Which East Coast State Has The Most Mountains?

The American West is synonymous with many of the country's most prominent mountain ranges. Take the Sierra Nevada in California, which boasts the tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S., Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet, or the Front Range just outside Denver, more famously known as the Rockies, where you'll find Colorado's own 14ers that are the stuff of legend (and bragging rights) for peak-bagging hikers. 

A birds-eye view of the country's highest elevations concentrates almost entirely west of the Mississippi. But with varied landscapes from low-lying plains and swamps to lush rainforests and high crest trails (many of which are considered much harder to hike than their West Coast counterparts), the East Coast is far from flat. If you're stumped as to which East Coast state has the most mountains, odds are, the answer has been right in front of you all along, hanging out in karaoke machines and late-night country bar playlists you've no doubt sung along to without even realizing this bit of trivia would come in handy one day.

West Virginia (cue: "Take Me Home, Country Roads") is the most mountainous state on the East Coast. But if not for elevation, what makes a state mountainous, anyway? World Population Review understandably ranks states by their highest peaks, but the U.S. Geological Survey considers peaks, slopes, elevation, and landscape, with any vertical gain greater than 200 meters considered "mountainous." By this definition, West Virginia comes out on top, at least for the East Coast, with more mountainous terrain technically existing here than in any other. West Virginia's nickname is "The Mountain State" for a reason, and, as the John Denver song goes, it's the Blue Ridge Mountains, the life older than the trees, and those famous country roads that earn this East Coast state recognition as one of the country's most topographically noteworthy.

West Virginia's most famous mountainous feature is no doubt the Appalachian Mountains, with the entire state actually tucked within the range. You've heard of the Appalachian Trail, which traverses 14 states, including West Virginia, and is one of the longest hiking trails in the country. Within the Appalachian range, you'll find the Allegheny Mountains, along with the highest peak in West Virginia: Spruce Knob (4,863 feet). Avid hikers will enjoy the Seneca Creek Trail, a 10-mile hike that traverses scenic landscapes, high mountain views, and Seneca Creek Falls. Further south, all outdoor lovers will find something to enjoy at New River Gorge National Park, with scenic drives, hiking trails, and whitewater rafting.

In the eastern tip of West Virginia, where the Blue Ridge Mountains intersect state lines, you have Harpers Ferry, a prominent historical site from the Civil War, and home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters. Here, you can visit these headquarters and learn more about the physically and mentally challenging 2,190-mile trail. There are several popular day hikes where you can glean a brief taste of the AT, like the short hike to Jefferson Rock, where you can stand where Thomas Jefferson stood in the late 1700's when he first laid eyes on this mountainous region, and the river confluence where West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland intersect. 

Just across the river, in Virginia, be sure to stop at nearby Hiddencroft Vineyards or Creek's Edge, two of many beautiful wineries you'll find along the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering delicious sips paired with stunning views. Finally, to experience life older than the trees, head to the western corner of West Virginia next for the state's largest old-growth forest, with trees over 500 years old, in an underrated state park.