Pontoon in West Virginia

West Virginia's reputation runs to mountains and coal, but the state carries a serious amount of navigable water. The Ohio River defines the western border, a working, lock-and-dam waterway that links a string of river towns and rewards long-distance cruising. Inland, the Kanawha and Monongahela add more river miles, running from old industrial towns through stretches that feel entirely wild. And where the rivers leave off, deep forested canyons hold the reservoirs. It's boating with topography, and the views come standard.

The lakes each have a personality. Cheat Lake, just outside Morgantown, draws the powerboats, sailors, and skiers, with several marinas and public launches to serve them. Down in the central mountains, Summersville Lake, the state's largest, is famous for clear water and sandstone cliffs, and for what those enable: diving, kayaking, and houseboating near the Gauley River National Recreation Area. Sutton Lake plays the quiet counterpart, better suited to a fishing rod and an unhurried afternoon under the hardwoods.