Get FarOut
Loading dialog content...
The WVSTA is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to stewarding the 316-mile Allegheny Trail. We organize guided hikes, trail cleanups, and trail workdays, manage the WVSTA store, and participate in regional partner events to share information about our organization and West Virginia’s longest hiking trail.
In partnership with landowners, land managers, and local communities, we serve the outdoor recreation community by building and maintaining the Allegheny Trail and other trail systems.
We build, maintain, preserve, protect, and promote this challenging and scenic 316-mile footpath running south from the Mason-Dixon Line through West Virginia and Virginia to the Appalachian Trail at Peters Mountain.
Through responsible stewardship, we support the conservation of wild landscapes, wildlife habitats, and areas of natural beauty and historic significance.
In all that we do, we respect the interests and goals of landowners and land managers.
Through our trails, we seek to provide recreational opportunities and long-term value to local communities and the state as a whole.
Our trails provide access to the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural history of West Virginia’s unique landscapes.
We strive to foster meaningful connections between people and the land, flora, and fauna of the region.
In building and maintaining the trail, we are committed to sustainability and responsible conservation practices.
In all that we do, we welcome everyone who wishes to participate.
Stay informed about upcoming board meetings, review past meeting notes, and follow ongoing discussions related to the stewardship and future of the Allegheny Trail. Meeting information, agendas, and records are provided to help keep our community informed and engaged.
Zoom link for WVSTA Annual Meeting: ALT- WVSTA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: WVSTA Annual Meeting
Time: Jun 24, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86367178024?pwd=D0YKsbSzlKawLIArJUSJzTcNE6z7ge.1
Meeting chat link
https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/86367178024
Meeting ID: 863 6717 8024
Passcode: 162852
A bold vision takes root: the creation of a long-distance trail stretching the length of West Virginia. What started as a dream among outdoor enthusiasts quickly turned into something real.
The West Virginia Scenic Trails Association forms, rolling up its sleeves to plan, protect, and build what would become the Allegheny Trail.
Volunteers head into the woods with maps, paint, and determination. The first miles are scouted, cleared, and blazed—often the hard way.
The trail pushes deeper into the Monongahela National Forest. Shelters go up. Routes are refined. The backbone of the trail takes shape.
Development continues as new sections are secured and completed. The trail becomes more continuous—and more ambitious.
Updated guidebooks, better signage, and growing volunteer coordination help modernize the experience while staying true to the original vision.
Workdays expand. Partnerships grow. More hikers discover the Allegheny Trail and add their own footprints to its story.
Half a century later, the trail stands as proof of what dedicated volunteers and communities can build together. And the work continues.
11.6 Miles MDIT Winfield-AEP Property
Mary Draper Ingles escaped captivity from the Shawnee Indians in 1755 near present-day Big Bone Lick, Kentucky. She and her companion, an elderly German woman, made the harrowing journey back to Virginia near Blacksburg. They traversed rough terrain for over 450 miles on an incredible 40-day journey back to freedom.
The path that Mary Draper Ingles is believed to have followed the New and Kanawha Rivers in West Virginia. There are several interpretive trail segments in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia that give visitors an idea of the journey she made back to her homeplace.
Each of these trail segments is maintained by various volunteer groups independently. The Mary Ingles Trail Blazers is a chapter made up of volunteers in WVSTA who steward the 11.6 mile segment in Winfield.
