Our Fun & Leisure
Simple Pleasures in Ritchie County!
Welcome to beautiful Ritchie County, where you can escape the everyday hustle and bustle! Enjoy a quiet moment or any number of outdoor activities within our borders!
North Bend Rail Trail
The North Bend Rail Trail is a 72-mile-long section of the coast to coast American Discovery Trail.
The trail is built on the bed of the original 1850's B&O Railroad and includes slow riding grades through forest, open fields, and 10 Nineteenth Century tunnels, (one allegedly haunted, carved through the West Virginia hillside.
Hiking, biking, or on horseback, this scenic trail serves up a great mellow trip or access to more rugged terrain and back country roads for adventurous mountain bikers and others
North Bend State Park
North Bend State Park, in West Virginia, is named for the horseshoe curve of the North Fork of the Hughes River.
The park offers multitude of recreational facilities in a beautiful pastoral setting.
The fishing streams, lake, hiking trails, abundant wildlife and excellent overnight accommodations, lodge and cabins, and lodge dining room are just a few of the features of this state park, open all year long.
You’ll find true hospitality at this popular state park.
North Bend has a 305-acre recreational lake. A boat ramp, handicapped accessible fishing pier, and other fishing access points.
For more information about the state park, call 304.643.2931.
So much to do in Ritchie County…
It’s hard to know where to begin when thinking of everything you can enjoy in Ritchie County. The Hughes River is a small stream, which drains most of the county and has numerous fishable branches and tributaries. Many of these provide excellent opportunities for fishing of bass, muskie and more. The North Bend Lake* (left), a part of North Bend State Park, offers 305 acres.
Tracy Lake* is an 11-acre water impoundment, 3 miles northwest of Pennsboro, stocked each January and March with trout. The Pennsboro Reservoir* is a 9-acre water impoundment 1.5 miles east of Pennsboro, off Old US Route 50, on route 50/24. It is stocked with trout in January and March.
Other game fish found here and elsewhere include tiger muskie, blue gill, large mouth bass and catfish. Only electric motors are allowed on both of these bodies of water.
Ritchie County rightly claims to be a "Hunter's Dream". Over 3,000 acres of public hunting area provide opportunities for hunting whitetail deer, turkey, ruffled grouse, squirrel and rabbit.
Sand Hill Wildlife Management Area is a 967-acre tract at the counties western edge, bisected by US Route 50.
The Hughes River Wildlife Management Area is a 10,000 acre tract of wooded hunting area of which 500 acres is within Ritchie County (near Petroleum).
The Ritchie Mines Wildlife Management Area is 1,800 acres, accessible from County Road 17/4 (Mellin Ridge Road) or Route 47 Macfarlan. Sand Hill Wildlife Management Area offers 967 acres. *Hunting not permitted in these areas. Rules at: wvdnr.gov.
The North Bend Golf Course has long been deemed as one of the best kept secrets among small, public golf courses in the region. A challenging course of 9 holes, it also offers a club house with food and pro-shop.
Hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, and horse drawn wagon rides compliment fishing and seasonal hunting as some of the great outdoor activities in the area.
Boat Ramp (above) in North Bend State Park, at the Cokeley Recreational Area.
Shooting Range (left) at Tracy Lake, an 11-acre water impoundment near Pennsboro, WV.
VisitRitchieCounty.com
Looking for more? Check out the website for the Ritchie County Tourism & Visitors Bureau! As the premier tourism go-to for information on Ritchie County, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for!