6 dark-sky destinations & adventures after sundown in WV

Here in West Virginia, we enjoy a nightlife that isn’t just average— it’s Almost Heaven.

Of course we have the usual fine dining restaurants, bars and clubs, and great live music that keep folks up late… but we also have night time adventures that you can’t experience anywhere else.

1. Bridge Walk Night Walks

You can walk along the catwalk on the famous New River Gorge Bridge on a guided night Bridge Walk. After the sun sets, you can hear the Gorge come to life.

2. Spruce Knob Stargazing

Spruce Mountain towers above all the other mountains in West Virginia at 4,863 feet. At the top of Spruce Knob, you can view the sunset from the Summit Observation Tower, and as the skies darken, it brings the galaxy to life with stars and constellations.

In fact, this remote “dark sky” destination is the darkest stargazing site in the Mid-Atlantic, so on clear nights, you can see vivid details of The Milky Way with the naked eye. It’s also home to the annual “Almost Heaven Star Party,” which brings in top astronomy experts.

3. Full Moon Via Ferrata

Are heights less scary if you can’t see how high up you are? Find out on a full moon night Via Ferrata tour. You’ll hike and climb 100 feet of rocky heights using the light of the moon. You may notice that your other senses heighten as you climb, and cross the 150-foot suspension bridge.

4. Nighttime Ziplining

Night time zipline tours are offered throughout the state, with each zipline course crossing unique obstacles. The shadowy forests take on new life after dark as the moonlight filters through the leaves.

Hop on the night time zips at:

5. Green Bank Observatory

Tucked into in the nationally-designated ‘Quiet Zone,’ you can tour the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Green Bank Telescope to learn what scientists are looking for in the night sky before laying down and viewing it for yourself.

6. Spooky Tours at the West Virginia Wildlife Center

Every October, the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek offers Spooky Night Tours and events. It’s a rare chance to see the nocturnal exhibit animals when they’re most active. The family-friendly antics begin at dusk with a maze, a spooky trail with costumed actors and decorations, a hayride and a bonfire to share your tales in warmth and safety.

What will you do in West Virginia after the sun goes down?

Explore more to do in WV >

This post was last updated on October 4, 2021