New River Gorge and Summersville are emerging as one of the most well-rounded outdoor regions in the eastern United States. Think whitewater rafting, hidden waterfalls, mountain views and crystal-clear lakes.

Mountain bike trails, whitewater rapids, metal artists and a Spider-Man legacy are helping Johnstown, Pennsylvania, reinvent itself as one of the East Coast’s most unexpectedly cool outdoor destinations.

Deep in southeastern Ohio, waterfalls drop into sandstone gorges, caves open into forest light and the landscape feels closer to another world than a weekend drive.