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West Virginia

Places We Protect

A small pool of water in the middle of swampy habitat with rolling hills in the background.
Cranesville Swamp The permanent cool, wet setting of the preserve has created a peat bog – consisting of wet spongy ground and decomposing vegetation with poor drainage. © Kent Mason

With your help, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 133,000 acres of critical natural lands in West Virginia.

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A landscape picture of a rock resting in the grass with rolling hills and trees in the background.
Pike Knob Preserve Secluded amid North Fork Mountain lies TNC’s Pike Knob. © Kent Mason

Volunteer Preserve Stewards

Do you have prior experience with trail maintenance, non-native invasive species control, boundary marking and supervision of other volunteers? We are looking for a preserve steward for our Cranesville Swamp Preserve.

Email to Apply

Southern West Virginia

Places We Protect

Brush Creek Preserve

Scenic in all seasons, with spring, summer and fall each offering their unique wildflower displays.

Places We Protect

Hungry Beech Preserve

Features nearly 30 acres of outstanding cove hardwood and oak-hickory forests.

Places We Protect

Slaty Mountain Preserve

A high-quality shale barren that is home to a variety of rare species.

West Virginia Highlands

Places We Protect

Allegheny Front Complex

Where ancient forests, iconic views and rare wetlands meet.

Places We Protect

Brooklyn Heights Preserve

Oak and hardwood forests are nestled between McGowan Mountain and the Black Fork River.

Places We Protect

Charlotte Ryde Preserve

Spectacular white water runs through this remote part of Cheat Canyon, which features a variety of rare plants and animals.

Places We Protect

Cranesville Swamp

This lush forest and wetland is home to an exceptional variety of plants and animals.

Places We Protect

Mount Porte Crayon

One of the wildest and least explored high mountains in West Virginia.

Places We Protect

Pike Knob Preserve

Dry conditions help to make this preserve one of the most ecologically significant areas in the Central Appalachians.

Places We Protect

Upper Shavers Fork

Located at the center of a watershed that is the heart of our red spruce forests.

Eastern Panhandle

Places We Protect

Eidolon Preserve

Farmed and logged in the past, today the preserve is mostly forest with oaks and maples predominating.

Places We Protect

Greenland Gap Preserve

Ringed by Oriskany Sandstone cliffs, which rise above the waters of the creek.

Places We Protect

Ice Mountain Preserve

Home to a collection of boreal plants usually found much further north.

Places We Protect

Yankauer Preserve

An encouraging example of what happens to agricultural land after it is given back to nature.

  • Thumbnail of a tree with fall colors in the Appalachians

    Murphy Preserve

    Older oak-hickory forest on a rolling topography of hills and coves. Visit

  • More Places We Protect

    The Nature Conservancy’s network of protected lands host rare plants and animals and serve as living laboratories for conservation innovation. Many preserves are open for recreation including hiking. Explore the Map