From the blog

50+ West Virginia Recreations – 2023 Vacation Visitors Guide

March 19, 2021 • Destinations, Our Blog, Uncategorized

Often when people stumble across our website, they fall in love with our cabins but don’t know about the recreation opportunities in West Virginia and specifically near Golden Anchor Cabins. Today, I am going to answer the question “What are some things to do near Golden Anchor Cabins?” I’m confident this list of West Virginia recreations will help you with your vacation or honeymoon planning!

Here are links to complete write-ups about our favorite activities and destinations near our cabins. For the full list of West Virginia recreation ideas, scroll past the blog posts.

This list is organized by distance from our cabins. To help you find activities and destinations that suit your particular speed, I’ve also labeled each as 1 of 3 categories:

  • Relaxing – These activities will make for the perfect non-strenuous entertainment that anyone can enjoy.
  • Refreshing – These recreational opportunities will get you up and walking around, exploring some of the most popular locations in the state.
  • Exciting – These destinations will get your blood pumping and your adrenaline flowing! They put the WILD in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia!

West Virginia Recreations Idea List

Canaan Trout Ranch

Want to do a little fishing while you’re vacationing in Canaan Valley but don’t have your fishing license?   Here is your solution.  At Canaan Trout Ranch, no license is required.  This privately owned lake is well stocked with trout for your angling and eating enjoyment!  It costs $3 to fish and all trout are catch and keep at just sixty cents per inch.  They are open From mid April through the fall.  They are located just off of the Lanesville Road one mile south of Canaan Valley State Park.  Canaan Trout Ranch has bait for sale and also rent fly or spin rods.  Or you can bring your own tackle box and gear with you!

Miles of Hiking and Biking Trails

There are hundreds of miles of trails within a short drive of our cabins.  They range in difficulty from the gentle, well maintained trails for anyone to enjoy to adventurous, wilderness trails for the most extreme hiker and mountain biker.  If you want to have a day on the trails, you need a good trail map.  I have collected every trail map available in my area and included them in my hiking trail blog post where you can download each map to your mobile device.  I also give my thoughts on each of the trails I’ve personally been on.

Chip Shots FootGolf

  • 1 mile away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation
  • 16320 Dry Fork Rd, Davis, WV 26260
  •  (304) 851-6223
  • http://www.facebook.com/chipshotsfootgolf

Here is a activity that is unique to Tucker County, West Virginia.  One part golf, one part soccer, FootGolf is played with a soccer ball but the rules of the game largely correspond to the rules of golf.  The player with the fewest kicks wins.  Located just a few miles from our cabins on Route 72, this family farm turned 9 hole FootGolf course has a beautiful view of Mount Porte Crayon. 

Chip Shots FootGolf is a ton of fun!  If you’re staying at our cabins, give them a call to make sure they’re open and try this out!  The cost is only $8 for 9 holes including your soccer ball.  They recommend wearing athletic or turf shoes but not cleats.

Canaan Valley Resort Shooting Range

Want to try your hand at clay shooting?  Canaan Valley Resort offers an instructed session at their shooting range in the warm months.  This package includes safety instruction, 25 shells, 25 pigeons, a gun and safety equipment.  Private shooting lessons are also available.

Everything at the shooting range is by reservation only so call 24 hours in advance to reserve your covered stand.  No hunting license is required.

2020 UPDATE – Archery sessions are also available!

Canaan Valley Resort Scenic Chairlift Ride

Get a bird’s eye view of Canaan Valley and Allegheny Mountains from CVR’s scenic chairlift ride.  The landscape becomes even more beautiful as the leaves change in the fall.  Ride the lift both ways, or get off at the top and hike the two miles back to base camp. Whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed. Tickets cost $8 for adults and are available in the summer and fall at the slope side gift shop.  Customers are required to wear close-toed shoes on the lift.

Canaan Valley Resort – Resort Boards

  • 2 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation
  • (304) 866-2215

In the summer months, CVR offers a neat guided tour on their electric offroad “Resort Boards”.  I discuss these in greater detail in the blog post but I’ll say that they are super easy to learn and a blast to ride.  Make your reservations at least 24 hours in advance.  Tickets are $50 per person. But there are also several more West Virginia recreations at Canaan Valley State Park!

Canaan Valley Resort Golf Course

Canaan Valley State Park’s 18-hole championship golf course has been recognized several times as one of the top courses in the state.  This picturesque course was designed by Geoffrey Cornish, whose design legacy was “getting people interested in golf”.   The season typically opens early April and will stay open through the fall.  18 holes of golf starts at $46 and that includes your golf cart.

Want to do a little more golfing while you’re in our area?  There are five more courses within driving distance of our cabins as well.  Each with its own unique landscape and natural West Virginia beauty.

Other Golf Course Contact Info

Tube Park at Canaan Valley Resort

CVR Snow Tubing at Tube Park

In the winter ski season, Canaan Valley Resort also opens their tube park to the public for 2 hour sessions where you take their magic carpet to the top of the 1200′ long hill and then speed down one of six lanes back down to the bottom.  By the time the night sessions roll around, these lanes get FAST!  Check out the video of us night tubing in our article here.  Their rates change a little every year but it is right around $20 per person.

CVR Ice Skating

  • 2 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation

Sharpen your skates and head to our outdoor, covered ice rink located right behind the main lodge building. Witness an unbeatable view of Canaan Valley and the Allegheny Mountains while mastering your figure-eights or while warming up beside the rink’s outdoor fireplace.  Two-hour sessions are $10 including your ice skate rental.

CVR Climbing Wall and Eurobungy

  • 2 miles away
  • Exciting West Virginia Recreation

The resort sells tickets for their climbing wall and other outdoor activities at their recreational center (near the campground area).  Race your partner to the top of the wall or flip out on their Eurobungy apparatus.

CVR Paragliding

  • 2 miles away
  • Exciting West Virginia Recreation
  • (304) 866-4121

You read that right, you can para-glide at Canaan Valley Resort!  From Memorial Day to the end of October, CVR maintains a launch site at the top of 4000’+ tall Bald Knob.  This launch site is one of only two sites in the Eastern United States accessible by chairlift.  To access the launch site, para-glide pilots have to be USHGPA members and must pay a $7 fee to ride the lift to the top of the mountain. This is an EXTREME form of recreation in West Virginia!

CVR Downhill Skiing

While the resort has many year round activities, the downhill skiing in the winter is what puts CVR on the map.  Skiers and snowboarders have 47 trails to choose from when the mountain is completely white.  Their official season opening dates vary depending on conditions but they are typically open from mid-December to mid-March.  Lift rates start at around $40 per person and fluctuate throughout the season.  Rentals are available as well at the Bear Paw Lodge.

Guided Horseback Tours

One of the area’s most popular recreational activities is horseback riding.  There are several stables to choose from including Double S Stables and Mountain Trail Rides in Canaan Valley.  Or you can ride to the top of Seneca Rocks with Yokum’s Stables.  Take one of these opportunities to enjoy the area’s spectacular scenery while trekking through parts of the Potomac Highlands accessible exclusively by horseback.

Most stables are open year round and hour rides start at $30 per person.  Call your preferred stable ahead of time and make a reservation.

Stables Contact Info

White Grass Touring Center

Much like the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, cross country skiers from all over the country take an annual journey to this unassuming red shack in Canaan Valley.  The iconic White Grass Touring Center is home of the most exciting cross country skiing in the eastern United States.  X-country skiing and snowshoeing are fun and inexpensive ways to spend your free time during the winter months.  White Grass is a unique and laid-back atmosphere with curvy exciting trails and a wholesome natural foods cafe.  Be sure to visit Chip at White Grass if you’re visiting us during ski season!

Timberline Mountain Ski Resort

Timberline Mountain is widely known for having the best downhill ski terrain east of the Mississippi River.  The new management installed two completely new lift systems for their inaugural 20/21 season! A high speed six passenger lift will take skiers and snowboarders to the top of the mountain and a quad will take passengers to the midway point for quick access to the beginner and intermediate terrain.  Timberline Mountain will be the coolest place for excitement in Canaan Valley in the winter!

TC’s Shooting Range

  • 10 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation
  • (304) 614-6462
  • www.tcsgunshopwv.com

TC’s shooting range is a great place to get some target practice in.  Bring your own firearm to their six covered station 200 yard range.  They also have four individual handgun pits available as well.  This is a gated range so call in first and get your daily pass to gain access to the coded lock.  They are open 7 days a week during daylight hours.

Blackwater Falls Overlook

  • 12 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation
  • Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260
  • (304) 259-5611

There are several recreational opportunities in Blackwater Falls State Park.  The obvious first choice is taking the famous 214 step staircase down to the Blackwater Falls Overlook.  This overlook all but guarantees you will get a little mist from the water fall.  When the river is raging, you’ll feel the power of Blackwater’s 62′ cascade pounding at your chest.

If climbing up and down 214 steps doesn’t suit you, follow the signs to the gentle path on the other side of the park.  There you can follow a flat paved walkway to a higher overlook of Blackwater Falls.  It has recently been cleared of trees giving you a wonderful vantage point no mater your physical abilities.

Blackwater Falls Farm Discovery Center

  • 12 miles away
  • Relaxing West Virginia Recreation
  • Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260
  • (304) 259-5611

A couple of perfect places to enjoy some up-close encounters with animals are the Farm Discovery Center at Blackwater Falls State Park and the petting zoo at Mountain Trail Rides in Canaan Valley. Bunnies, goats, chickens, llamas, and other adorable animals are so much fun to meet and feed! The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and excited to share their animals with you.

The park’s petting zoo also offers horseback riding to visitors! Take the horses out on the trails to experience the scenic views from high on the back of your mighty steed.

Blackwater Falls Pendleton Point

  • 12 miles away
  • Relaxing West Virginia Recreation
  • Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260
  • (304) 259-5611

Pendleton Point is easily the most accessible of all the rock overlooks in Blackwater Falls State Park.  The overlook area is a few hundred yards from paved parking.  This particular overlook gives you a good angle of Shay’s Run and Elakala Falls.  This is a popular choice for outdoor wedding ceremonies because of the beautiful view, flat yard and its easily accessed location.

Sign at Pendleton Point

What a view!

Blackwater Canyon presents a spectacular panoramic mix of sky, forest, stream, and steep slopes.  The canyon is strewn with massive sandstone boulders, producing a rugged appearance.  These boulders tumbled down from the rim as the river carved its V-shaped profile into the landscape. 

Blackwater Falls State Park provides many scenic viewing opportunities.  In addition to the falls, Pendleton Point and Lindy Point overlooks provide magnificent views of the Blackwater Canyon.  Woodland trails offer secluded interludes when hiking or cross-country skiing.

Blackwater Falls State Park’s More Adventurous Activities

Blackwater Falls State Park is one of the most popular and most iconic locations for recreations in West Virginia.  The park has so much to offer visitors, from mountain views and water falls to fishing and kayaking plus cross country skiing and downhill sledding in the winter!  Here are some of the high points:

Blackwater Falls State Park – Lindy Point

If you’re going to take one hike, if you’re going to visit one observation deck, if you only have time for one thing while visiting Blackwater Falls State Park, Lindy Point is the destination you have to get to.  Follow the signs from the entrance all the way to the end of the paved road where you’ll find a tiny parking lot and a sign marking the head of the Lindy Point Trail.  This hike is less than a half a mile and it is relatively flat so nearly everyone can enjoy this trail to the overlook. 

Bring your Camera!

Once there you can explore the rocks or step onto the overlook deck and take in the awe and splendor of Lindy Point.  One of the most photographed locations in West Virginia, the view follows Blackwater River down a deep gorge and affords you 30+ mile visibility into neighboring Randolph County.

Local’s tip:  In the spring you can find the illusive lady slipper on this trail.  This is also the perfect location for taking in a sunset in Tucker County.

Blackwater Falls State Park  – Frisbee Golf

The park maintains an 18 hole disc golf course during the summer months.  The course uses DISCatcher targets on a rolling course that has elements of open and wooded areas.  Visit the Harold S Walkers Nature Center  near Pendleton Lake to rent discs and gain access to the course!

Blackwater Falls State Park – Pendleton Lake

The park’s lake offers several recreational activities.  You can rent paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and paddle boats from the lake’s store.  You can also fish from the lake’s dam or walk the trail beside the lake to the stone railroad bridge that crosses the lake.

Blackwater Falls State Park – Pase Point

While we’re talking about Pendleton Lake, the lake’s parking lot is the perfect spot to pick up the trail head that will take you to Pace Point.  If you want an overlook like Lindy Point but you want it all to yourself, this location is for you!  The trail through the woods is about a mile and a half to the rock outcropping.  The trail’s elevation does not change drastically so it is a fairly mild walk.  Watch closely as you near Pace Point because the only marker is a stacked rock formation pointing you to the connecting path to the overlook.  This point is one of the most beautiful and peaceful views in the park.

Blackwater Falls State Park – Elakala Falls

While the grand Blackwater Falls itself is the crown jewel of the park, there’s another waterfall on the property that allows you to get up close and personal with it. A short and well marked trail leaving the park’s lodge will take you to the first of a series of four waterfalls known as Elakala Falls.  This is one of Jamie’s favorite treks in Tucker County because unlike Blackwater, at Elakala you can get right into the falls.  Because these falls are tucked away on the property it is a much more private experience.  Bring your camera as these falls are quite photogenic!

Blackwater Falls State Park – Cross Country Skiing

Many of the park’s hiking trails are perfect for cross country skiers in the winter months.  Grab a trail map at their front desk to find out which trails the park recommends!

26 – Blackwater Falls State Park – Sled Run

This is by far the most popular paid activity the park has to offer.  Operating from around Christmas to mid-March, kids and adults alike love sledding down the hill and then taking the magic carpet ride back to the top to do it all over again.  We did a full write up that included videos of our sledding adventure here!

Go Waterfalling at Douglas & Albert Falls

  • 16 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation
  • Blackwater Canyon Trail, Thomas, WV 26292

Here’s a series of neat waterfalls that are easy to access and never crowded.  From the town of Thomas, follow the signs to Buxton & Landstreet Gallery then continue down Douglas Road until you cross the bridge and the road forks.  This is as good a place to park as any and enjoy a walk down Rail Falls Rd where you will catch glimpses of the old coke ovens along the gravel road, cross an old railroad bridge and shortly come across Albert and then Douglas Falls.  Douglas in particular is popular for photographers.  If you’re daring, scale a little farther down the rocks from Douglas Falls and you’ll find Kennedy Falls, the third in the series of falls on the North Fork of the Blackwater River.

Bear Rocks Overlook at Dolly Sods

  • 18 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreation
  • Forest Rd 75, Davis, WV 26260

With its rugged, remote location and unique ecosystem, the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is a Mecca for the experienced hikers and campers.  But the Sods is also a great place to simply drive through and take in the easily accessed overlook.  There are multiple spots for sightseeing along Forest Road 75 but the highlight is at Bear Rocks, the most northern point of the forest road.  On a clear day from Bear Rocks you can see well beyond the town of Petersburg, WV and into Virginia.  Jamie and I wrote about our experiences and shared our photos from Dolly Sods in this blog post from a few years ago.

Here’s a series of neat waterfalls that are easy to access and never crowded.  From the town of Thomas, follow the signs to Buxton & Landstreet Gallery then continue down Douglas Road until you cross the bridge and the road forks.  This is as good a place to park as any and enjoy a walk down Rail Falls Rd where you will catch glimpses of the old coke ovens along the gravel road, cross an old railroad bridge and shortly come across Albert and then Douglas Falls.  Douglas in particular is popular for photographers.  If you’re daring, scale a little farther down the rocks from Douglas Falls and you’ll find Kennedy Falls, the third in the series of falls on the North Fork of the Blackwater River.

Float the Flatwaters of Cheat River

This is our family’s favorite summer recreation. Get a canoe, a kayak or a inner-tube from Blackwater Outdoor Adventures and spend all afternoon floating through Tucker County! We did a full write-up on floating the Cheat and included some video from a recent family excursion!

Hike up Seneca Rocks

Jamie and I love going to Seneca Rocks for an afternoon of adventure.  There’s a lot to see and do at Seneca Rocks in the warmer months of the year.  Hiking to the overlook at the top should be on everyone’s bucket list because the view is stunning!  If you’re coming in the spring, remember that Seneca Rocks is always two or three weeks ahead of us seasonally so the flowers will be in bloom there way before Canaan Valley does.

Seneca Rocks Climbing School

  • 19 miles away
  • Exciting West Virginia Recreation
  • (304) 567-2600
  • 27 Allegheny Drive, Seneca Rocks, WV 26884
  • https://climbseneca.com/

Rock climbing the crags of Pendleton County are one of the most extreme activities you can do in West Virginia.  Let Seneca Rocks Climbing School teach you the finer points of ascending the iconic Seneca Rocks.  The school offers five different levels of training from beginner to expert.  They also offer private guided rock climbing tours if you want a guide exclusively to yourself!  They also operate the neighboring Gendarme climbing shop, a store dedicated solely to outfitting climbers.

Visit the Fairfax Stone

  • 20 miles away
  • Relaxing West Virginia Recreations
  • West Kempton Road, Eglon, WV 26716
  • 304-558-2764

The Fairfax Stone might be an interesting historic spot for our guests from the Washington DC area because this stone marks the humble trickle of water that eventually becomes the giant Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

Originally Marked in 1746, The Fairfax Stone established the western boundary of land granted to Lord Fairfax by King Charles II of England for his support while the king was in exile.  Some historians believe that the marker was set by a youthful George Washington. The site is the headspring of the North Branch of the Potomac River.  This historic spot marks the meeting place of Preston, Grant & Tucker Counties and the West Virginia-Maryland Border.

Big Run Falls

This is another neat opportunity for water fall chasers that are looking for something more secluded and intimate than Blackwater Falls.  I did a full write up on Big Run Falls a few years ago in the link above.  In the article I share directions and some images of this hidden waterfall as well. 

Olson Observation Tower

This is the ultimate location for anyone that wants a bird’s eye view all to themselves.  Olson Tower is located just a few miles down a forest road off of Rt 219 between Thomas and Parsons.  This is one of the few remaining fire towers in Monongehela National Forest.  The public is welcome to climb the 133 metal steps to take in the unparalleled panoramic mountain views at the top!

Escape Underground at Seneca Caverns

  • 26 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreational Tour
  • 3328 Germany Valley Road, Riverton, WV 26814
  • (304)567-2691
  • senecacaverns.com

Escape Underground at Seneca Caverns.  This guided cave tour takes you through a beautiful and fascinating cavern that navigates through a mile of natural limestone formations.  I can’t recommend this one enough.  Take a look at my full write up including photos and video here.  Also make sure you stop at Asbury’s Family Restaurant for lunch while you’re there.   Best Reuben sandwich in the state!

Sinks of Gandy Entrance

Sinks of Gandy

Do you want to explore a natural tunnel only locals know about?  The Sinks of Gandy are a hidden treasure under two remote privately owned farms in Randolph County.   The Sinks are not identified by any signage in the area but there is a parking lot on Dry Fork Road for the Sinks leads to a trail and the upstream end of the tunnel.  If you’re going to try to explore this one, know that you’re going to get muddy and wet.  Bring extra flashlights in a sealed bag too.  This is sure to be the most exciting thing you will do on my list.

Spruce Knob Lake

  • 27 miles away
  • Refreshing West Virginia Recreations

Spruce Knob is one of the area’s highlights.  At 4862′ tall, Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia and as you would expect, the views are outstanding!  Drive to Spruce Knob from the Riverton side and you’ll have smooth roads all the way to the top.  Take the Whitmer side to Spruce Knob ONLY if you want to drive on miles of gravel roads, see some of the most remote parts of West Virginia, and increase your chances of getting lost.  We spent the afternoon at the top to capture a beautiful sunset for our article on Spruce Knob and Spruce Knob Lake.  Take a look at what we captured here!

Bickle Knob Tower

Another cool observation tower is on Bickle Knob near the Otter Creek Wilderness in Randolph County.  This tower is much farther down a forest road than Olson but it is easily managed in any AWD vehicle.  Otter Creek also offers several hiking trails as well.  Bickle Knob Tower has just as good a view as Olson but way less steps to get to the top.  If you’re afraid of heights, this one is the better option of the two.

Gandy Dancer Theatre

Located in downtown Elkins, just a thirty minute drive from Canaan Valley, the Gandy Dancer Theatre is a great venue for an evening of cuisine and entertainment. With a energy variety of family-friendly music and comedy, the Gandy Dancer Theater offers the only Branson Style Dinner Theater in West Virginia!  The Theater is open from May through October and weekends for their Annual Christmas Show from Thanksgiving until New Years.

Ride the New Tygart Flyer

There are a number of train rides available for those that wish to have a relaxing afternoon riding the rails through West Virginia.  The New Tygart Flyer is quite possibly my favorite.  The NTF departs from the Elkins Depot and serves passengers a lunch while traveling to the High Falls of Cheat.  The entire trip is around 4 hours.  I go in depth about this train ride in a blog post I wrote after taking Jamie and my mother on the NTF.  That would be a good place to find out a little more about the trip.

Cheat Mountain Salamander

The Cheat Mountain Salamander is another option that departs from the Elkins depot and is the number one choice for the true railroad aficionado.  This 8 hour round trip takes you all the way into the ghost town of Spruce where you get the opportunity to visit the site and ruins of this once-thriving railroad town.

You can purchase tickets for the Cheat Mountain Salamander and the New Tygart Flyer from our site when you book your cabin.  We will handle the rest!

Blackwater Outdoor Adventures

I highly recommend Blackwater Outdoor Adventures to any guest that is looking for a day out on the river.  Firstly, they are the closest outfitter to us that offers an exciting whitewater experience!  But besides that,they also rent kayaks, tubes and paddle boards if you’re looking for a lazy day on the flat water portion of the Cheat River near Parsons.  Either way you go, this makes for a WONDERFUL afternoon of fun on a beautiful stretch of river in West Virginia.

NRocks Outdoor Adventures

  • 30 miles away
  • (877) 435-4842
  • 141 Nelson Gap Ln, Circleville, WV 26804
  • www.nrocks.com

Our friends at NRocks Outdoor Adventures have thrilled guests for years with not only their Via Ferrata guided rock climb and bridge cross tour but also their awesome zip line canopy tour.  If you want to zip line while staying in our cabins, this is the only place to do so.  Though we no longer broker tickets for them, we still highly recommend NRocks for a high-energy afternoon!  They even operate into November so consider them for an exciting West Virginia recreation even during the off-season.

Elkins Bowling Recreational Center

The Elkins Bowling Alley welcomes a family friendly bowling environment. They are open seven days a week and run cosmic bowling in the evenings on the weekend.  However, if you aren’t a bowler you can still grab a bite and play a game of pool or one of the arcade games.

Smoke Hole Caverns

Smoke Hole Caverns is one of my favorite places to plan a day trip around.  Smoke Hole has been guiding tourists through their pristine cavern for over 30 years. Fact is, one of my earliest memories is of touring Smoke Hole on a first grade field trip.  The views in the cave inspire me as much now as they did then.  The tour lasts around an hour and covers 2/3 of a mile. 

Claustrophobic?  Don’t worry, there are no tight spaces in this tour, you won’t even have to bend your head down.  There are a few staircases to navigate though.  At a constant 58 degrees inside, Smoke Hole Caverns is open year round and makes for a good rainy day activity as well!

Dirt Track Racing at Elkins Raceway

North of Elkins on Rt 219, there is an exciting secret tucked away known only to the locals and the gear heads.  If you’re in the area on a Saturday night through the warm months, you have to check out Elkins Raceway. This 3/8 mile dirt track is packed with local fans on the weekend.  Starting at 6:00, they race Dirt Super Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks and Mini-Wedges with the feature race sometimes ending near midnight.  Things get loud, dirty and fun here!

46 – Spruce Knob Overlook

Spruce Knob is the very top of West Virginia!  At 4,863 feet it is West Virginia’s tallest peak.  But for all that, it is very easy to get to.  From the Riverton side of the mountain range, you can take paved roads all the way to the summit of Spruce Knob.  At the top it is a short, flat walk to the official surveyor’s elevation marker and the lookout tower.  There is also a small trail that circles the park area full of beautiful views and photo opportunities.  Don’t forget to check out the lake while you’re in the area. 

Swallow Falls State Park

Here’s something for the guest that has been to Blackwater Falls, Dolly Sods and Seneca Rocks several times and is looking for something new to explore!  Swallow Falls State Park is less than an hour from our cabins just a few miles north of Oakland, MD.  The park has a great mile long hiking trail that loops the park and takes you by Upper Swallow Falls, Lower Swallow Falls and Muddy Creek Falls.

Looking for a swim?

Swallow Falls is a popular swimming hole for locals and tourists alike so bring your trunks and a towel , jump in and even slide down the rocks when the water is high enough!  There is also a 5.5 mile trail for hiking and mountain biking that connects the park to Herrington Manor State Park.

Warner’s Drive In Theater

This is one of our absolute favorite local hangouts!  Warner’s Drive In was a family operated theater opened in the 50s but after sixty years of serving the community, the Warner’s  closed its doors due to an inability to convert to the expensive digital format of modern movies.  Fortunately a grassroots effort in the community created a non-profit organization to raise the funds necessary to reopen the Drive-In.  Due to individual donations and area business sponsorship, they accomplished their fundraising goal and in 2016 they reopened the drive-in.  Every Saturday from mid-May to mid-August you can pull in, watch a new release, and get fresh food from their new concession stand.  Arrive early too because they will frequently have an organized (or impromptu) car show while the sun is setting!

Lake Life Boat Rentals

Yes, Deep Creek’s Lake Life Boat Rentals is going to be a bit of a drive for you if you’re staying with us.  But if you want to jump on a jet ski and scream through wide open waters for a few hours, it is worth the drive to Deep Creek!  They also have a fleet of ski boats and pontoon boats available to rent.  If you’re looking for a lake day filled with excitement, Lake Life Boat Rentals at Deep Creek Lake is the place to start!

Get wild at Hovatter’s Zoo

Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo is quite the surprise given its location.  This zoo offers a much more intimate experience with a large variety of animals than you will find with larger zoo facilities.  I believe they serve as a sort of nursery to large zoos since there are always a few babies around.  It might be your only opportunity to get your picture taken with a six week old giraffe!

Listen to the stars at Greenbank Observatory

Vacationing in the Potomac Highlands gives you the opportunity to see a modern marvel unique to West Virginia, the Greenbank Observatory.  Located in the center of the National Quiet Zone, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope is the largest fully-steerable dish in the world. Take a guided tour through the observatory and learn something new at the hands-on science center.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad is an independently owned and operated tourist train ride in Romney, WV.  They are a little over an hour away from our cabins but the unique experience they offer is well worth the travel.  They offer several excursions but their Trough Trip is the most popular.  This is a 3 hour ride that goes south through the “Trough”, a six mile steeply banked gorge accessible only by train or boat on the South Branch Potomac River.  They offer several different style cars on the ride including a climate controlled club car where guests choose from a selection of tasty lunch options like prime rib, salmon, grilled chicken or pastas.  The rest of the train is accessible to all guests including closed coach cars, covered open-air cars, a concession car and an open-top gondola car allowing passengers to step outside to have a unique view of the Trough.  Because of the remoteness of the trough, Bald Eagles reside here all summer.  The conductor knows where all of the nests are and will frequently stop the train to allow guests to see them flying around and catching fish.  It is a thrilling site!

Mountain Rail – Cass Scenic Bald Knob Trip

Cass Scenic Railroad is a must-do for anyone that wants an authentic, unspoiled West Virginia train ride experience.  Mountain Rail runs the same trains down the same tracks that were established in 1901 for Cass’s timber industry.  This 4.5 hour round trip begins at Cass Depot.  The steam engine chugs its way to the top of Bald Knob, one of the highest mountains in the state.  From there you can see into two states on a clear day. 

The train also stops at Whittaker Station for a 30 minute layover where you can stretch your legs.  For me, this ride is filled with nostalgia.  In my day, every elementary school in West Virginia took a field trip to Cass to ride the train.  The open car ride to the top never fails to remind me of those days as a child.

HANDOUT-The historic Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia. ( Photo by Frank Polievka)

Tour the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

While this activity is quite a ways away from us, it absolutely needs to be mentioned.  This one-time asylum is the second largest hand-cut stone building in the world that date backs to the Civil War.  They offer a historic tour through the facility and a popular paranormal tour as well. Historic Tours leave every hour on the hour. Paranormal Tours leave every 2 hours. The last 1st floor tour leaves at 5:00 p.m. and the last 4 floor/paranormal tour leaves at 4:00 p.m.  Dress appropriately for the current weather conditions.  The building is hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

If you have any questions about vacationing in West Virginia, send an email to goldenanchorcabins@gmail.com or you can call 304-704-8764.  I also send out a monthly newsletter where I keep all our guests up to date with what is going on at our cabins and the area.  If you’d like to hear from us you can sign up for the newsletter here.  Finally, you can always see all our current cabin availability and book your stay online at https://guest.rezstream.com/search/golden-anchor-cabins.  Thanks so much for reading, we hope to host your next cabin getaway soon!

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Article written by Daniel Marsh.  Daniel and his family  have owned and operated Golden Anchor Cabins in Canaan Valley, West Virginia since 2014.

KEYWORD:  West Virginia Recreations

Guest Comments

The Perfect Getaway

May 18, 2026

3 1/2 years ago we were searching for somewhere to get away for the weekend. We feel incredibly lucky to have discovered Golden Anchor. We now visit 2-3 times a year and every trip is as wonderful as the others. Every cabin is beautiful but Meadow has a certain feel to it that keeps bringing us back. There are so many places to explore but even if the weather doesn’t permit a day out the cabin is the perfect place to be.

Anita B

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