Four days in Canaan Valley, WV. Sawmill restaurant davis wv

Where the Chipmunk’s Run. Wild West Virginia

There was a famous song by Flats and Scruggs that went something like this “Now listen up and let me tell you a story about a man named”. Well this story is not about a man, but about an area in West Virginia known as Canaan, Blackwater, Dolly Sods and Seneca Rock.

The photographic possibilities in the land of Canaan Valley are endless. Around any bend in the road, and there are plenty of bends, you’re apt to see some type of natural wonder. Black bear, chipmunk, grouse, turkey, white-tailed deer, songbirds, scenic scenes, and wildflowers all abound in the area.

In fact, Canaan Valley is the largest wetland complex in West Virginia and is the highest valley of its size east of the Rockies. According to the West Virginia “Wildlife Viewing Guide” there are 288 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, plus some 600 species of plants. I would suggest that you purchase a copy of “West Virginia Wildlife Viewing Guide” to assist you in locating the many wildlife areas.

Dolly Sod area. Gary Carter

Located in Canaan Valley are several prime photographic locations. These include Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley Resort, Dolly Sods, and Seneca Rock and Caverns all within easy driving distance of each other.

Blackwater Falls State Park is located just outside the town of Davis. It has a lodge, restaurant and gift shop. The main attraction is the 62 feet tall Blackwater Falls. The falls is a short walking distance from two different parking areas. If the sun is shinning you’ll want to wait until mid to late morning to photograph the waterfalls. Prior to this time, the falls will be partly shaded and you’ll have to worry about sunspots.

Another attraction in the park is the Balanced Rock formation. The trail to the rocks starts at the cabin area of the park. It was a nice walk in the woods, but the rocks were hard to see and photograph.

Beartown State Park. Gary Carter

Canaan Valley State Resort is located just 10 miles south of Davis and has a lodge, restaurant, gift shop, outdoor center, and several walking trails. The park contains a portion of the 6,000 acres of wetlands found in this area. You should see lots of white-tailed deer, so be careful while driving through the park.

On the Deer Run Trail we found an albino deer fawn that posed for us for several minutes. There was also a wildlife observation platform on the trail overlooking an open meadow and we found several nice mushrooms to photograph.

You will be able to use a variety of lenses while in the park for the mammals, plants, and scenic. We did not see any black bear or other mammals while in the park. There are a variety of birds as the valley is part of the migration route of many species.

One of the areas we enjoyed visiting was Dolly Sods. Dolly Sods is located 18 miles from the entrance to Canaan Valley Resort Park. Dolly Sods was designated a wilderness area by congress in 1975 due to the scenic and biological significance of the area.

Dolly Sods is part of the Monongahela Forest and covers some 10,215 acres. It has many scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic area, and a camping area. It was also a bombing practice range during World War II and there are signs warning that you are not to touch any of the bombs if you are lucky enough to find one.

White-tailed Deer Fawn. Gary Carter

One of the most interesting things at Dolly Sods was the Allegheny Front Migration Observatory. The AFMO nets birds for banding and helps keep track of songbird population trends and migration patterns.

We talked to Joan Pattison, whose father, Ralph Bell established the banding station in the fall of 1958. The Brooks Bird Club has been banding and counting birds for some 43 years.

If you’re lucky you might get to meet Mr. Bell, who’s now in his 80’s. The banding takes place from around mid-August to mid-October. Mrs. Pattison said her favorite bird was the Purple Martin and her father’s favorite bird was the Louisiana Water Thrush.

The AFMO has banded, measured and sorted by species over 186,000 birds. Some of the banded birds have been found miles away in unusual places.

Canaan Valley area. Gary Carter

For instance, a Cape May Warbler was found in Russell, Manitoba, a Tennessee Warbler in Guatemala, and a Blackburnian Warbler in Honduras.

The AFMO usually sets out 25 to 30 mesh nets along the hillside in front of their banding station to catch birds. The birds caught in the nets are taken to the banding shed in a cloth-covered cage or box. There the species is determined, wings and tail are measured, and the bird is weighed.

Before the bird is released it is recorded, banded, a photo taken, and an attempt is made to determine body fat and age of the bird. A total of 119 species have been recorded at the AFMO since 1958. It’s not unusual for the club to count from 3000 to 8000 birds during the two months they are at the observatory area.

Each year both public school children and college groups are frequent visitors to the AFMO. During our visit to the AFMO members were friendly and more than willing to share their knowledge. They let my wife hold and release a Gray Catbird. Mr. Bell has always encouraged visitation and encouraged people, especially the children, to learn about birds. Mrs. Pattison told us that over the years many visitors have returned to the AFMO and told her about talking with her father and how he had influenced their lives when it came to bird watching. If you are in the area and decide to visit the observatory you should know there is no sign for the AFMO. There is a parking area and a trail in front of the Red Creek Campground that leads down to the banding station.

Seneca Rocks is 35 miles south of Davis on State Routes 32 55. There is a nice visitor center and an old farmhouse at the Seneca Rocks Park. You won’t have any trouble seeing the towering rocks as they extend well above the tree line. This is a popular rock climbing location and there is a rock-climbing school located just outside the park. They even have an artificial mountain for you to learn how to mountain climb. If you plan on photographing the mountain, remember the sun does not light up the front of the mountain until mid-afternoon. Unless you want to climb the mountain, the photo locations are from the visitor center, old farmhouse parking area, and the picnic area.

Dolly Sod area. Gary Carter

There are no fast food places in the area. So you need to plan on eating some good old country food while in the area. All the food we had was good and reasonably priced.

Places to eat: Sawmill Restaurant. Country Cooking. Best Western Motel. Davis, WV. Sirianni’s Restaurant. Italian Cuisine. Davis, WV. Blackwater Falls Lodge Restaurant. Davis, WV. Canaan Valley Lodge Restaurant– 10 miles south of Davis, WV. REMEMBER: NO FAST FOOD PLACES

Places to Stay: Best Western. Davis, WV Blackwater Falls State Park Lodge Canaan Valley Resort Lodge

Well that’s just a brief overview of some of the wonderful places located in the Canaan Valley area. No wonder Jim Clark and others have published photographic books of wild and wonderful West Virginia. Next time I’ll explore some areas further south of this wonderful valley. Hey, there goes another chipmunk. We must have seen a hundred of them, with their mouths full of food, running toward their nesting holes. So until then, travel safely and keep on taking those wonderful photographs.

Gary Carter and his wife Janice reside in central North Carolina where they have established a small wildlife refuge on their property specific for photography. The National Wildlife Federation has certified the area as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. The photographic areas have been designed, as Gary describes them, “by a nature photographer for nature photographers.” Gary offers photo weekends in the habitat and has received visitors from various countries.

Gary’s photographs have been published in various books, brochures, calendars, business reports and magazines; including the front cover of Nature’s Best Photography Magazine.

To view more of Gary’s work or to sign up for a weekend at Gary’s Wildlife Habitat visit: Gary Carter Photos (garycarterphotos.com)

Four days in Canaan Valley, WV

In the early Aughts, J and I (and Bugsy’s two dear departed predecessors) spent a lot of time in the Potomac Highlands of eastern West Virginia, hiking and biking in spectacular spots like Dolly Sods Wilderness, Seneca Rocks, and Spruce Knob – Seneca Creek Backcountry. We love the area and highly recommend any of those places, but we didn’t visit them on this trip. When planning a few days of November hiking (and eating and drinking) in West Virginia, we decided to explore a lesser-known (to us) part of the Monongahela National Forest and base ourselves near the outdoorsy town of Davis.

Campground

We stayed at the lovely wooded campground at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, with water, power, and sewer hookups–although they shut the water at the campsites off for the season the morning we left, so you’ll want to check on water status if you’re heading there in the spring or late next fall. The campground is close to great hiking (including some trails in the State Park itself) and ten miles from the conveniences of Davis. You may have noticed “resort” in the name of the park (which is strange, right?)–near the campground is a golf course and a lodge with a cafe, restaurant, and bar (and free Wi-Fi!), and on the other side of the highway is a ski area with 47 slopes and trails.

Hiking

In the interest of hiking new trails and minimizing travel time from the campground, we did two hikes about ten miles away in Canaan Mountain Backcountry and one in our backyard in Canaan Valley Resort State Park. Canaan Mountain Backcountry is more lightly traveled than nearby Dolly Sods, and like Dolly Sods, it feels quite wild and remote.

Table Rock, in Canaan Mountain Backcountry, is a pretty and flat rhododendron-banked 2.4 Mi (total) out and back, with sweeping views from the namesake rock at the end overlooking the Dry Fork Gorge and Cheat River Valley.

Also in Canaan Mountain Backcountry, we made a 11-mile loop of Pointy Knob Trail to RR Grade Trail to Plantation Trail to Fire Trail #6 (cobbled together from this map). Despite having some slow boggy spots and no big vistas, we loved it for its gorgeous greenery, varied terrain, and solitude.

In Canaan Valley Resort State Park we hiked the pretty much vertical Bald Knob Trail just to the top (about 3 miles round trip), for nice views of Canaan Valley and the adjacent ski runs.

Blackwater Falls State Park is just north of Davis, with hiking trails and a big waterfall. We left the park for our last day when it was dreary and rainy, and all we could bear was a quick jaunt down to the falls viewing platform. Thanks to the weather, though, we had the waterfall all to ourselves!

Walking, shopping, relaxing

The tiny town of Thomas is two miles north of Davis. It has a quaint two-block downtown strip of historic buildings housing antique shops, art galleries, cafes, a small grocery, and a music venue. While on the interesting, well-signed (but without any internet presence at all, apparently) walking tour of the historic area, we puttered around a couple shops, admired artwork at Creature, and had coffee and Wi-Fi at TipTop.

Later we considered having a beer at the Front Street Grocers bar (yes, a bar at a grocery store), but it was dead in there, so after checking out the local meat display and admiring that they sell pastured chicken, processed on site, from Charm Farm in Beverly, WV (I am a supporter of local, ethical eating), we left town.

WSET Diploma Level 4. Flor aged wines with Diane Wu dipWSET. Napa Valley Wine Academy

Note that during this shoulder season between the prime hiking/biking/river activity months and ski season, the hours of many Davis and Thomas touristy businesses are reduced. Most places seemed to be open Thursday through Sunday, at least.

Eating

Hellbender Burritos is such a good spot, we at half of our four dinners there. The atmosphere is laid back, the burrito menu is creative, the food is tasty, and they carry interesting regional beers.

We had top-notch pizza and more regional beer at Sirianni’s in Davis. It’s a long-time Davis institution, and it seemed like everyone in town was there the night we were, giving it a buzzy, fun ambiance.

For breakfast, we tried Bright Morning, but alas, it was closed that day. Instead we ate at the simple and homey Sawmill Restaurant. The coffee was actually really good, and the portions were large.

Drinking

Little Davis and Thomas have three breweries between them! Sadly, the one we were most excited about visiting, Stumptown Ales in Davis, was closed for the week for equipment upgrades, and as they don’t sell their beer outside the taproom (yet–that’s what the equipment upgrades are for), we couldn’t taste it this trip.

Mountain State Brewing Co. is a small, cozy taproom in Thomas. We liked the fireplace and sawhorse bar stools, but the beer was not for us. My blonde ale seemed flat. We saw their beers sold in several places around the valley, so clearly they are doing well; perhaps we caught them on a bad day.

Blackwater Brewing Co. just started serving food last week, and the menu looked intriguing. The feel of the place is more like a restaurant than a bar or taproom, so we only stayed for one beer–but my Saison was great! We’ll go back and try the food on our next trip to Canaan Valley.

Finally, we went up to the lodge in our state park neighborhood for a farewell cocktail at the Laurel Lounge, and enjoyed our drinks with a pretty view of the golf course and free Wi-Fi. Bugsy was zonked from the day’s hiking and was happy to stay home in bed.

We had a great stay in Canaan Valley and will definitely return. To wrap up, here’s a picture of Bugsy supervising the campground departure preparations, and a couple from our lunch stop in Harrisonburg on the way home. Who posed better, Bugsy or the Airstream?

Guest Information Guide

Thank you for using Canaan Realty as your vacation lodging source!

You will receive a copy of your Reservation Confirmation following your reservation. Please look it over carefully and make sure all information is correct. Pay special attention to your date of arrival and departure. This Guest Information Guide is attached for your review as well.

All homes, condominiums, and townhomes require a non-refundable Administrative Fee which is included in your rate ranging from 30.00 to 75.00.00 depending upon size of home.

We do offer Travel Guard Insurance. If you wish to purchase the Travel Guard Insurance protection, you must contact the Travel Guard Company by calling 1-877-249-5376. You may also visit the Travel Guard website at: www.travelguard.com/astp/

PLEASE STUDY YOUR INFORMATION CAREFULLY FOR ACCURACY. YOUR RESERVATION WILL BE CONSIDERED CONFIRMED ONCE DEPOSIT IS PAID AT TIME OF BOOKING.

When renting any home, townhome, or condo with Canaan Realty, you will pick up your keys, map, and other pertinent information regarding your stay at our main office.

The office is located at 25 Mirror Lake Drive in Canaan Valley, 7 miles south from Davis proper. Canaan Realty is the ONLY rental company in Canaan Valley which offers a lake recreation area. Mirror Lake Recreation Area is exclusively for Canaan Realty guests and not open to general public. You can check out the 5 Acre Lake and all the amenities we have when you check in. We offer canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, paddle boards, oars, life vests for use at Mirror Lake only. A fire pit is also available at the lake. The lake has a small sandy beach which is gradual entry into the lake, no drop off. You can swim in it. Kids love playing here. Fishing is fine across from swimmers. Just another item to check out along with Canaan Valley State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park and the vast array of other locations.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call or email. Thank you for making your reservation with Canaan Realty. We look forward to your visit.

Canaan Realty Vacation Rentals25 Mirror Lake DriveDavis, WV 26260304-866-4400rentals@canaanrealty.com

Canaan Realty Welcomes You

Canaan Realty is located in Canaan Valley in Tucker County, West Virginia. Canaan Realty has been operating since 1970 and now operates the finest vacation rental agency in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.

We have diverse and unique lodging selections and professional guest services. Beautiful vacation homes reside on secluded, wooded valley lots and nearby quiet lakes. Cozy cabins and homes perch on top of the mountain providing views of the valley nearly 1,000 feet below. Our condominiums and townhome selections are located in resort communities offering private swimming pools, tennis courts, mini-golf courses and playgrounds for the kids. All homes are fully furnished and appointed with a touch and style reflecting their individual owners.

Canaan Realty offers homes with rates to fit almost any budget. Several vacation homes with Canaan Realty are slope side, allowing you to walk out your door, step into your skis and schuss down the slopes!

Many of the single-family homes feature deck-side hot tubs to relax after returning from a day of hike, bike or ski activities.

It’s a high mountain paradise with more miles of trails than roads, more designated wilderness areas than traffic lights, more room to roam and more adventure than you can shake a hiking stick or ski pole at!

From the rugged beauty of the Blackwater Canyon to the pristine back country of the Dolly Sods wilderness, this area is untouched, unhurried and unrivaled.

Escape the heat of summer and enjoy a broad spectrum of activities in the Monongahela National Forest or the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. With epic downhill biking trails and gentle scenic rail trails, Tucker County has a wilderness experience for everyone in the family. Every season brings new adventures. Your family will enjoy our quaint mountain towns with their unique antique and artisan shops.

You may want to schedule your visit around one of the many fairs and festivals scheduled throughout the year. The seasons we are best known for are winter and summer and fall. Winter brings abundant snow to our high Appalachian Mountains atop Canaan State Park Ski Area, Timberline Mountain Ski Area and Whitegrass Ski Area. You can also check out the ski opportunities at Blackwater Falls State Park. Our Canaan Valley region provides many adventures year-round. Fall foliage is spectacular and our Summer is 20 degrees cooler than base area towns. Whether your sport is mountain biking, hiking, running, extreme running, downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating or sledding, you will find your particular adventure in Canaan Valley. Of course, the sport of relaxing is available next to the fireplace. Our renowned cool summers and colorful fall are the perfect seasons to escape and explore the plethora of hike trails, panoramic mountaintops, and much more. Whatever the season, let Canaan Realty be the premier source for your escape to Canaan Valley, West Virginia!

We are available to assist you from9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday – Friday9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Saturday and Sunday

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY NUMBERS

If you are experiencing an electrical, water or heating problem and it’s after office hours please call: 304-866-4400

Our answering service will provide you an after-hour contact number.

• USE MIRROR LAKE AREA AT YOUR OWN RISK! NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY!
• Recreation area is open from 9AM to 5PM Sorry Pets are Not Permitted
• All Mirror Lake equipment stays at Mirror Lake. Equipment cannot be taken off site.
• A sanitation station and restroom is available for guests located at front parking area. Additionally, a sanitation/handwashing station is available near the pavilion. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we are reminding guests that the lake is a complimentary amenity. Please use at your own risk! Guests are encouraged to bring their own life jackets. Your safety is our primary concern.
• Please use Mirror Lake area responsibly.
• Amenities include: Paddle Boats, Kayaks, Canoes, SUP boards, Fishing, (bring your own poles) swimming.
• No horseplay, profanity, or inappropriate conduct. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Please note that this is a private owned lake offered to our guests at no cost. Please be mindful of the private owned homes around the lake, including the office building. The lake is for guest use.
• Please return boats to sandy area, oars, and life vests to the dock area railing after use.

We hope you enjoy Mirror Lake as much as we do!

By paying for my reservation, I confirm and agree to abide by all policies and waivers in the Canaan Realty Guest Information Guide and I have agreed and digitally signed by submittal of my payment for rental fees, This Agreement becomes a legally binding contract and is effective as of the date that you make payment of rental fees.

This Lake and Boat Use Agreement with Waiver of Liability, Hold Harmless, and Indemnification Provisions (“Agreement”), I acknowledge and agree with, and represent to Jenni Ray LLC, dba Canaan Realty, hereinafter referred to as “Company”, as follows:

I am familiar with the safe operation of a kayak, paddle board, float tube, or other type of watercraft being provided for my use by Company pursuant to this Agreement (as applicable, the “Watercraft”), and I am familiar with and will comply with all rules and practices customarily applicable to, and/or prescribed by Company for the safe operation of the Watercraft.

I will operate the Watercraft in a careful and prudent manner. I understand that the only person authorized to operate the Watercraft is the person who has signed this agreement; is over eighteen years of age and is competent to operate the Watercraft.

I understand that I am not allowed to have anyone else who has not signed this Agreement operate the Watercraft. I agree to wear a personal flotation device (life jacket) while operating the Watercraft and will also require all passengers aboard to wear a life jacket.I understand that Company does not provide insurance to cover the risks of damage to my property, personal injury and death that could occur while I am in, on or around the Watercraft or Company’s facilities or premises, including but not limited to Mirror Lake. I agree that any insurer providing coverage for me and relating to my use of the Watercraft has no right of subrogation against Company.

I agree that operating the Watercraft under the influence of drugs and alcohol is prohibited. Use of drugs and alcohol will not be tolerated on the Watercraft and on or around Company’s premises. I agree that if I am arrested for operating the Watercraft under the influence of intoxicants, or allow anyone else to operate the Watercraft while intoxicated, I shall bear any and all additional charges that may arise from said arrest or intoxication.

EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND RESPONSIBILITYI agree to assume responsibility for even those risks arising out of negligence by Company, other passengers, riders, and/or all passengers on the Watercraft. I assume full responsibility for myself and all passengers on the Watercraft while I operate the Watercraft, including any minor children, for any bodily injury, accident, illness, paralysis, death or loss of personal property even if caused, in whole or in part, by the negligence or other fault of passengers, riders, guests and any other passenger on the Watercraft and even if caused, in whole or in part by the negligence or other fault of the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents, subsidiaries, legal representatives and assigns.

I agree to the foregoing because I understand that bodies of water, watercrafts and areas in and around bodies of water can be hazardous to both property and persons, thereby posing a substantial risk of damage, injury and even death to both property and persons.

By signing this Agreement I acknowledge that if anyone is hurt or any property is damaged while I am using the Watercraft or any of Company’s equipment, facilities, premises or services, I may be found by a court of law to have waived my right to maintain a lawsuit against Company on the basis of any claim, including subrogation, from which I have released it herein, including claims that the Company was solely or partially negligent or otherwise at fault with respect to such damage, injury or death. I acknowledge and agree that I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and fully understood it and I agree to be bound by its terms.

I therefore agree, on behalf of myself, my heirs, representatives, survivors and assigns, to release, hold harmless, and indemnify the Company’s respective officers, directors, employees, agents, subsidiaries, legal representatives and assigns, from and against any and all liability for any and all claims of any kind or nature whatsoever (including subrogation) arising out of or relating to my use of the Watercraft or Company’s equipment and/or premises, including without limitation any and all claims for injury or death, or damage to property, including claims arising out of or relating to death, injury or damage arising solely or partially from the negligence or other fault of the Company.

Every rental property is provided with a startup supply of toilet tissue, paper towels, dish liquid, hand soap, laundry soap enough for one day. Bed and Bath linens are supplied. Please be prepared to bring extra and all other supplies. All homes have a washer/dryer. No condiments or food items are provided in rental properties.

Properties do not supply hair dryers. Kitchens are equipped with all the basics of cooking and service-ware. Dishware, cookware, and glassware are supplied in each home, but specialty chef items such as oversized cooking pots, or roasting ovens are not provided in all homes. Iron and ironing board are usually in each home however for those not equipped you can sign out a loaner iron and iron board from the main office. All homes have standard coffee makers.

We recommend that you are prepared for your visit with the following items:

• Condiments and Groceries
• Laundry detergent and laundry supplies
• Iron and Ironing board
• Dish liquid
• Trash Liners (two liners provided in each home)
• Toiletries
• Hand soap
• Coffee Filters (standard) Coffee Pots are standard unless otherwise stated in description
• Extra paper products such as toilet tissue, paper towels, paper plates, plastic/foil
• Beach Towels for Hot Tub Use

Wood is available at Canaan Realty for 10.00 a bundle (10-12 pieces). Nick is our 8 year old local resident who sells wood. Wood payments can be left in the drop box.

Travel Insurance is available for all rental home guests. Information regarding travel insurance and the purchase of Travel Guard Insurance can be reviewed and obtained online while you book.

You may contact the Travel Guard Insurance Company by calling 1-877-249-5376.

You may also visit the Travel Guard website at www.travelguard.com/astp/

Please respect the wishes of homeowners and incoming guests and do not smoke in homes or leave cig-butts in yard/deck, etc. Place butts in container and dispose of them if you must smoke.

All Canaan Realty Rental properties are Non-Smoking! A charge of up to 350.00 will be charged to you if smoking occurs in homes.

Your reservation is considered confirmed once the required first payment is paid. The first payment is 50% of rate plus the Administration Fee (Admin Fee is nonrefundable) Upon payment you have agreed to all policies and agreements of Canaan Realty and Homeowner Rules. If you made your reservation prior to 60 days before arrival, your secondary payment will be automatically deducted from the card on file unless you phone us and direct us otherwise. Your payment also confirms that you agree to the Lake and Equipment Use Waiver as described on above.

Guests who cancel a reservation more than thirty (30) days prior to arrival date will be issued a refund for the amount paid (less the admins fee of 75.00). If you must cancel within (30) days of your arrival, it results in forfeiture of all paid rental fees. We encourage you to purchase travel insurance. A traveler will not get a refund if they cancel their booking at any time it is accepted.

Check-In begins at 4:00 pm

All homes are cleaned prior to guest arrival and upon guest departure. Please call our office upon your arrival if you find any housekeeping or maintenance issues so we can schedule service as soon as possible. Canaan Realty and service personnel may require access to the home on the day of your arrival. Canaan Realty responds to after-hours property emergencies 24/7. An after-hours emergency number is provided at check in and within this Guest Directory. Emergency call-outs refer to electric, water, and winter heating emergencies. All other maintenance issues will be taken care of promptly the following day by calling the main office.

Late Check In is accomplished with the use of our Late Arrivals Drop Box. The late arrivals box is located directly in front of the Canaan Realty main office, to the right of the door. If you do not arrive during regular office hours, a packet will be left in the late arrivals box for you. During Social Distancing, the Drop Box will be used full time. The drop box is monitored and well lit.

Your Комментарии и мнения владельцев are important to us! Please complete the Guest Комментарии и мнения владельцев Evaluation Form that is provided in your packet and leave it in the home or drop box at check out. We want to know how we can better serve our guests and improve your overall experience!

Check-out time is 10:00 am for all rental properties without exception. We request that you make sure all of the following items are addressed prior to your departure:

• Remove all food from the refrigerator; set temperature to medium.
• Please leave all dirty linens and sheets in one pile at the laundry room of the home.
• Please empty all trash cans and trash items in large trash liners and refer to your trash disposal instructions. If unsure where to dispose, please call the office at 304-866-4400.
• Load and start the dishwasher.
• Close and lock all Windows and doors.
• Set thermostat to 60 degrees in winter and “off” in summer.
• Check all rooms, closets, dressers and outside areas for personal belongings. Canaan Realty is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Tidy up outside including decks, fire pits, yard, and pool/hot tub area, if applicable.
• Please complete the departure survey in your check-in packet and turn it in when dropping off keys so that we can continue to improve our service. We value our guest Комментарии и мнения владельцев.
• Return keys and keyless entry tags to the office if applicable.

If you depart before our office opens, please leave the keys and any completed evaluations in the Late Arrivals Box located beside the front door of the Canaan Realty office. If your home is a code, please phone the office to inform us you are checked out.

• Bed and bath linens are provided in homes for all reservations.
• Beds linens are cleaned and beds are made ready for your arrival. “Extra beds” such as trundles, futons, rollaway beds and sleep sofas are not made ready with linens. The linens for these “extra beds” are cleaned and stored in the closet nearest to them.
• Each home provides one bath towel, one hand towel and one washcloth per sleeping capacity of advertised beds, one bath-mat for each full bathroom, one hand towel per half bath, and two kitchen towels. Extra bath towel sets and beach towels for hot tubs must be provided by the guest.

Features and accessibility vary in homes identified as “Handicap Friendly”. These vacation homes do not meet federal uniform standards for design or construction as prescribed for handicap-accessible buildings. Homes described as “Handicap Friendly” are listed as such based on the interpretation of the homeowner. Please call our office for more information.

Nearest Grocery: Shop N Save, Davis, WV 304-259-4836

Nearest General Store: Dollar General, Davis, WV 304-259-5822

(Located a short 7 mile drive North from the Main Office or 25 Mirror Lake Drive. Intersection at 371 Williams Avenue and Rt.32 at the bridge).

Nearest Fuel: Canaan Valley Store BFS Gas Station, Davis, WV 304-866-7005

Subway Store inside BFS: 304-866-7000

Canaan Valley Store/BFS Fuel is 2 miles South from the Main Office or 25 Mirror Lake Road at ……6511 Appalachian Hwy.

4-WHEEL DRIVE IS OFTEN REQUIRED TO REACH SOME HOMES IN WINTER. CANAAN REALTY DOES NOT OFFER A SHUTTLE SERVICE. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REACHING YOUR PROPERTY YOU CAN CALL DAVE’S SERVICE CENTER FOR SHUTTLE INFORMATION BELOW. 304-227-4517

Plowing and cindering of general roads are cleared as soon as possible by the busy crews after winter conditions. If your driveway needs plowed or cindered, you may call the Canaan Realty office. Please keep in mind that once plowing and cindering is done and a blanket of snow falls, this will be better traction for you on the mountain roads therefore plows will not continue to remove snow after cindering unless conditions are extreme.

Please be aware that many addresses in the rural area of Davis, West Virginia may not be reliable when used for GPS navigation. Canaan Realty recommends you always have a paper map and directions as a reference. Download an area map here.

Dave’s Service Center, (aka “Kettermans”), Dryfork, WV 304-227-4517 Will shuttle to homes if needed for fee

Dave’s Service Center, (aka “Kettermans”), Dryfork, WV 304-227-4517

• Some rental homes have limited parking spaces therefore shuttling from parking areas may be necessary. See below for two parking locations.
• Please note parking is not allowed on the community streets and towing is enforced.
• Campers, RVs and trailers are not allowed in any community and may not be parked at the rental property other than for unloading and loading.
• There is limited space available for guests to park two-wheel drive vehicles while vacationing in the mountain-home 4-wheel drive areas throughout winter. Please plan accordingly. During snow falls which create challenging roads in the high mountain home properties, daily parking is available in three alternative locations for those vehicles which are not 4X4 or not wishing to brave the mountain snow or ice: 1) Timberline Mountain rear Maintenance parking lot at the lodge, and 2) the Guard Gatehouse parking lot of Old Timberline Community. Space is limited and is a first come, first serve basis. There is no charge.
• There are no shuttle companies at this time in the Timberline or Canaan Valley area but there is no charge for parking in the named locations.
• Please be sure to always lock your vehicle. Timberline Realty is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• The Winterset Pond parking lot is the designated location for the emergency helicopter pad for medevac emergencies. Do not park in this specified and posted location or your car will be towed at your expense.

Canaan Realty welcomes you and your dog in our designated dog friendly homes. If you are like most pet owners, your pet(s) are part of the family. Leaving them behind when traveling can be a traumatic experience. We understand this, and as a result have created this dog friendly policy. NOT ALL HOMES PERMIT PETS.Pet (dog) friendly homes will have an added pet fee per dog included in the reservation rate.

• Pets=Dogs. Cats, birds, all other animals are not permitted.
• Please pick up your pet droppings and dispose of it.
• We require a non-refundable pet fee per pet which varies according to property rented. Pets allowed only in designated pet-friendly properties. This charge is for cleaning only, not damages.
• At check-in or before, guests are required to advise office that they have a pet. Any unit found to have a pet without properly registering the pet will forfeit damage deposit or will be charged a 350 pet fee. The funds will be utilized to clean and ozone clean the interior of the home.
• Guests are fully responsible for their dog’s actions and any damages that may occur. While the dog is in the unit it is expected to be supervised at all times. We appreciate your cooperation and we love having your pets visit Canaan Realty!
• In the event a pet soils or stains fabric, or scratches furniture, additional charges may be assessed accordingly.
• Pets are not allowed around pool areas, and/or common retail spaces or amenities.

Please feel free to contact our office if you have further questions.

The local area has two Pet Boarding location. “Joey’s Bed Bones” is located in Davis, West Virginia and “Pet Rated” is located in Thomas, West Virginia, approximately 12 miles from the Timberline area.

Contact: Maggie Brown at “Joey’s Bed Bones” at 304-940-3678.

Contact: Judit at “Pet Rated” by calling 304-463-3388.

If your vacation home provides a gas grill and you need a propane refill during your stay, bring the empty tank to the Canaan Realty Main Office during business hours and we will exchange it for you at no charge. If you need a refill after office hours, the BFS Canaan Valley Store has propane tanks however, if you choose this option Canaan Realty will not reimburse. During winter blizzard conditions, if you need propane and it is a safety hazard for you to drive, we will do our best to deliver the propane to your rental home without jeopardizing our team members.

Fires are strictly prohibited in the mountain wilderness areas. Only approved, pre-built safety fire rings which exist at a home are permitted to be used. Self-made fire rings or bonfires are strictly prohibited except in the community areas which are preapproved and built within the community.

Starting fires in unauthorized or unapproved locations could result in fire emergencies in Canaan Valley.

DON’T LET YOUR HOME-WARES WALK AWAY FROM YOUR RENTAL HOME!

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping your home-ware items in your rental home. Several guests maybook more than one property and have parties, reunions, and “covered dish get-to-gathers”.

If you use your rental property home wares and visit another rental property, please be sure to return yourhome wares to the correct property. Each home is owned by a different owner who purchased the items foryour enjoyment. Please enjoy it and please return it to its original home. Thank you kindly.

• All Homes in the Canaan Valley Area and Beyond Bag all trash and tie it tightly. Trash can be disposed of at the Canaan Realty Trash Wooden Shed located directly opposite of our Office.
• All Homes Behind the Gated Old Timberline Community (beyond the Gate House) Please take trash to the dumpster located beside the Old Timberline Maintenance building. The driveway to the dumpster is a few short yards from the guard house.
• Herzwood Condo’s Bag all trash and tie it tightly. Trash can be disposed of at the Canaan Realty Trash Wooden Shed located directly opposite of our Office.
• Northwoods Condo’s Bag all trash and tie it tightly. Trash can be disposed of at the Canaan Realty Trash Wooden Shed located directly opposite of our Office.
• Black Bear Resort Black Bear properties take all bagged trash to the Black Bear Dumpster beside the upper parking area. Fines are administered if trash is not disposed of correctly.
• Deerfield Village Deerfield Village properties take all bagged trash and place it on the driveway at the front stoop of your property.
• Beaver Ridge Condos Beaver Ridge should take all bagged trash to the dumpster located at the Beaver Ridge Property. Do not leave trash outside as a charge will be incurred.
• Northpoint Community Northpoint properties should take all bagged trash to the dumpster located at the entrance by the gate. Do not leave trash outside as a charge will be incurred.

The Canaan Valley area does not provide curbside recycling. Sunrise sanitation who collects our trash will recycle on their site. However, you can drop your recyclables at one of two locations:

• Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Welcome Center, 6263 Appalachian Highway (or Route 32) in Davis, West Virginia exactly 1/2 mile (.5) North of the intersection of Timberline Road and Route 32.
• Thomas Recycling Bins situated directly behind the U.S. Post office in Thomas, West Virginia.
• Pour or wipe out contents of cans and bottles before recycling. Glass is currently not accepted at either of the sites listed.
• Please break down all boxes.Keep recyclable materials loose in the recycling receptacle (do not separate or bag).
• Do not leave recyclable materials outside of the recycling receptacle or they will not be collected.

When 4-wheel drive is noted in the home description as required, this pertains to winter visits only. Routine plowing of roads and driveways is done during snowfall but icy and drifting conditions may persist. Snow tires, chains, 4-WD and All-WD vehicles are a must for winter travel in mountains.

Please Note: Snow removal of walkways, steps and decks is not provided by the rental agent. Guests should come prepared to shovel snow on walkways and decks. Shovels are provided in each home.

Bring your sweatshirt with you to the mountains. Summer and Fall experience cool nights. The Scenic Chair Lift is open all summer and fall Friday through Sunday along with the Bike Trails and numerous parks and water-falls. The Leaf Peepers Annual Festival is the last weekend of September. Peak leaf color change is typically between the second week of September and the second week of October depending upon rain fall.

We encourage you to book early for our busy summer/fall family reunion season and Thanksgiving!

ATTENTIONBeaver Ridge, Herzwood, and Northwoods Condo’sThe water turn-on/off valve of your unit is usually turned off between guests in order to protect the property.

Herzwood Condos: You may need to turn your water valve to the “ON” position. The water turn-on/off valve is located in the closet where the hot water tanks are housed. The line coming through the wall is where the valve is located. If the valve is facing with the line, the water is ON. If the valve is against (or perpendicular) to the line, the water is OFF.

Trespasser Tried To Trick Me, She Never Expected Me To Chase Her Down!

Northwoods Condos: Northwoods Units have Watercop Monitors attached to the water line. The water turn-on/off valve is located in the closet where the hot water tanks are housed. When you enter, be sure the Watercop reads “Home” to use water. If an alarm gives a warning, call the office and our maintenance team will assure there is no leak. “Home” can be pressed to silence the alarm. When you leave, you can press “Away”.

Beaver Ridge Condos: You may need to turn your water valve to the “ON” position. The water turn-on/off valve is located in the closet where the hot water tanks are housed. The line coming through the wall is where the valve is located. If the valve is facing with the line, the water is ON. If the valve is against (or perpendicular) to the line, the water is OFF.

“Snow Oaks” Northface 34 has a Water-cop Monitor attached to the water line. The water-cop display box is located in the basement just past sofa on the left. When you enter the property, be sure the Watercop reads “Home” to use water. If an alarm gives a warning, hit the disable button and then hit the “Home” button. You are ready to use the water. Upon final departure, you can press “Away”.

Tips on water use for the mountain homes with well water:Please be aware that some mountain homes use well water. The mountain wells are a bit low this season due to a lack of rain. Please conserve water whenever possible. In the event the water slows down in flow, please allow time for the well to recover and you will again, have water.

Thank you for conserving this natural resource.

It is necessary to dial the (304) area code. Your rental home’s telephone number is on your confirmation page and your guest arrival form in your check-in packet. Cell phone reception is sometimes unpredictable in the mountains. The best reception is typically from ATT US Cellular …even these are sometimes sketchy in the mountains depending upon weather.

All homes have a long-distance block unless otherwise advertised. Options for placing long distance calls include cell phones, calling cards, credit cards, pre-paid phone cards and collect calls. Any unauthorized long-distance calls charged to the vacation home telephone will be billed to the leaseholder.

Mail is not delivered to vacation homes. Letters, packages and faxes may be sent to our office for pick up. Please have the sender include the leaseholder’s name, your name, and the number of your vacation home so we may attempt to notify you of arrivals. Faxes may be sent or received during regular business hours for a fee of 1.00 per page.

Your Name c/o Canaan Realty 25 Mirror Lake Drive Davis, West Virginia 26260 Office Fax: 304-866-4200 Office Phone: 304-866-4400

High-speed wireless internet access (Wi-Fi) is a standard amenity in all of our vacation homes. You are in a rural mountain setting. Speeds are not as fast/reliable. Guests should contact the internet provider directly for customer support or service problems using the information placed on your guest check in form which you signed upon arrival. Canaan Realty can assume no responsibility for the service provider, outages, or speed. There are no refunds for lack of service.

GUESTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CHANGE Wi-Fi PASSWORDS!

• If you have Frontier (phone exchange of 866-) call 1-800-921-8101
• If you have Canaan Cable (all other exchanges of 460-) call 304-866-3804
• Blackbear Resort (Cable or Wi-Fi problems) should call 304-866-4391

There are several Wi-Fi access locations in the vicinity including:

• Canaan Realty
• Canaan Valley State Park
• Timberline Mountain Lodge
• Deerfield Village Office
• BFS Gas Station/Subway on Route 32
• and several popular restaurants in the area

Timberline Mountain Ski Area, 254 Four Seasons Drive, Davis, WV 26260 (304)-866-4801

Ski Barn, 5570 Appalachian Highway, Davis, WV 26260-8062 (304) 866-4444

Blackwater Bikes, 460 William Ave, Davis, WV 26260 (304) 259-5286

Driftland Ski and Sport, 556 William Ave, Davis, WV 26260 (681) 435-9011

Blackwater Outdoor Adventure, 60 Location Rd, Parsons, WV 26287 (304) 478-3775

Tucker County, the “Top of the Mountain State”, where you can relax and refresh in a high mountain paradise. Explore National Forest, Federal Wilderness, Fish Wildlife Refuge, and State Parks. Your family can ski, hike bike, fish, golf, shop or just relax. Quaint mountain towns with shops, galleries and restaurants await. Great lodging options include resorts, vacation homes, cabins, condos, motels and cozy inns. Contact today for all Canaan Valley/Blackwater Falls/Tucker County information.

Tucker County Convention Visitor Bureau (CVB)

Shop N Save Grocery Store, Hwy 32, Davis, WV (304) 259-4836

Camden Corner Market, Hwy 32, Dryfork, WV (304) 227-4192

Cooper Son Old Country Store, Main Street, Harman, WV (304) 227-4161

• Hellbenders – 457 William Ave, Davis, WV 26260 (304) 259-5557 Closed due to Covid
• The Smokehouse at Blackwater Falls – Davis, WV 26260 (304) 259-5216 Ext 403
• Wicked Wilderness Pub Parlor – 128 5 th Street, Davis WV (681)-435-9007
• Hickory Dining Room at Canaan State Park Lodge – Davis, WV 26260 (304) 866-4121 Ext 2651
• Big John’s Family Fixin’s – State Route 32, Canaan Valley, WV 26260 (304)-866-4418
• Siriannis Davis – PO Box 626, Davis, WV 26260 (304) 259-5454
• Siriannis Canaan Valley –open 4-10 w-f sat 2-10 sun3-10 (304) 866-3388
• Canaan Valley BBQ Restaurant – Bensland Road, Davis, WV 26260 ( 304) 460-4772
• Muttley’s Bar Grill– 438 William Ave, Davis, WV 26260 (304) 259- 4858
• Big Belly Deli – 438 William Ave, Davis, WV 26260 (304)-259-2222
• White Grass Cafe – Address: HC 70, Box 299, Davis, WV 26260 ( 304) 866-4114 Closed Summer
• Applewood Breakfast Nook – 200 Vista Cir Davis, WV 26260 (304) 460-4584
• Venus Pies – 46 Lochoa Drive, Canaan Valley 304-460-4772 Delivers Also
• Sawmill – 850 William Ave Davis, WV 26260 Phone number (304) 259-5245
• The Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV (304) 463-4040
• Flying Pigs Breakfast and Lunchery, Thomas, WV (304)463-4292
• Bright Morning Inn in downtown Davis, WV (304) 259-5119
• Tip Top Café Coffee, 216 East Avenue, Thomas, WV (304) 463-4455
• Trailhead Coffee Shop, 438 William Ave. Davis, WV (304) 435-9025
• Country Roads Saloon,16454 Appalachian Hwy, Thomas, WV (681)228-9007
• Stumptown Ales, 390 William Ave, Davis, WV (304)259-5570
• Blackwater Brewery, 912 William Ave, Davis, WV (304)209-8118
• Mountain State Brewery, 1 Nelson Ave. Thomas, WV (304)463-4500

Canaan Valley Resort Conference Services Sammi Haverty

THOMASYARD, formerly Mountain Mist Florist and Gifts Thomas, WV 26292304-463-4999 Wedding and Event Preparation, Romance Packages, Gifts and Unique Items!https://www.thomasyard.com/

Ella Company 250 State Hwy 32, Thomas, WV 26292 (304) 614-7273 Event Preparation, Antiques, Collectableshttps://wwwcom/ellaandcompany.co

Canaan State Park Golf Coarse 230 Main Lodge Rd., Davis, WV 26260 Toll Free: 800-622-4121 Direct: 304-866-4121 To make tee time, contact the Golf Pro Shop at 304-866-4121 x92632.

Our 18-hole, par 72 golf course is surrounded by picturesque mountain terrain and breathtaking West Virginia countryside. The Geoffrey Cornish designed course, rated four stars by Golf Digest Magazine, is open April through early November and offers meticulously groomed fairways and lush greens that are perfectly suited for any golfer.

With 65 sand bunkers and eight water hazards, the Canaan Valley course presents a challenge to the experienced golfer, yet remains friendly to the novice. The practice facility includes a driving range, putting green, sand bunker and chipping green.

Canaan Valley Resort’s Golf Course named as one of the Top 10 golf courses in West Virginia!

Highland’s Golf ClubTroublesome Valley Rd, Franklin, WV 26807 Phone: (304) 358-2261

Golf Club at Oakland 433 N. Bradley Lane, Oakland, MD 21550 Phone: 301-334-3883

Alpine Lake Resort’s Golf Course700 West Alpine Drive Terra Alta, WV 26764Call Us Today: (800) 752-7179

Holly Meadows Golf Course HC 64 Box 88, Parsons, WV 26287-9704 Phone: (304) 478-3406

Our Listing of additional Golf Courses in West Virginia is extensive. Listings can be provided upon request.

Verglas Media, Victoria Weeksverglasmedia.com409 William Ave #6, Davis, WV 26260 301-980-9867 Email: victoria@verglasmedia.com

Photography by Amanda Kisamore photographybyamandak.com 304-614-3790

Canaan Valley Baptist Church – Canaan Valley 304-866-7472

First Baptist Church – Thomas 304-463-4443

United Methodist Church – Thomas 304-463-4817

St.Thomas Catholic Church – Thomas 304-463-4488

Dryfork Assembly of God – Dryfork 304-2274484

Canaan Realty is not responsible for any items left in a vacation home. We will attempt to locate items reported as left behind and return them for the shipping cost. Items not claimed within 10 days will be donated to a local charity.

Please note that you are a guest within a community with full time residents. Please be cautious of your noise level. Canaan Realty wants you to enjoy your stay and have your exciting moments in which you can “whoop it up” or “let your hair down” with your family and friends. However, please be considerate of your neighbors and observe the quiet zone time frame of 11:00 pm through 8:00 am. Please keep in mind that the setting off of fireworks is prohibited in Canaan Valley. Thank You for Your Consideration.

Canaan Realty reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to terminate a lease as the result of tenant abuse of staff, abuse of other community members or visitors, abuse of the rental home or its surrounding environment or wildlife.

Canaan Realty cannot predict construction plans in the area and has no control over construction noise. We regret any inconvenience, but we are not able to facilitate relocations or refunds.

Some properties do provide private pools. Please review the instructions and safety tips carefully which are provided for these particular homes. Operational issues should be reported to the phone number provided inside the home.

Aspen Village Community Pool is available for Aspen Village guests only. Beaver Ridge Community Pool is available for Beaver Ridge guest only. Deerfield Village Resort Community Pool is for Deerfield Village guests only. Blackbear Resort Community Pool is for Blackbear Resort Guests only.

The Canaan Valley State Park Lodge hosts an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a fitness center for use by guests and visitors with a fee. You can contact the park regarding operational hours and fees by calling 304-866-4121.

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Directly from the Hunting and Fishing License Unit by phoning (304) 558-2758. ( 2 issuing fee )

Blackwater Falls State Park Sells Licenses at the gift shop

1584 Blackwater Lodge Road, Davis, WV 26260 (304) 259-5216 blackwaterfallssp@wv.gov 1-800-CALL WVA

Please review the following information and safety tips carefully. Operational issues should be reported to the office at 304-866-4400. If your home is equipped with a hot tub and you find it is not functioning or requires treatment at any time during your stay, call the office for assistance. Please refrain from pushing buttons on your hot tub control pad as this may lock up the system. We will do everything in our power to keep your hot tub running properly during your stay but please bear in mind that during holiday time frames and high occupancy, the response time may be delayed. Hot tubs are not considered emergency call-out situations.

Hot Tub Availability Hot tubs are available for use year-round. Pets are not permitted in hot tubs.

• Hot tubs are cleaned, vacuumed and serviced prior to guest arrival and may require time to reach optimum heat. Please note that dirt, leaves, and pine needles are part of the Mountain environment and will make their way into the hot tub as your stay progresses. This does not affect the hot tub’s function or chemical levels and many filters use sand as the filter medium.
• When not in use, always keep the hot tub covered to help minimize cooling and keep out debris.
• Never sit or stand on hot tub covers or allow children to jump on them while on or off the hot tub; they will not support the weight and it is extremely unsafe.
• Damage incurred as a result of misuse or breakage will be billed to the renter/guest.
• Pets are not permitted in the hot tubs (West Virginia laws prohibit pets from entering hot tubs at public accommodations). The renter/guest will be charged for any additional cleanings necessary due to misuse.
• Keeping the hot tub area free of trash is the responsibility of the guest. Please be considerate and tidy up this area prior to your departure.
• For your own health and safety, do not attempt to service the hot tub yourself. Only Certified Pool Operators are qualified and permitted to perform these services. Please contact our office to arrange for service.
• Homes not equipped with hot tubs do not allow the rental of portable hot tubs or soft spas due to possible electrical and/or structural problems.
• Pregnant women, individuals taking medication, and those with diabetes, high or low blood pressure, heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions should consult their physician prior to entering a hot tub.
• Showering with warm water and soap before entering a hot tub is recommended. This reduces the likelihood of water contamination and helps minimize health risks.
• Do not remove floating chemical dispensers from the hot tub at any time. Removal may result in minor health-related problems.
• Persons with open sores or any type of infection should not use a hot tub.
• Children under the age of 12 are prohibited from entering hot tubs at any time.
• Overuse or misuse of hot tubs results in a higher possibility of infection; sanitizers are not able to combat abnormally elevated levels of bacteria.
• Please keep all gates and doors leading to the hot tub area locked at all times to prevent children from wandering into the area unattended. Please contact the office immediately if any locking mechanism leading to the hot tub is not functioning properly.
• It is recommended that hot tubs be used for a maximum of fifteen-minute sessions. Exiting regularly and cooling off is a good way to keep your body temperature at a healthy level.
• To avoid injury, climb into the hot tub carefully. Never jump or dive into a hot tub.
• Do not enter a hot tub while consuming or after consuming alcohol.
• Glass bottles/containers are not allowed in hot tub areas.
• It is recommended that individuals with long hair tie it up in order to avoid hair being pulled into the filter and/or drain.
• Do not use any type of electrical appliance or device while in contact with water or when your hands or feet are wet.
• Do not use the hot tub during severe weather conditions, such as electrical storms.

EMERGENCY 911 Your 911 Address is located on your key and fridge

Harman Health CenterMott Street, Harman, WV304-227-4134Hours: Call for hours

Mountain Top Health Center and Preston Taylor Pharmacy30 Cortland Acres Lane, Thomas, WV304-463-3331Hours: Mon,Tue,Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm/ Wed 8:30am to 12:00pm/ Thur 11:00am to 7pm

Tucker Community Care307 Main Street (Route 72), Parsons, WVHours: 7:00am to 10:00pm every day including holidaysWalk-ins Welcome304-478-2511

Garrett County Memorial Hospital, Oakland, MD251 North 4rth Street, Oakland, MD 21550Aprox 36 miles/50 minutes from Timberline301-533-4000

Davis Memorial Hospital, Elkins, WVGorman Avenue Reach Street, Elkins WV 26241Aprox 36 miles/50 minutes from Timberline304-636-8967 or 304-636-3300

Canaan Realty recommends that you fill your prescriptions in advance as our remote area lacks having a pharmacy around the corner. Pharmacies are noted below.

Preston Taylor Pharmacy30 Corland Acres Lane, Thomas, WV304-463-4200

Rite Aid Pharmacy134 Main Street, Parsons WV 26287304-478-4864

Community Care Pharmacy149 Ivy Lane, Parsons, WVM-F 9-5pm and Sat 9-1pm/Call regarding Holidays304-478-2319

Unfortunately, mechanical failures can and do occur. Please contact our office at (304) 866-4400 to report any maintenance issues. We apologize for the inconvenience and will do our best to resolve the situation as promptly as possible.

Understand that emergencies do take precedence. You can expect a courteous and professional staff member to help remedy the situation; however refunds will not be issued due to malfunctioning equipment or conditions out of our control.

If you have an after-hours property emergency, please attempt to call the number below:

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY NUMBERS: If you are experiencing an electrical, water or heating problem and it is after office hours please call 304-866-4400. The answering service will provide you an after hours phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Prior to guest arrival, housekeepers empty and clean all refrigerators. The refrigerator doors are left open for long periods of time during this process. After you stock the refrigerator and freezer with warm food, it will likely take 24-48 hours for the appliance to cool. Keeping drink cans and bottles in a separate cooler will expedite the refrigerator’s temperature recovery process. Please keep refrigerator and freezer thermostats on medium settings. Moving the dials to the coldest setting will cause the appliance to freeze and not cool at all. If you do not see improvement after 24 hours, please let us know.

What if the air conditioner doesn’t seem to be working?

During the hot summer months it will take air conditioning units up to 24 hours to cool a home once they are turned on or adjusted to a cooler setting. Our homes are heated and cooled by one or more heat pumps that function best when thermostats remain at a constant temperature. Please leave the thermostat on auto and the setting at 72 degrees; setting it to a lower temperature may cause the HVAC unit to freeze and no longer function. Cooling systems vary by home, and thermostats in some homes have a lower limit override of 72 degrees, but all Windows and doors should be closed when using the air conditioner to maximize its efficiency. In very hot weather, the upper floors may not cool down until after sunset. Try closing window shades and blinds for additional relief. If you do not see an improvement after 24 hours, please let us know.

Every home is equipped with a plunger. Please try plunging the toilet prior to calling our office for assistance.

Why don’t some of the burners on the stove get hot?

Occasionally, electrical burners are knocked loose. With the burner coil is COOL, and control set to “Off” pull out and re-insert the burner coil. This will often correct the problem. If this does not help, please give us a call.

What if an appliance or electrical outlet isn’t working?

Please check the circuit breaker box and/or ground fault indicator (GFI) receptacle (usually located in a bathroom or kitchen electrical outlet). If flipping the switch and/or pressing the reset button on the outlet does not restore power, please give us a call. If you do not feel comfortable performing any of these tasks, please call the office!

What if the hot tub heat or jets won’t work?

If your home is equipped with a hot tub and you find it is not functioning, please refrain from pushing buttons on your hot tub control pad as this may lock up the system. Please call the office for assistance if your hot tub appears to be malfunctioning. We will do everything in our power to keep your hot tub running properly during your stay but please bear in mind that during holiday time frames and high occupancy, the response time may be delayed. Hot tubs are not considered emergency call out situations. Hot Tubs generally heat water up at 1 degree per hour.

What should I know about the grill?

Please note that cleaning the grill is greatly appreciated; be considerate and keep the grill clean and charcoal ashes emptied. Please do not leave meat or any food products on the grills. Please alert Canaan Realty if your home does not have a grill-cleaning brush. Empty propane tanks can be exchanged at the Canaan Realty Office during business hours.

Grill Note: Your safety in winter is important to us. If you require propane for your grill and cannot make your way to the office in the winter, we will do our best to deliver it.

The West Virginia Mountains and Canaan Valley area experiences power surges, widespread brown-outs and loss of power. You can contact Mon-power at 1-888-544-4877. Cable and Satellite TV is often interrupted, but is usually restored in a short time.

What if I get locked out of my home?

If you are locked out of your rental home during business hours, you may obtain another key or keyless code from our office. If the lock-out occurs outside of our business hours, please call the after-hours emergency number for assistance. Guests are responsible for locksmith payment. AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY NUMBERS: please call 304-940-9443.

Why are some closets in my acation home locked?

Some homeowners store personal belongings in locked closets or utility rooms. Attempts by guests to force open these rooms are taken very seriously and will be reported to the police if items are found missing. Please notify the Canaan Realty office immediately if you discover an unlocked closet that appears to contain personal belongings.

Fireplaces are available for year-round use in this West Virginia cool mountain region. However, there is an occasional home which the fireplace is not usable during warm summer months. Each home is unique. Some homes are gas fireplaces and some are wood burning fireplaces. Always OPEN THE FLUE before building a fire.

This question pertains to Wolverton Heights, Winterset 49. This amenity is intended to assist the infirm or aid in the transportation of luggage, groceries, etc. Please follow all posted safety instructions. Do not use the elevator during a storm due to the potential for a power outage. Children are not permitted to ride or operate the elevator unattended due to the risk of serious injury or death. If you have questions or concerns, please call our office.

Please help conserve one of our most precious natural resources. In any mountain well environment, water is in short supply. These mountain wells occasionally experience low pressure or discolored water. There may be an unusual odor. Some guests choose to use bottled water for drinking and/or cooking purposes, even though the water is tested regularly for contaminants. All homes in the mountain or wilderness areas may have more prevalent hard water, even in homes with water filtration systems. Some homes do have a water control system which needs to be turned on upon arrival. Your check in packet will provide instructions.

Fireworks are strictly prohibited in the Canaan Valley area. There are a few locations which allow fireworks during certain festivities.

All of our properties are primarily located in mountain, wilderness, and wooded areas. There are also a large number of mountain creeks, channels, and lakes. Our region attracts lady bugs and a species of fly that lies dormant and reawakens during warm spells. These insects pose no threat to pets or people and are an important part of the food chain for local and migratory fowl and various other species. Extermination/pest control is carefully applied but sometimes ineffective because of their breeding habitat. Although they do not bite and are short lived, they often occur in large numbers especially in window sills and can be annoying. They are attracted to lights, so minimizing the use of outside lights will help reduce their presence near your home. Seasonal temperature changes tend to create an overabundance of flies and ladybugs.

BEAVER RIDGE RULES FOR RENTERS

Because the 60 units of Beaver Ridge are contained in wooden structures and are in very close proximity to each other, we ask that you observe the following rules so that you and your Beaver Ridge neighbors can enjoy a safe and pleasant stay in our mountain resort.

• Unlawful, immoral, improper, or offensive conduct is prohibited, as well as any activity that interferes with the safe and peaceful enjoyment of Beaver Ridge by other occupants.
• Quiet hours shall be observed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• No commercial activity may be conducted on Beaver Ridge premises.
• No obstruction, including trash, may be placed or stored on walkways.
• The Beaver Ridge Executive Board, or its agent, must be given access to the unit whenever required.
• Renters are subject to the provisions of the Declaration, By-laws, Rules and Regulations of the Beaver Ridge Resort Condominium Unit Owners Association.
• No cooking or grilling on balconies or walkways. An outdoor grill and a picnic table are available at one end of each building.
• When using the fireplace, keep the fireplace screen or doors closed, never leave the fire unattended, and be sure the fire is completely out before closing the flue.
• Be reasonable and moderate in the use of firewood so that Beaver Ridge can continue to make it available without charge for use in Beaver Ridge units.
• Open fires are prohibited on Beaver Ridge premises.
• Trash must be bagged and deposited in the dumpster, which is located above the tennis courts.
• Do not leave anything outside that might attract wild animals.
• Obey posted rules for use of the pool and tennis courts.
• NOTE: Health Department rules do not allow children under 14 at the pool without an adult.
• Use of the amenities (pool, tennis courts, basketball hoop, and volleyball court) is strictly limited to individuals actually occupying a Beaver Ridge unit.
• No trailer, camper, large truck, bus or similar vehicle shall be parked on the Beaver ridge premises.
• Each condominium unit has the use of two, and only two, parking spots in the parking lot adjacent to the building in which the unit is located.
• Only licensed vehicles showing current registration are allowed on Beaver Ridge premises. Junk or derelict vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense.
• No ATVs, dirt bikes, or other off-road vehicles may be operated on Beaver Ridge premises.
• Renters may not have pets, or other animals, on Beaver Ridge premises, with the exception of certified assistance animals, such as seeing –eye dogs.
• Feeding wild or stray animals is prohibited.
• The power to enforce these rules, as it deems appropriate, is vested in the Beaver Ridge Executive Board, who may act through an agent. Failure to enforce a rule at any time does not constitute a waiver of the right to enforce such rule on other occasions.

DEERFIELD VILLAGE RULES AND REGULATIONS

To ensure the comfort and enjoyment of everyone, the Deerfield Village Owners Association has adopted the following Rules and Regulations:

• Pool towels or other laundry shall not be hung outside or on the decks.
• Pets shall be kept on a leash at all times when on the Deerfield grounds.
• Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.
• Speeding in the circle is prohibited; all vehicles shall observe the posted speed limit of 10 MPH.
• Trailers shall not be parked in the courts or circle. Parking is available near the lower maintenance building. Exception is granted for authorized Association and contractor trailers.
• Operation of unlicensed ATV’s or other unlicensed motorized off-road vehicles is prohibited on Deerfield grounds. Exception is granted for authorized Association or Management golf carts and maintenance equipment.
• Any hook-up of campers or recreational vehicles is prohibited.
• Bus parking is prohibited in the courts or circle.
• Each villa shall be entitled to no more than two parking spaces. If additional parking is required, double park behind vehicles(s) in your space.
• Fishing is Catch and Release only.
• Swimming, wading, ice skating, and ice fishing are prohibited at the pond.
• The pavilion is available to guests for a fee established by the Owners Association. Reservations are required.
• Tennis courts are for tennis only; tennis shoes are required. A one-hour limit is in effect if others are waiting.
• Activities such as, but not limited to, bicycling, skating, skateboarding, or ball playing are prohibited on the tennis courts.
• The pool is for the exclusive use of owners and guests. Proper attire is required.
• Pool hours are from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM in season.
• Pets are not allowed in the pool area at any time.
• Fire pits and open fires are prohibited except at the location provided by the Owners Association.

OLD TIMBERLINE RENTER/VISITOR GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS

We’re glad that you chose to spend some time in our beautiful community. Timberline is a private residential area and a designated wildlife sanctuary. The following is a list of some of the activities available to visitors and residents, as well as some restrictions intended to ensure your safety and the conservation of Timberline’s natural resources. Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and enjoy your visit!

• To enter Timberline, all guests of owner/renter must be registered with the gatehouse prior to arrival.
• Please use the Trout Pond (only) for swimming (located near the guardhouse).
• Open fires are not permitted. Fires permitted only in fireplaces with proper screening.
• The following areas are available for fishing: a. Trout Pond and Wood Pond b. Spruce Island Lake c. Sand Run Lake (WV fishing license required)
• Non-motorized boats are permitted on our lakes.
• All dogs must be on a leash and under the control of the owner.
• Speed limit is 20mph on all Timberline roads.
• Parking is allowed in assigned areas only; not along the roads.
• Parking is available at the gatehouse (72 hour limit).
• Horses and bikes are welcome on Timberline’s roadways (not on trails).
• The use of ATV’s is prohibited for renters/guests.
• No excessive noise of any kind.
• All fireworks are prohibited.
• No hunting allowed.
• No uncased firearms or bows permitted.
• Security guards are not responsible for valuables and packages, and will not accept them at the gatehouse.
• Packages should be delivered to the house address or TAI office.
• Please, do not feed the wildlife.
• Please complete the information form for the guard house pass and have it ready for the guard gate upon entering Old Timberline.

Canaan Realty conducts all its activities in connection with the sale or rental of real estate without respect to the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status of the buyers, sellers, guests or any other party to any real estate transaction. Further, Realtors have an ethical duty to conduct such activities without respect to the sexual orientation of any party or prospective party to this agreement.

Things to Do In and Around Davis, West Virginia

With the notoriety of the newly accredited New River Gorge National Park, many road trip lovers are beginning to take notice of the beautiful state of West Virginia.

While New River Gorge has plenty to offer, it would be worth your while to explore the entire state, including Davis, West Virginia, and the surrounding area.

The area in and around Davis has something for everyone. If you’re into adventure and the outdoors, there is hiking, biking, rock climbing, and skiing/snowboarding. And if you just want to take it easy, there are great restaurants, antiquing, breweries, and even cavern tours.

Here is a guide to some of the best places in and around Davis for when you’re passing through West Virginia on your next road trip.

Antiques and Art Galleries in Thomas, WV

The former home of one of the largest railroad stations in the state is now a bustling little artist community. Along a little strip of highway, you’ll find a concentration of galleries and antique stores to pique your creative interests.

From art prints to custom jewelry, textiles to used art supplies, each storefront includes unique offerings. Spend an afternoon, or a day and you’re sure to find something that you have no choice but to take home.

Relax and Listen to Music and the Purple Fiddle

Another must-stop in Thomas is the Purple Fiddle – Cafe, Brews Stage. The historic building is home to an outstanding concert space devoted mostly to local talent encompassing all genres. If you’re in the area for a few days, you’re more than likely to encounter an acoustic performance, as the schedule is packed.

Or feel free to stop by and try a delicious homemade sandwich or wrap. Beer connoisseurs will go bug-eyed when they see the enormous list of craft beers from around the globe.

Eat Farm-to-Table Food at Farm Up Table

Our favorite restaurant on our entire West Virginia road trip also happened to be in Thomas – Farm Up Table. Using local seasonal ingredients, they cook up some of the best, most exquisite comfort food we’ve had anywhere.

The one-of-a-kind Sea Fries epitomize upscale comfort food by combining hand-cut fries tossed in butter, olive oil, and parmesan with tender sauteed shrimp. The pit beef sandwich topped with pickled onions and cracked pepper and salt was bursting with flavor, yet so unbelievably tender, the meat seemed to melt in your mouth.

Of course, if you’re looking for lighter fare, you can also order amazing salads chock full of fresh vegetables (and sometimes even fruits), topped with house-made dressings.

Visit Blackwater Falls State Park

If you’re looking for a single stop to enjoy both the majesty of the Allegheny Mountains and have a relaxing evening with dining and lodging, you’ll find it at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Arrive early and hit the trails. There are 21 trails to explore, including the namesake Blackwater Falls trail, where you’ll find the breathtaking 57-foot cascade from multiple vantage points. We also really enjoyed the Elakala Trail that leads to Elakala Falls. If you’re up for an adventure, keep descending to find all three levels of the falls.

Mountain Biking

There is ample opportunity for word-class mountain biking in this vast mountainous region. Davis has been known by some as the East Coast mecca of mountain biking due to its miles upon miles of trails.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned biker, trekking through Blackwater Canyon, the Monongahela National Forest, and the Canaan Valley trail systems will be an experience of a lifetime.

Blackwater Bikes in Davis is a fantastic option if you need to rent a bike, no matter your size or skill level. If you’ve brought your own bike, don’t fret if something should go wrong, as their full-service repair shop will get you back on the trails in no time.

Hike Through the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge

The Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established to preserve the unique uplands and wetlands only found in this particular climate. If you enjoy wildlife, then this is a must-stop on your road trip to Davis, West Virginia.

Twenty-five trails of all lengths and difficulty levels meander through wetlands, forests, and grasslands where you’ll find rare plants and animal species. The Blackwater View Trail is particularly scenic and often active with belted kingfishers flying along the river and eagles soaring above.

Try Bouldering at Outdoor Boulder Park

Have you been interested in rock climbing or bouldering, but perhaps it seems a little intimidating, and/or expensive? Then I suggest you try it out for free at Tucker Boulder Park in Davis.

Thanks to generous donations, this public park includes three climbable boulders suitable for all ages and skill levels. Even if it’s not your thing, you can still take in the scenery while high up in the Allegheny Mountains.

Check Out Local Breweries

Whenever and wherever we go on road trips, checking out the local breweries and beers is always on our to-do list. We were treated to some exceptional brews in Davis.

If you’re a hop head, then I beg you to make a stop at the hop-centric Stumptown Ales. Their double and triple IPAs (Multiple Hopgasms and Big Boy Pants, respectively) were out of this world. They do carry other non-hoppy beer styles and even wine if that’s just not your thing.

Another local brewery stop is in nearby Thomas: Mountain State Brewing Company. You’ll find their beers in cans around town, but they can’t get any better coming fresh from the taphouse. Their approach to making very approachable beers in many styles will please any beer lover.

Explore Smoke Hole Caverns

A great way to spend a rainy day is by exploring the natural beauty of the Smoke Hole Caverns in the nearby town of Cabins. The natural cave was once used by Native Americans to smoke wild game and later used by settlers to make moonshine.

The caverns are part of a larger resort that not only offers lodging and a conference center, but also a gift shop, boutique, and gemstone mining.

Surround Yourself in Nature at Dolly Sods Wilderness

The Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is unlike any eco-type you’re likely to find on this side of the Canadian border. Along your hikes, you’ll encounter plant communities usually only found in Southern Canada. Sphagnum bogs, groves of red spruce and yellow birch, heath barrens, grassy sods, rhododendron and laurel thickets, and rocky barren plains await.

After doing some research, we chose to hike the 7 mile Rohrbaugh Trail, and we were not disappointed. During our trek in the rain, we encountered a canopy of broad-leaf vegetation, scenic, rocky overlooks of the green mountain valleys, and even a few stream crossings.

This was just one of the ten major hikes in the area – all of which offer picturesque scenery and wildlife uncommon to the area.

Test Your Fear of Heights at Seneca Rocks Via Ferrata

You’ve probably seen all of the scenic views of the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains while driving through West Virginia on your road trip, or while hiking. But if you really want to get up close and personal with nature, then try climbing straight up the Nelson Rocks with Via Ferrata in Circleville.

While this might not be for the faint of heart, it will surely get your heart pumping as you gain 1085 feet in elevation during your 3.5-hour climb. The beauty of Via Ferrata is that you don’t need to be an experienced climber. The entire route has been permanently equipped with steel rungs and cables, making it extremely safe so that you can FOCUS on the magnificent views.

Things to do in Winter in Davis West Virginia

Try a Ton of Winter Activities at Canaan Valley Resort

There are a lot of great reasons to take a summer road trip to Davis, West Virginia. But did you know it’s also a premiere winter destination?

Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center is home to a 4,280-foot mountain that offers 47 skiing and snowboarding trails ranging from beginner to advanced. They offer lessons for first-timers so you can feel comfortable on the slopes in no time.

If you’re interested in other ways to enjoy the snow, try snow tubing in the tube park. You’ll fly down the mountain in a dedicated area and be taken back to the top on the magic carpet lift.

There’s also a covered ice skating rink with an unbeatable view of the Canaan Valley and Allegheny Mountains. Or hit the trails and explore the mountain in snowshoes or cross country skis.

Sledding in Blackwater Falls State Park

Everyone loves sledding in the winter, but the Blackwater Falls Sled Run takes it to a whole new level. For more than a quarter-mile (the longest sled run on the East Coast), you’ll speed down the groomed hill without having to worry about any obstacles getting in your way.

And don’t worry, to get back to the top, you simply hop on the Magic Carpet conveyor belt that runs through a beautiful wooded path. Even getting back up the hill is fun!

Where to Stay in Davis West Virginia

Camping

There are many, many places to camp when you’re on your road trip to Davis. Perhaps one of the most unique options, especially if you don’t want to haul all of your camping equipment with you, is to spend the night at a Tentrr campsite in Blackwater Falls State Park.

Here you can effortlessly enjoy a camping experience, with a few perks. The tent is already set up on a wooden platform with a nearby private fire pit/grill, chairs, and a solar shower. While inside, you’ll sleep like a log on the queen-size memory foam mattress. The tent is even heated if the temperature drops at night.

If you did bring all of your camping equipment, there are 65 traditional tent/trailer campsites, all with electric hookups. Other amenities include hot showers, a laundromat, and a dumping station.

Resorts

A bit of pampering might be just what you’re looking for after a long drive during your road trip. Booking a night or two in the lodge at Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center has all of the amenities to make you feel like a queen or king.

Yes, the rooms are spacious and comfortable, but it’s the spa, fitness club, outdoor pool and hot tub, arcade, and shops that set this place apart from the competition. While you’re there, take in a relaxing round of golf and enjoy the one-of-a-kind views.

Hotels, Motels and BBs

Bright Morning Bed and Breakfast should be on the top of your list when passing through Davis, West Virginia. In the nearby town of West Newton, this little gem offers up the best cozy accommodations you’ll find.

There are 14 unique rooms, each with a different theme, some more rustic, and some with more amenities. The breakfast is a show-stopper and is prepared by the proprietor, and former chef, Rob.

Book early if you want to claim a room at the ultra-hip Billy Motel and Bar in Davis. The 10-room completely refurbished hotel is a beacon for hipsters and weary travelers alike.

This retro-chic bar and lounge employ some of the most colorful bartenders, each with a unique repertoire of tantalizing cocktails. Even the alcohol-free mocktails are given the same attention to detail and are created using their house-made fruit shrubs.

The Alpine Lodge is a no-frills hotel in the heart of Davis. If you’re looking for comfortable, affordable accommodations near all of the major area attractions, this is the place for you.

The Sawmill Restaurant on the property applies the same principles of providing great value. This is a great stop for an affordable breakfast or lunch, with generous portion sizes to keep you fueled up for the day ahead.

You Got This!

The Davis, West Virginia area is jam-packed with things to do and is a great place to stop for a few days on your West Virginia Road Trip.

Use these suggestions to help you plan your next wild and wonder West Virginia adventure.

Winter at Blackwater Falls

Blackwater Falls is one of the loveliest places in West Virginia and especially well-located in Tucker County near lots of other fantastic places to explore! While I’ve been there numerous times over the years, we decided to spend this past Christmas at a cabin in the state park, which was an excellent decision in my opinion…even with the unexpected power outage.

In order to gather for Christmas but still incorporate some social distancing, my mom and her siblings each rented cabins at Blackwater with my grandparents in their own cabin. We drove through snow on our way up to Blackwater, and by the time we got to the park, we were truly in a Winter Wonderland. Day one was mainly just unpacking and decorating the cabins. In the evening, we took battery-powered candles and caroled to all the cabins that were occupied by other visitors. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip as a whole because I love caroling, and it was so much fun to go walking through the snow and singing.

On the second day, we went to the sled run, which is one the highlights of Blackwater Falls in the winter. Though it’s not always open at Christmas, they had so much snow that they were able to open early this year. Everyone loved the sled run! It’s a quarter-mile downhill, and you can reach speeds of 30 mph, which is a wild, fun ride. But about halfway through our time, the power went out for the park and much of the surrounding area. This wasn’t much of a problem at the moment – we were already outside and cold, so that didn’t change. And we got a full refund on our sledding, which meant that all the sledding we did do was actually free! But since walking up to the top of the sled run was not fun (usually there’s a conveyor belt to the top of the hill), we went separate ways after that. I joined the group that hiked out to Table Rock, and while the pictures show that people at the cabins had fun too, I like my pick. Despite the difficulty of hiking through the snow and mud, the views were very much worth the effort! And, since there was so much fresh snow, we had plenty of water available while walking – you just had to grab a handful and bite in.

As it got cold and dark that afternoon (think 2 pm), we did our gift exchange, and I enjoyed the hot soup that my mom managed to cook by setting the pot close to the fire. It was a chaotic evening, but that was to be expected, and that’s a huge part of the fun anyway. When the gifts were done, it was still early in the evening but it was already very dark. My family drove into town and found a restaurant with power where we bought some hot food for dinner. I was subsequently grateful that I’d downloaded movies and charged my computer because that ended up being our entertainment before we settled down for a cold night. The park provided extra blankets and refunds to everyone who opted to stay despite the cold and lack of power, but it was still chilly.

Day 3 of the trip consisted mainly of exploring the park in the snow – mainly by car, though we did see the falls as well – and moving into a cabin with heat. Our general assessment was that it wasn’t too bad, and if we’d been planning to go somewhere without heat or electricity, we would have been fine, but as it was, the situation was uncomfortably cold. With more snow predicted for that evening, moving to the newer cabin was a good call, even if it didn’t have the same feel as the older, more rustic ones. Finally, on our last full day at Blackwater, we did some more fun activities like ice skating and skiing and also just driving around to see the snow on all the mountains. All in all, a great trip, in my opinion! Losing power was just part of the adventure, and that made it a trip I’ll never forget!

Want to see part of our trip in video form? Check out my aunt Kristi’s video here!

Ready to plan your own trip to Blackwater Falls and Tucker county? Read on!

Planning Your Trip: All the Details

Probably the first thing to say here is that you – most likely – will not lose power due to a massive snowstorm while here. There are generators for the newer cabins and lodge, and as there are towns nearby, electrical problems are typically fixed quickly. While we were there, the amount of snow and location of the damaged power line made it difficult to fix. Additionally, Blackwater Falls offered refunded everyone whose cabins lost power, and helped out those who stayed by offering extra blankets. We also had an option to go to the lodge at Canaan Valley, and when we switched to a more expensive luxury cabin after the power stayed off, we were given a discount on the price. So basically, we had an adventure, but it shouldn’t put you off visiting Blackwater Falls or staying a few nights there. The Tucker County area is one of my favorite parts of West Virginia, and is a great place to visit any time of year!

What to Do

The first thing on this list is, obviously, seeing the falls. There are two ways to do this. When driving into the park, you’ll reach a fork in the road. One way will take you to the rustic cabins and conference center, while the other will go to the trading post, luxury cabins, camping area, and – farther out – Pendleton Lake. If you start the drive to the rustic cabins, you will soon see a small parking area and a sign for the Gentle Trail. This is a short, flat, handicap-accessible trail that takes you out to an overlook of the falls (shown in the last picture of this post). Your other option is to drive to the Trading Post (where you can also buy souvenirs) and walk down a couple hundred stairs. There are overlooks periodically along this route, so you don’t have to walk all the way down, but it’s pretty cool to stand so close to the falls that the water splashes on you! Whichever route you pick, seeing the falls is an essential part of your trip!

There are also longer trails in Blackwater Falls, that can be done in summer or winter. In winter, you can do these trails on your own or rent skis or snowshoes if you want to try your skills with one of those. While there this winter, we did the Table Rock Trail, which had beautiful views of the Canaan Valley. This is not actually in Blackwater Falls State Park but is in the surrounding Monongahela National Forest. You’ll leave Route 32 for Canaan Loop Road, and you’ll need 4-wheel drive to reach the trailhead, especially in the snow. It’s very out of the way, and you can enjoy beautiful scenery on other trails as well, but I loved hiking out to Table Rock, even through the snow and mud.

Finally, there are a few seasonal activities, namely Pendleton Lake and the Sled Run. You can visit Pendleton Lake and Falls any time of year, but the lake is especially popular in the summer when you can swim in the lake or rent kayaks, canoes, or paddle-boats. In the winter, the Blackwater Falls Sled Run is a major attraction, and for a good reason. The sled run is a quarter-mile downhill, and you can reach speeds of about 30mph on your sled! It’s a lot of fun and was one of the main reasons we wanted to stay here at Christmas.

When to Go

As I’ve said, Blackwater Falls is excellent any time of year, and there’s a lot to do in the area as well. Really, the only consideration when deciding when to visit is what you want to do. Swimming, for example is limited to summer (between Memorial Day and Labor Day), while the Sled Run is only in winter and opening day will depend on snowfall. Additionally, while boat rentals on Pendleton Lake are still an option in the fall, you can only do this on weekends due to the lower number of visitors. Peak seasons here are summer and winter, but Blackwater is beautiful any time of year. If you mainly want to hike and don’t care about swimming or sledding, fall would be a wonderful time to plan your visit. My family has done multiple trips to this area in the fall, and it’s always beautiful.

What to Eat

Our plan, in staying at the cabins, was to cook our own food and not have to eat out. We mostly did this, but we did end up getting takeout during the power outage. While the Blackwater Falls lodge does have a restaurant (The Smokehouse), which would be most convenient for those staying the park, at the time that we were looking for food, they still didn’t have power. So we did an investigative search to find food in Davis, West Virginia, which basically meant driving around to see who had power. We ended up with the Sawmill Restaurant, which had a nice selection of good food that was, most importantly, warm. Sawmill advertises itself as a rustic eatery with home-cooking, and while it wasn’t especially memorable, the food was solid, and I would eat there again!

Davis has other restaurants as well that are worth checking out if you don’t feel like cooking. Since the whole town is basically on one street, it’s not hard to browse the selection and find one that appeals. Going back, I would like to try Hellbender Burritos and Siranni’s Cafe in particular.

If you don’t mind a slightly longer drive, you can head into the town of Thomas and check out a restaurant I loved on a previous trip: The Purple Fiddle. The offerings here are, like the Sawmill Restaurant, basically your standard American restaurant fare with a variety of options. The Purple Fiddle is a fun little place to eat, and they frequently have live music in the evenings.

Finally, I can also speak to the Hickory Dining Room at the Canaan Valley Resort, which has similar options as The Sawmill and The Purple Fiddle, but is a little fancier and has nice views overlooking the area.

Where to Stay

The Blackwater Falls area is one of the big tourist destinations in West Virginia, so you have a few options. At the state park itself, you can camp, stay at a rustic or luxury cabin, or get a room at the lodge. Close by, you can stay at the Canaan Valley Resort, and you can also camp or stay in a cabin here, though generally Canaan is slightly more expensive than Blackwater.

The Blackwater Falls lodge and Canaan Valley Resort are both fairly standard hotels, though you can upgrade to nicer rooms, especially at Canaan Valley. Both places have a restaurant on-site, and you can stay in comfort near ski trails and other attractions in the area.

Both Blackwater and Canaan Valley have two levels of cabins. The classic cabins at Blackwater are smaller but still have running water and electricity (most of the time). However, there is no air conditioning in these cabins, and even with heat, it can be nice to have a fire during winter. The vacation cabins at Blackwater are bigger than the classic ones and come with temperature controls, a washer/dryer set, and a dishwasher. One disappointing part however is that there’s a gas fireplace instead of a wood-burning one. At Canaan, there is a distinction between cottages and cabins. None of these have air conditioning, but the cottages are larger, handicap-accessible, and come with satellite TV.

Finally, you have the option to camp at one of a few campgrounds at either Blackwater or Canaan. This is the most rustic option, of course, but you’ll still have access to showers as well as the park’s recreational activities. Backpacking and dispersed camping is also an option in the National Forest.

There are also a few places to stay nearby, for example at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas or the Alpine Lodge in Davis that adjoins the Sawmill Restaurant.

Nearby Extras

While at Blackwater, you’re close to a lot of West Virginia’s biggest attractions, so it can be worth visiting one or more of them. This is a condensed list of some of the closest options, but you can easily find more.

Davis and Thomas

These two West Virginia towns are fun little places to visit. There are lots of small businesses like some of the restaurants mentioned before as well as lots of little shops. These are the sort of small towns where you don’t expect much but will undoubtedly be charmed after a few days in the area. As a kid, I especially loved being in Thomas for the 4th of July and seeing the fireworks. You’ll probably stop in one or both of these towns if you go out to eat, but it’s worth taking some extra time and maybe checking out a few of the shops or art galleries or even staying to see some live music. You’ll also be able to rent or buy outdoor gear in either town if you need it.

Canaan Valley State Park

Because of how close it is to Blackwater Falls, it’s easy to add this to your visit. In winter, Canaan Valley is especially popular with skiers and snowboarders, many of whom may chose to stay at the park’s resort though you can just as easily visit from Blackwater. The area is absolutely beautiful any time of year, and you have lots of options for hiking and backpacking. In winter, the Canaan Valley Resort also has an outdoor ice skating rink, which, though small, was a lot of fun. Also in the area is the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Within the refuge there are nature programs as well as many trails to explore.

Dolly Sods – May 2019 with snow and (late) June 2021 without snow

Dolly Sods Wilderness

Dolly Sods Wilderness is an amazing part of Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. While you can drive through the area and still see a lot of its beauty, there are also several 50 miles of trails for hiking or backpacking. Bear Rocks is the number one place to stop, and you’ll easily see the parking pull-off. Rather obviously, this is a rocky area, and you can walk out to the edge of the rocks to take pictures of the view or to pretend you’re falling. Just be careful not to actually fall as there are some massive drops. To read more about the area, check out this post.

Seneca Rocks State Park

Seneca Rocks is a beautiful spot to visit that’s popular with rock climbers (for obvious reasons). For those are hoping to learn about rock climbing, there are classes here to learn, but if that’s not to your taste, you can hike, bike, or ride horses. A loop trail near the visitor center will also take you to an overlook where you can get a good look at the rocks without doing anything too strenuous. Nearby, you’ll also be able to visit either Seneca or Smoke Hole Caverns where you can take a tour through some amazing caves. If you’re especially interested in activities near Seneca Rocks, you have the option to stay around here and do Blackwater Falls as a day-trip instead.

Seneca Rocks – November 2016 and May 2019

Green Bank Observatory

Though it’s about an hour and a half drive from Blackwater Falls, I love Green Bank, so I have to include it here. There are several radio telescopes on the site, and they’ve made or helped make several important astronomical discoveries in the decades since the first telescope was built on-site. Green Bank is in a National Radio Quiet Zone, which means you won’t have service in the area and if you take the bus tour out to the telescopes (which you should), you’ll have to leave your phone in your car or put it in a Faraday Cage to prevent it from interacting with the telescopes and confusing the data. If you want to take pictures of the telescopes, you’ll need to bring a disposable camera with you and develop the film later. Or just take pictures at the visitor center overlook where you can use your phone. The museum and bus tour are the main parts of your visit, and it’s a fun trip that I love doing again and again.

Harpers Ferry

While not close enough to be a day trip, when I visited with my family over Christmas, we tacked on an extra couple days to visit Harpers Ferry, WV which was the site of John Brown’s Raid in 1859 and currently houses the Appalachian Trail headquarters. I won’t go into a lot of detail here though since it’s too far for just a short stop. If you’d like more detailed information about visiting Harpers Ferry, check out my blog post here!

Final Notes

I loved visiting Blackwater Falls this Christmas, and I would absolutely recommend a visit either to this park alone or to the area as a whole. There’s a lot to do and see, and it’s a truly beautiful area. It’s a great place to vacation any time of year whether you have a few days or a full week. If you have the opportunity to go, it’s well worth the trip!