Good Places to Live and Run in West Virginia or Eastern Kentucky?

In NE WV, your best running bet would be Harpers Ferry. It's a pretty small town, but you have a big forest, the Appalachian trail and the C&O canal, which is nearly a 200 mile road made of crushed rock/dirt that runs along the Potomoc River.

Fort Gay, Sandy Hook, Wayne, and Warfield are nice.

Blaz is right about Harpers Ferry. Very hilly but the flat C&O Canal and mountainous App Trail is nearby. I have heard about some crime there, but it's just hearsay.

Another option is Berkley Springs, which is on 522 and north of Winchester. Very low cost of living there. Close to C&O Canal and Rocky Gap State Park. Kind of redneckish, but liveable. They seem to cater to the tourists in the town.

Though they're not your suggested states, you might want to consider Cumberland or Hancock, Maryland or Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania. All near hundreds of miles of trails.

Contact me at my @yahoo address if you want more info.

Elkins WV. Amazing place to run. Next to the Monongahela National Forest. Great runs on the service roads (Bickle's Knob, Rich Mountain, Lower Cheat, Roosevelt Park, etc.), the trails (Otter Creek, many others), a rail trail in town that goes about 20-30 miles, miles and miles of back roads, spring water to drink from in the forest and on some of the backroads, several parks to do intervals, a cross country course on the campus with trails, access to the college fitness center (for a small fee), also close to Spruce Knob, Canaan Valley, etc., which get you into the 4000-5000 foot elevation (Bickle's Knob and Rich Mountain are in the 3500-4000 range). Best breakfast in the region at 'Scotties'. Decent access to major highways. Clean air, little crime. Pretty low cost of living.

Downside - lack of a job base.

rh

Glover Gap, near Mannington, in northern West Virginia.

Thanks again to all of you. It is difficult to find good places for running by looking at my Rand McNally map book, so your first hand experience helps a lot. I hadn't considered western Maryland or southern Pennsylvania but I will certainly check it out. Now I have some good places to visit and research before making a decision. If anybody can suggest any more places in this region, I'm listening.

Don't make a Wrong Turn or go on a rafting trip.

I guess having a job isn't important for you?

If not, the far western part of Maryland is great. I grew up in that area, but a lot of people have to move away because of lack of jobs. Cumberland is great for running. The Canal as well as tons of unmarked trails on privite property are great. There is also Green Ridge State forest with hundreds of miles of off-road running. Another good place is west of there in Garrett county MD. More rural and better trails. You could run for years in Savage River state forest and never get bored. There is also a lake out there, Deep Creek Lake, which is draws a lot of tourists in the Summer for the lake and Skiing in the winter.

A problem with these areas is the winter running can be difficult. Winter is pretty harsh there with tons of snow possible. My mother in law measured 52" in one storm a couple years back in Garrett County. If you like to XC ski then there is no problem with this.

In WV I would look at around Dolly Sods park, it's awesome, again tough and long winter, but in the spring-summer it can not be beat.

I'm curious lex what did you find? Would love to retire where the running is amazing and cost of living is low