Wild adventure, welcoming community, and mountain freedom at its finest.
photographed by Brian Sarfino and Nikki Bowman Mills
Tucker County’s iconic sights—like Blackwater Falls— draw people in, but its warmth and spirit of adventure are why they stay. This is a place where forest and mountain meet hearth and home, where visitors and residents alike gather to celebrate small town culture, forge new memories, and discover the very best of West Virginia … and themselves.
small town charm | Big mountain adventures
Thomas and Davis—the ultimate pair of small West Virginia towns—offer two different but complementary experiences, and it’s hard to imagine one without the other. Spend the morning in Thomas’s fine art galleries and hip cultural spaces. Wander down to The Purple Fiddle for lunch, then switch gears, because Davis is an adventure hub in every season. Adrenaline-pumping afternoons settle into nights with friends in local craft breweries and snug eateries along the Blackwater River. So much culture in so small a package.
Tucker County communities may be separated by a mountain or two, but topography only makes this place more interesting. In the county seat of Parsons, Shavers Fork and the Black Fork meet to form the mighty Cheat River. It’s a small community with a great view of the mountains and a lot of heart, a place where anglers and paddlers can find world-class river action or a quiet day of focus. And at the day’s end, every town has a warm and welcoming place to gather.
outside comes naturally | let wild places find you
There’s nothing tame about a Tucker County adventure. Our waters run dark, our forests sit thick in the valley, and our mountain tops buffet the Allegheny wind. It’s always cooler, higher, and more challenging than other places. There’s something old here, something feral and tempting, and that’s why people seek it out. This isn’t a manufactured experience. This is true highland beauty on the roof of West Virginia, and whether dirt, water, or rock call your name, take the first steps of your unforgettable journey here.
Wind and water have carved these ancient landscapes. Dolly Sods Wilderness sits on a 17,000-acre high-altitude plateau, a place of rocks, forests, bogs, and cold, clear streams. In Canaan Valley, the Blackwater River meanders through wetlands, supporting abundant animal life as it flows toward the Blackwater Canyon. So get out there—it’s waiting to be explored.
Unplugging, untying, and unbinding—it’s how we return to ourselves amidst the chaos of everyday life. This is a place where things that feel so important during the week fall away in the mountains’ shadows. Here, surrounded by nature, family, and friends, mornings are quiet, and some days might just stay that way, resting beside a pond or lake. Then again, maybe adventure is calling your name. Go ahead and answer. It’s always just a few steps off your porch.
Whether your adrenaline flows or you enjoy the quiet, reunite with family and friends when the sun sets at the end of the day. Share a meal and gather around a campfire to share stories from the day.
Movement. You’ll find it everywhere, if you look. The streams and rivers rush onward, the wind churns along the mountain tops, and Tucker County visitors, too, have endless chances to follow their noses and their hearts wherever they lead. Every twist and turn, every bend in the river will lead somewhere new. Where will they take you?
Family adventures are the memories that stick, long after childhood has passed. Whether hiking to Lindy Point Overlook in Blackwater Falls State Park, splashing in Shavers Fork, making the long but triumphant climb up a mountain, or sharing a pizza in Davis, these moments will stay with your loved ones for years to come. We promise.
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2026 ISSUE
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