Canaan Valley

Our long camping trip in 1999 was to Canaan Valley State Park in WV. It is the highest valley on the east coast with a floor at about 3200 feet. We stayed for 6 days and went camping, hiking, mountain biking, and swimming (where I got a major bump on my head when I slipped on a wet rock). The major disaster of this trip, other than me bashing my head was a major league one day rain. We took off to town rather then sit in the camper. Upon our return we found the awning twisted like a pretzel from the water buildup. Bad drainage I guess (my fault). One major side trip was Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia.

Above Left-Michael (14), Matt (12), and Tessa (8) at Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia at 4860 feet.

Blackwater Falls is just up the road from Canaan Valley. This is one of those rare pictures of Lisa and your's truly in front of the falls.

Swallow Falls in Western Maryland, about 45 minutes north, is a very popular swimming hole (its also where I bashed my head). You can slide with the current down the smooth rocks you see here. Both above and below where Tessa is are waterfalls. The river is the Upper Youghiogheny, one of the most famous whitewater rivers around. The canyon downstream is full of huge boulders and is a blast to jump rocks on. The most beautiful feature of the park is the virgin hemlock forest. The trees are immense (other virgin forests in this area are Cathedral State Park in WV and the Virgin Hemlocks at Coopers Rock State Park).

We also got some first rate mountain biking in at Canaan Valley. The park trails were rather rocky but we found some nice forest trails and trails over to Timberline Ski area that were a blast. Matt and I do most of the hard core riding. Tessa joins in when its not too nasty.

The hike on Weiss Knob, using the easy way up (the ski lift), provided an excellent view of the valley.

email: wilsonbike@aol.com