A Kanawha-class 2700 locomotive remains on display at Chief Logan State Park. The Museum in the Park expands the view from this historic object to the history and art of West Virginia; winding mountain roads and ATV trails offer a different focus. Discoveries in Logan thus range from nature experiences to stories closely connected to the region.
Hiking Trails and Nature Experiences
Chief Logan State Park covers 4,000 acres and offers 18 miles of accessible hiking trails. The guided elk tours offer another way to get to know the landscape: they start at Chief Logan Lodge and cover routes of 2 to 3 miles. Along the way, they provide information about elk management and West Virginia’s growing elk herd. These two figures describe different options: the park’s trail network and the route covered on a guided tour. As tour dates are seasonal, check the current schedule before visiting.
Chief Logan Lake also offers a direct connection to wildlife: it is regularly stocked with trout and catfish. The park thus features both longer hiking trails and guided tours focused on a specific topic. Which experience better suits your stay depends on whether you want to explore the trails on your own or learn more about elk and their management.
Museum, Art and Regional History
The Museum in the Park is a regional cultural center for the history and arts of West Virginia. Its permanent exhibit on the Buffalo Creek disaster combines archival news footage with interviews and photographs. There are also changing exhibits featuring artworks and historic objects from the collections of the West Virginia State Museum and the State Archives. The contrast is appealing: one exhibit is permanently devoted to a specific historical event, while other presentations showcase art and historical collection items in changing displays.
You can find further evidence of Appalachian culture at the Hatfield McCoy Museum, located at the last home and refuge of feud patriarch “Devil Anse” Hatfield. On display are original relics from the feud and Appalachian culture. Details of the property are also part of its story: a bridge there was built by “Devil Anse” himself, and the property includes a family moonshine well associated with the production of corn liquor. The Devil Anse Homeplace & Museum also hosts the “Eat’n with The Hatfield’s” food truck, which serves meals during your visit. Check on this offering before your trip.
The historical drama “The Aracoma Story” is performed in Logan every summer. It is about Shawnee people who lived at the present-day site of the city of Logan. Together with the exhibits and relics, it offers another way to explore the region’s history, which is not limited to a single museum or event.
Trails and Winding Mountain Roads
The Braveheart Trail System is located in Logan County and offers ATV, UTV and dirt bike riders a scenic riding experience. Braveheart and the Rockhouse Trail System share the same parking lot and trailhead facilities. Bearwallow Trailhead has a parking area of more than 2 acres, a staffed trailhead and on-site restrooms; permits and merchandise are also available there.
The Bearwallow Trail System is near Logan and combines scenic landscapes with challenging trails. It is open to ORVs, ATVs, UTVs and off-road motorcycles. Braveheart, in turn, is connected to the Town of Man, where riders have access to fuel, food and lodging. The country roads of Logan County also offer more than 1,000 miles of winding mountain routes, with scenic overlooks and historically significant places for motorcycle tours. Trails and roads appeal to different interests: riding on designated trail systems on the one hand, and touring mountain roads and historic places on the other.
Discover more destinations: Chapmanville, West Logan, Wood, Cabell County, Kanawha, Nicholas County, Monongalia and Pendleton County.
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