West Virginia--Canaan Valley Byway
Date: 2004-12-18
This 100-mile trip takes you from Blackwater Falls State Park to the Virginia
border through Monongahela and George Washington National Forest. Your
drive takes you through what many refer to as "God's Country" because
of its natural beauty. Start your drive around Blackwater Falls State
Park, near the town of Davis. It's known for its 60-foot falls that appear
black due to the acid from fallen hemlock and Red Spruce needles.
Follow Route 32 south to the Canaan Valley Resort State Park. The park offers hiking, skiing, and views of the mountains of the Potomac Highland. Continue through the town of Harman to Route 55. Here you ascend Allegheny Mountain. The next stop is the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area outside the small town of Onego. Seneca Rocks is a 900-foot sandstone formation. An observation deck offers views of the valley and river. There is also a Visitor Center with exhibits of the geology and history of the area. Six miles from the Visitor Center are the Champe Rocks, similar to the Seneca Rocks. Outside Hopeville is the Smoke Hole Caverns. The caverns hold the world's longest ribbon stalactite and an underground lake with rainbow trout. The Petersburg Gap on the north fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River breaks through North Fork Mountain. Here is another scenic overlook to the Potomac River. Drive through Petersburg to the West-Whithill Winery, where you can taste the region's wine.
After learning about the local wine industry, drive on to Moorefield, where Route 55 returns to the mountains. Continue toward the Virginia border as you enter the George Washington National Forest.
Starting Point:
Davis, WV
Distance of Drive:
100 miles
Must Eat:
Shirley's Diner
330 Keyser Avenue, Petersburg, WV 26847
Phone:304-257-2263
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Spring to fall
Points of Interest on Drive:
Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
Cannan Valley Resort State Park
Smoke Hole Caverns
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