Less than 3 miles from Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Freeland Road access, Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers golfing, skiing, camping, hiking, and dining. Its ski slopes are on the 4,420-foot Weiss Knob.
Blackwater River Trail
This relatively easy trail begins at the golf course parking lot. The 1-mile loop winds through the woods following Blackwater River. Red blazes guide the way.
A couple of short spur trails allowed me to get closer to the water. I loved this bend in the river with reeds on the banks and mountains in the background.
Another spur path led to a beaver dam.
Just before turning away from the river, there was a section with dozens of rock formations, like stepping-stones, in a grid.
Finally, the trail wandered through a mix of fields and trees. On the back half of the trail were numerous dark-eyed juncos hopping between limbs.
Seneca Rocks
On the way back to my hotel in Virginia, I made one final stop at Seneca Rocks. These magnificent rocks are 25 miles from Canaan Valley Resort State Park. The Tuscarora Sandstone formation towers nearly 900 feet above the North Fork River.
The site is located in Monongahela National Forest, and I visited the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. From the Discovery Center, the 1.3-mile Seneca Rocks Hiking Trail crosses Seneca Creek and climbs to an observation deck with beautiful views of the rock faces. The moderate trail gains over 700 feet in elevation, using steps and switchbacks.
Rock climbing is also a popular activity at the recreation area.
With Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, and Seneca Rocks all within a short distance, there is so much to see!