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Wilderness Areas in West Virginia

8 wilderness areas in West Virginia with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Tucker County has the most (3). The darkest skies are at Cranberry Wilderness (Bortle 2).

Top wilderness areas

Cranberry WildernessWilderness Area
Cranberry WildernessWebster County
Dolly Sods WildernessWilderness Area
Dolly Sods WildernessTucker County
Laurel Fork North WildernessWilderness Area
Laurel Fork North WildernessRandolph County
Spice Run WildernessWilderness Area
Spice Run WildernessPocahontas County
Laurel Fork South WildernessWilderness Area
Laurel Fork South WildernessPocahontas County
Otter Creek WildernessWilderness Area
Otter Creek WildernessTucker County
Roaring Plains West WildernessWilderness Area
Roaring Plains West WildernessTucker County
Big Draft WildernessWilderness Area
Big Draft WildernessGreenbrier County

Wilderness Areas by county

Map

How to photograph wilderness areas

Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.

  • Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
  • Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
  • Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
  • Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
  • Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.

Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.