Extreme Adventures in West Virginia's Mountaineer Country: Skydiving, Climbing & More
West Virginia, famously dubbed "The Mountain State," boasts stunning outdoor landscapes, and Mountaineer Country—not county, but country—exemplifies this. Nestled in the northeast corner near Morgantown, Grafton, and Kingwood, this region features vast forests, rugged mountains, winding rivers, and valleys teeming with hiking, biking trails, and Monongahela River explorations.
It's fitting that West Virginia University's mascot is the Mountaineer, embodying the bold, boundary-pushing spirit that defines the area. This adventurous ethos fuels a wealth of extreme experiences on land, in the sky, and on water.
Ready to embrace the thrill? Dive into the exhilarating adventures of Mountaineer Country, West Virginia.
Soar Through the Sky
For adrenaline junkies, nothing beats leaping from a plane over northern West Virginia's lush pastures. Skydive Mountaineer offers tandem skydives from 10,500 feet at 120 mph—equivalent to seven Empire State Buildings high.
After signing a waiver and completing training on emergency procedures, aircraft exit, freefall, and parachute landing, choose from unedited handcam video or professionally edited footage. Every jumper receives a Skydiver certificate.
Conquer the Rocks
Rock climbing thrives in Mountaineer Country. Gritstone Climbing & Fitness caters to beginners and experts with classes and workshops for all skill levels.
Open seven days a week, the 13,000-square-foot facility includes over 9,000 square feet of roped climbing walls up to 49 feet high with 100+ routes, plus a 3,500-square-foot bouldering area up to 15.5 feet with padded flooring. A kid-friendly Learning Zone offers roped walls to 29 feet and bouldering to 12 feet. Waivers are required for all visitors, whether climbing, spectating, or joining yoga classes.
Partnering with Ascension Climbing Guides, Gritstone offers guided outdoor climbs for all levels—appointments required.
Hone Your Skills
Home to West Virginia's largest shooting range, Defense in Depth welcomes novices and experts. It provides cutting-edge firearms, safety training (including secure storage), simulations, and ranges in a comprehensive personal defense program.
Open six days a week to the public, enjoy 16 rentable 25-yard lanes, courses, and events like shootouts, ladies' free range Wednesdays, and Friday date nights. 180-degree simulators feature home invasions, Wild West duels, zombies, and active shooter scenarios.
Recharge and Recover
Minutes from downtown Morgantown and WVU, SpringHill Suites by Marriott is ideally located within a 10-minute drive of these adventures. This all-suite hotel offers an indoor pool, 24/7 gym, complimentary breakfast, and free Wi-Fi to share your exploits.
Book the "Xtreme Adventure" package for two nights at SpringHill Suites plus activities, saving over $800 off regular prices.
Thrill on the Water
Whitewater rafting excitement peaks at higher classes: Class IV (intense, powerful, predictable) and Class V (extremely difficult, violent). WV excels here, with Class V for experts and Class IV for fit intermediates.
The Cheat River, a Monongahela tributary, plunges 50 feet per mile through Cheat Canyon. Rapids like Big Nasty, High Falls, Even Nastier, Fist, and Tear Drop deliver heart-pounding action.
