Overview
Richwood is a city of 1,900 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia. It used to be a lumber town - hence the name - Richwood now bills itself as a mountain vacation getaway and a convenient entry point to the Monongahela National Forest and the Cranberry Wilderness. It's also known as the Ramp Capital of the World, and hosts a yearly festival - the first of its kind in the US - celebrating the ramp, a kind of wild mountain leek with a pungent flavor that's prized throughout the Appalachians.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 3 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Richwood
Monongahela National Forest
Over 19,000 acres of forest spread across 10 counties in West Virginia; Richwood is in the southwestern corner of the forest, as is Marlinton in the southeast. 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas and over 500 miles of hiking…
Highland Scenic Highway
WV-39/55 and US-219. A paved two-lane road which traverses the national forest for 43 miles from Richwood to just north of Marlinton, passing by Cranberry Glades, the Cranberry Wilderness, and Falls of Hill Creek. Four s…
Feast of the Ramson
Richwood High School cafeteria. West Virginia's longest-running ramp festival, held in late April. Features a homemade ramp supper (over 2,000 pounds of ramps, along with ham, bacon, fried potatoes, pinto beans, cornbrea…
Cherry River Festival
Held during a week in mid-August. Parade, food, live music and dancing, arts and crafts.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 14°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Snowshoe)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LWB Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg — 26 mi away. Directions
- BKW Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beaver — 44 mi away. Directions
- GSO Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro — 150 mi away (major hub). Directions
Richwood is located on WV-39 in the eastern corner of Nicholas County, between Summersville and Marlinton.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Monongahela National Forest, Highland Scenic Highway
- Lunch C & S Restaurant
- Afternoon Feast of the Ramson, Cherry River Festival
- Dinner Lumberjack Restaurant
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Ramps are, of course, a local delicacy. If you don't come for the Feast of the Ramson, you can find them on the menu at C & S and Rails to Trails.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Get in
Richwood is located on WV-39 in the eastern corner of Nicholas County, between Summersville and Marlinton.
Get around
Be careful during winter; roads in this part of the state aren't always cleared during winter, and can be impassable even for four-wheel-drive vehicles.
See
See Monongahela National Forest
Over 19,000 acres of forest spread across 10 counties in West Virginia; Richwood is in the southwestern corner of the forest, as is Marlinton in the southeast. 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas and over 500 miles of hiking trails. Mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, big and small game hunting, and trout and fly fishingalong the Cherry River. Visitors can rent bicycles, skis or snowshoes.
* Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, route 150, +1 304-653-4826 or +1 304-636-1800 (ext 343), . Protects the largest area of bogs in West Virginia. There's a half-mile boardwalk for walking and observation, and guided tours are given during the summer at 2 pm Saturday and Sunday.
* Cranberry Wilderness, 932 North Fork Cherry Road, +1 304-846-2695, . Once an old-growth forest that was completely logged out by 1930, now a second-growth forest covering 35,864 acres. Approximately 60 miles of unmarked trails, wildlife including black bears (the area is part of a black bear sanctuary) and grouse, catch and release fishing.
* Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, junction of route 150 and route 39/55, +1 304-653-4826 or +1 304-636-1800 (ext 343). Open May-Oct: daily 9AM to 4:30PM; Apr-Nov: Th-Sa 9AM to 4:30PM; closed Dec-Mar. Offers information about the national forest, with an exhibit hall, audio-visual programs, live programs on birds of prey and indigenous snakes, as well as special programs and guided tours.
* Falls of Hill Creek, 5 miles west of the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center on route 55, +1 304-653-4826 in summer or +1 304-846-2695 in winter, . A 114-acre gorge with three waterfalls (25 feet, 45 feet, and 63 feet) - the highest of which is West Virginia's second-tallest waterfall - viewable from a 3/4-mile trail. The area also has lots of wildflowers in spring.
See Highland Scenic Highway
WV-39/55 and US-219. A paved two-lane road which traverses the national forest for 43 miles from Richwood to just north of Marlinton, passing by Cranberry Glades, the Cranberry Wilderness, and Falls of Hill Creek. Four scenic overlooks, nearby camping, 150 miles of accessible trails.
Do
Events
Do Feast of the Ramson
Richwood High School cafeteria. West Virginia's longest-running ramp festival, held in late April. Features a homemade ramp supper (over 2,000 pounds of ramps, along with ham, bacon, fried potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread, sassafras tea and cake) prepared by native Richwooders, arts and crafts, music, marathon and distance run.
Do Cherry River Festival
Held during a week in mid-August. Parade, food, live music and dancing, arts and crafts.
- Mountain Color Festival, +1 304-846-6790. Held during a week in early October. Art show, apple cider, apple butter making, crafts and craftmaking demonstrations, gospel singing.
Buy
- G & N Ramp Farm Specialties, +1 304-846-4235. Pickled ramps, dehydrated ramps and ramp salt.
Eat
Ramps are, of course, a local delicacy. If you don't come for the Feast of the Ramson, you can find them on the menu at C & S and Rails to Trails.
- Bright Spot Restaurant, Edgewood Avenue, +1 304-846-4066.
Eat C & S Restaurant
Open daily 6AM to 9PM. Home-cooked meals. Try the cornbread, potato soup and their homemade pies.
Eat Rails to Trails Custard Stand
Try the ramp burgers - made from beef, ramps, egg and bacon - or a breakfast biscuit made with egg, sausage, potato and ramps.
Sleep
Stay Cranberry Mountain Get-A-Way
Stay Mountaineer Motel
Go next
- Summersville is about 40 minutes west on WV-39.
- Marlinton is about 50 minutes east on WV-39.
Nearby
Summersville
City / town · 15 listings · 17 mi away
Hillsboro
City / town · 1 listings · 19 mi away
Marlinton
City / town · 6 listings · 24 mi away
Lewisburg
City / town · 50 listings · 29 mi away
Sutton
City / town · 28 listings · 32 mi away
Snowshoe
City / town · 68 listings · 32 mi away
White Sulphur Springs
City / town · 135 listings · 32 mi away
Fayetteville
City / town · 21 listings · 33 mi away
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