The highest valley east of the Mississippi sits at the top of a mountain chain that feeds three major waterways that converge in Parsons, Tucker County. Canaan Valley, at 3,200 feet elevation and hugged by, 200-feet high mountains, is home to two model state parks, two ski areas and the nation’s 500th wildlife refuge.

State Route 32 cuts through Canaan Valley, the historic towns of Davis and Thomas before intersecting US Route 219 at Thomas on its southern heading to Parsons.

The Blackwater River meanders slowly through Canaan Valley, the year-round vacation resort area of the northern highlands. In winter, Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Four Season Resort open their slopes for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. In spring, summer and fall, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, animal trekking, and exploring the Monongahela National Forest lands and Dolly Sods Scenic Area take precedence.

Families gravitate to Canaan Valley Resort State Park and its full schedule of warm-weather activities. Swimming, tennis, interpretive nature walks, evening events fill leisure-time hours. Golfers head for the 18-hole championship golf course.

After plummeting over Blackwater Falls into the Blackwater Canyon, the Blackwater River makes its way to the Dry Fork. Dry Fork and Shavers Fork both empty into the Cheat River at Parsons, the county seat. All these waters team with catches of trout anglers dream about. Spring rains churn the Cheat into Class II-IV rapids, exhilarating to rafters and kayakers. State Route 93 from nearby Davis leads northeast to Mt. Storm Lake, the man-made lake sitting atop the Allegheny Plateau that attracts scuba divers and those who enjoy swimming in the waters kept constantly warm by Virginia Electric Power.

Flavor your day with the down-home traditions evident in shops and eateries in Davis (the state’s highest town) and Thomas.

Access to two major national forest wilderness areas is in Tucker County. The best known is Dolly Sods, the home of fall cranberries and autumn scenes like none other. Remember, "Leave No Trace" is the philosophy here. What this means to nature explorers is beautiful, unspoiled natural landscapes.

Other area points of Interests:
    Blackwater Falls
    Dolly Sods Wilderness Area
    Otter Creek Wilderness Area
    Canaan Mountain Backcountry
    Fernow Experimental Forest
    Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
    Fairfax Stone State Park

Source: West Virginia Mountain Highlands 2002 Tour Map & Brochure
(www.mountainhighlands.com)