visitor Center. Due to the amazing views of the rocks available from the center and the fact I was visiting during the Perseids meteor shower, I set up a photo facing northeast (the part of the sky where meteors in the annual shower originate). 

I choose a spot looking straight up at the rocks and let the camera go for 10-second exposures, hoping that a meteor crosses my camera’s path. After three hours of continuous photography on a tripod, I leave content with what I have captured. From there, I head to Princess Snowbird Campground, not even a mile away. Seneca Shadows campground is also conveniently located nearby. Everything in Seneca Rocks is close by, including food at Yokum’s Grill and the Front Porch Restaurant. 13 Roy Gap Rd., Seneca Rocks, West Virginia 26884, fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela

Lindy Point, Blackwater Falls State Park 

Located in the Allegheny Mountains of Tucker County, Blackwater Falls State Park is known for its namesake waterfall (at six stories tall, it’s the largest in the state), as well as the slightly hidden Elakala Falls (catch it from the trail behind Blackwater Lodge).

Others visit Blackwater Falls State Park for the views that can be obtained at Lindy Point. During a summer visit, I park at the Lindy Point Trailhead and traverse the slightly muddy path that passes through spruces and rhododendrons. 

The last portion of the 0.3-mile trail leads to a narrow boardwalk path and ends with the view that people travel here for: a drastic drop-off with improbably balanced sandstone rocks perched above the Blackwater Canyon floor at an elevation of 3,000 feet. 

I take in the colorful sunset from Lindy Point Overlook and, as night falls, I am the only one left enjoying the view. Usually with stargazing and night-sky photography, you aim for traveling on clear, dark, moonless nights. This time, I just needed a single trip, and it happened to coincide with both a full moon and the Perseids meteor shower that arrives each August. 

As the moon rises, it illuminates the dark canyon below, making an ethereal, bright scene as the Milky Way appears on the horizon. Suddenly, a quick dash of light — a meteor —crashes across the sky, adding a dynamic element to an already amazing night under the stars. Lindy Point Trailhead, Canaan Loop Road, Thomas, West Virginia 26292, wvstateparks.com

Bear Rocks Preserve, Dolly Sods Wilderness

Located above the Canaan Valley at an elevation of 4,000 feet, Bear Rocks Preserve — located within the 17,371-acre Dolly Sods Wilderness — contains sweeping vistas and massive rock outcroppings with boulders bigger than your car.

The area is home to the highest plateau east of the Mississippi River. Here, visitors find windswept pines and a barren landscape with ecology reminiscent of northern Canada. The mix of plant life here includes ferns, rhododendrons and mountain laurels that grow in the meadows. 

It’s a rugged drive to the top of the Sods — bumping over rutted-out gravel potholes — but once you arrive, the mountain greeting makes it worth the trip. The Bear Rocks Preserve parking lot on Forest Road 75 provides a cheat code to a majestic view: Head toward the isolated pines, scramble over the rocky monoliths and behold: Panoramic views of the Canaan Valley stretch on for miles, while scattered lights in the distance mark the presence of the houses that dot the Monongahela National Forest below. 

On this evening, after a quick scramble up a boulder, I focus my camera on a rugged pine tree, which stands amongst the rocks and blueberry bushes. Bundled up on this chilly night, I wait as the Milky Way finally rises. It shows off in a vertical orientation, mirroring the pine as it reaches for the stars. Bear Rocks Preserve is located at the top of Forest Road 75, Davis, West Virginia 26260, fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela

Spruce Knob

Reaching an elevation of 4,863 feet, Spruce Knob holds the distinction of being the highest peak in West Virginia, and the natural landmark lies just east of Monongahela National Forest. Be sure to take the Whispering Spruce Trail, a half-mile interpretive trail with panoramic views of the valley below that leads to a stone-and-steel observation tower. 

At the base of the mountain sits the often overlooked but beautiful Spruce Knob Lake. I pull up, park in the small lot and get to work setting up my tripod. Between the fast-moving clouds and the challenge of the moon’s brightness, I decide to do a time-lapse photo, set the exposure and let it run. The Milky Way rises beautifully, reflecting off the lake’s still surface, the white, spiral bands of our galaxy popping with contrast. 

Always curious and wanting to explore, I set off with a second camera on the easily walkable, 1-mile path that encircles the lake. As I keep my eyes heavenward for other night-sky compositions, the hoots of a barred owl echo through the clean, crisp air. After an hour, I return to my camera and finish the time-lapse photo. 

At this point, it’s time for sleep, making me grateful that I booked a spot at Spruce Knob Lake Campground, which is located about a half mile away and provides generously sized campsites and clean bathrooms. Spruce Knob Lake, Forest Road 1, Whitmer, West Virginia 26296, fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve 

Our nation’s newest national park, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve has long attracted hikers, climbers and rafters. The 2.4-mile Endless Wall Trail captures the imagination, with its sheer expanse of rock. Coupled with opportunities for whitewater rafting, it’s easy to see why this place has become a haven for adventurers.

New River Gorge’s most recognizable feature is its expansive arch bridge, which gives those with a fear of heights a stomach flip just from looking at it. The more adventurous can book a clipped-in trip across the bridge’s catwalk as the New River rushes by hundreds of feet below and traffic thunders overhead.  

The bridge views alone were enough to bring me to southern West Virginia for the first time. I drive down the winding Fayette Station Road — a mostly one-way road that zigzags before it steeply drops into the canyon — on the hunt for a night composition that will do justice to the iconic New River Bridge. 

When I reach the bottom of the gorge, I get to a small parking area and the historic Tunney Hunsaker Bridge, which is neatly sandwiched between active railroad lines. Travelers can walk out onto this pedestrian-friendly bridge and get great night photography of the New River Bridge. Just be careful, as traffic and railway lights can mess up your shots. I gaze up and take in the dizzying view of the bridge, which spans over half a mile in length. 

Fair warning: It is pitch dark at the bottom of the gorge and a little spooky if you let your mind wander. That’s all part of the adventure though. Tunney Hunsaker Bridge is located along Fayette Station Road, Fayetteville,
West Virginia 25840, nps.gov/neri