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Exploring West Virginia ’ s State Parks
AMANDA BERG
Middle Fork River at Audra State Park .
In the winter of 2018 , I purchased a state parks poster from Charleston print shop , Basecamp Printing Company . The poster features an outline of West Virginia and numbered pins where all the state parks are located . There are 34 state parks , nine state forests and two rail trails that make up the state parks system . As a lifelong West Virginian , I had no idea there were so many places that fell under the state parks umbrella . This poster purchase set in motion the idea of trying to visit all 45 destinations .
My husband , Quentin ; daughter , Esther ; and I decided to start at the first one on the list , Audra State Park . We had traveled along Corridor H numerous times on the way to visit our family in Grant County and would pass by several signs for Audra . That winter , we decided this time we were going to stop . We were immediately enamored by this park ’ s serene beauty . We hiked on the Alum Creek and Cave Trail , which features a boardwalk that follows the Middle Fork River and winds below the Alum Cave overhang . After taking in beautiful river views and
exploring a cave , I would say this first adventure cemented the idea to visit the other 44 sites our state parks system has to offer .
In 2019 , we continued to check off a few different state parks with family . We took my in-laws to Blennerhassett Island , which involved a scenic ferry ride and a tour of the Palladian mansion . We biked part of the North Bend Rail Trail through old train tunnels , hiked among the tall virgin hemlocks in Cathedral State Park and put our feet in the healing natural springs at Berkeley Springs State Park .
When we started sharing our goal to visit all the state parks with our friends , we were introduced to Very Important Parks Person ( VIPP ), a West Virginia State Parks program that encourages others to explore . Once we applied online for the program , we were sent three cards in the mail , one for each member of our family , and instructions to complete the VIPP program . There are 15 required parks you must visit and five additional parks of your choice to earn your VIPP status . The cards are to be stamped and dated at each
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE