Things to Do

CHEAT MOUNTAIN TRAIL -- Elkins to Bemis, 26.4 miles -- Rustic route begins with paved Chenowith Creek Road. After four miles, road turns to dirt and gravel. Features two-mile-long climb up Cheat Mountain. Descent through forest to small town of Bemis. Wildlife viewing. Moderate-Difficult.

COOPERS ROCK STATE FOREST TRAILS -- Coopers Rock State Forest, 38-mile network -- Scenic multiuse trails and logging roads range from level to steep upgrades. Access to Raven Rock overlook, Coopers Rock, Sand Springs Fire Tower and historic Henry Clay Iron Furnace. Moderate-Difficult.

Name	RV Sites	Tenting
Cheat Canyon, Albright 304-329-1299
Glade Farms Campground, Bruceton Mills	125	*
Prickett's Creek Campground, Fairmont	15	*
Sand Springs, Morgantown 403-594-2415
Six & Plum Campground and Marina, Booth	50	*
Teters Campground, Albright	10	*
Tygart River Camping Area, Grafton	34	*

Name	Total Miles	Groomed Miles	Rentals	Ski School
Alpine Lake Resort, Terra Alta	14.8	9.3	yes	yes
Timberline Ski Resort, Davis	10.5	---	yes	yes
White Grass Ski Touring Center, Davis	31	15.5	yes	yes

	Alpine Lake Resort, Terra Alta	Snowshoe, Silver Creek	Timberline Ski Resort, Davis	Wisp Ski Resort, McHenry, MD
Vertical Drop	420	1,500	1,000	610
% Novice	13	41	29	20
% Intermediate	62	41	54	50
% Expert	25	18	17	30
Chairlifts	--	11	7	5
Surface Lifts	2	--	2	2
Snowboarding	*	*	*	*
Equipment Rental	*	*	*	*
Night Skiing	*		*	*
Ski School	*	*	*	*

FT. ASHBY -- Fort Ashby -- Only remaining fort commissioned by colonial Governor Robert Dinwiddie to be built for protection of settlers against attacks by Native Americans. Structure built in 1755 from hand-hewn logs. Massive chimney 14 feet wide and four feet thick. Fort later converted to schoolhouse; restored in 1939.

GRAFTON NATIONAL CEMETERY -- Grafton -- One of two national cemeteries in state established in 1867 by Congressional legislation to honor those who died during Civil War. Final resting place for 2,133 soldiers, including 664 unknown soldiers. Grave site of Private T. Bailey Brown, first Union casualty of Civil War.

CORE ARBORETUM -- Morgantown -- 50-acre outdoor research facility managed by West Virginia University Department of Biology. Includes hundreds of species of native and exotic trees, plants and wildflowers. Hiking trails. Guided tours.

POTOMAC EAGLE SCENIC RAILROAD -- Romney -- Three hour narrated trip winds through "The Trough," striking and scenic narrow mountain valley. Passes idyllic fields and farms dating to early 1700s. Frequent American bald eagle sightings.

WEST VIRGINIA NORTHERN RAILROAD -- Kingwood -- Excursion train features trip through coal country of Preston County. Train carries passengers past remnants of coal industry's glory days.

Name	Acreage	Game/Birds
Briery Mountain WMA	1,000	deer, squirrel, grouse, wild turkey
Coopers Rock SF	12,713	deer, squirrel, grouse, wild turkey
Pruntytown WMA	1,764	deer, fox, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, grouse, wild turkey

BLACKWATER FALLS -- Blackwater Falls State Park -- Booming falls cascade 63 feet and rush through scenic wooded gorge. Occasional dark hue of water result of acids leached from decaying hemlock and spruce needles. Scenic overlook. Hiking trails.

BLISTER RUN SWAMP -- Cheat Bridge -- High altitude swamp contains possibly oldest stand of balsam fir trees in state. Two mountainsides wooded with red spruce and various hardwood surround tract, bisected by Blister Run. Alder thickets and beaver dams. Rare plants and wide range of wildlife. National Natural Landmark.

CANAAN VALLEY -- Davis -- High valley, 13 miles long, recognized for diversity of habitats. Contains vegetation common to area during Pleistocene era; now harbors northern boreal relict species unique to latitude. Characterized by talus slopes, beech - birch - maple forests, balsam fir swamps and sphagnum bog areas. National Natural Landmark.

CATHEDRAL STATE PARK -- Aurora -- 132 acre stand of virgin hemlock and other hardwood trees create living museum of natural history. Private ownership spared trees from logging. Understory of 80-90-foot-tall trees includes at least 20 species of small tress and shrubs. Ground cover contains rhododendron and over 75 herbs, vines, ferns and grasses. 500-year-old Centennial Hemlock, 21 feet in diameter, notable feature of the forest. National Natural Landmark.

CRANESVILLE SWAMP -- Cranesville -- Extensive bog complex covers roughly 400 acres at elevations of over 2,500 feet. Wetland yields fern species, cranberries and sphagnum moss. Tree species include black cherry, red maple, hemlock and larch at its southernmost know occurrence in US. Boardwalk allows access to fragile areas.

GAUDINEER SCENIC AREA -- Monongahela National Forest -- 50 acre stand of virgin red spruce one of few remaining in state. Old-growth trees average 250 years old and reach heights of 100 feet. Surrounded by second-growth red spruce forest, striped maple, hobblebush, ferns and mosses. National Natural Landmark.

SENECA CAVERNS -- Riverton -- Caverns contain abundance of limestone formations occupying 12 subterranean acres. Passages led through rooms given such names as Grand Ballroom, Mirror Lake, Candy Mountain and Upside Down Well. Drips and flowing water indicate cavern's calcite crystals, stalagmites and stalactites still evolving.

SENECA ROCKS -- Spruce Knob -- Dramatic craggy peaks tower 900 feet above North Fork Valley. White sandstone outcrop developed 250 million years ago after upheaval and collision of earth's layers. Sever historical associations and legends. Popular spot for rock climbing. Hiking trail to top. Visitor center.

SMOKE HOLE CAVERNS -- Spruce Knob -- Formed nearly 225 million years ago, caverns named for old Seneca tribe practice of smoking and preserving wild game at site. Crystal Cove Coral Pool one of two coral pools in world; World's Longest Ribbon claimed to be longest "bacon strip" stalactite in world. Ceiling of Room of a Million Stalactites 274 feet high.

SPRUCE KNOB -- Spruce Knob -- Highest point in state offers gorgeous views of surrounding Monongahela National Forest. Windblown 4,861-foot peak dotted with large boulders and predominance of one-sided red spruce trees. Trail and gravel road lead to top, which features observation deck.