Rainy Days -- Things to Do
A great resource: www.GetTuckered.com -- by Tucker County Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce. Things to do, lodging, eateries, brewpubs, etc. sorted by our 4 towns -- Thomas / Davis / Canaan Valley and Parsons.
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Also check out our webpage Nearby Attractions (river valley and mountain top) and Nearby Services (food, coffee, shops, brewerie...)
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Three Nearby Hikes or Drives to see Waterfalls
1.) Brooklyn Heights Road is a dead end river road that actually has a lot of waterfalls that form during and after a good rain... heavier rains best and prolonged rains over a couple of days or more. Spring time is of course the best waterfall chasing weather or during or after any big rain storm.
Aside from the gorgeous multi-tiered waterfall on-site (just prior to the first / main camp entrance), there are many more that form upstream towards the dead end of Brooklyn Heights Rd..... drive cautiously and enjoy!
2.) Allegheny Highlands Bike Trail: Walk downstream on Brooklyn Heights Rd. about 1/2 mile to the Hendricks Swinging Bridge. Note the tall cascading waterfall feature on your left as you leave the camp area... cross the bridge to Hendricks side... and a couple of hundred feet straight ahead is the allegheny bike trail... go left -- goes 25 miles to Elkins.... 4 miles to Parsons. The first mile of two of the Allegheny Highlands bike trail is riverfront and full of waterfall features on the opposite side of the bike trail.... river left side, hillside and some waterfalls right side.
3.) Blackwater Canyon Bike / Driving trail from Hendricks -- You will have to drive into Parsons from camp, up Rt. 219 toward Thomas for a couple of miles and then right onto Rt. 72. Go past little town of Hambleton and onto town of Hendricks (just a couple of miles).
When you see the post office on left and recycling bins on right, go a few hundred more feet to the Blackwater Canyon highway info. sign... and go left up that gravel road... it goes about 3 miles for cars, parallels the blackwater river, and ends in a parking lot at Limerock Cemetery. If rains are active and heavy, you will see many extraordinary waterfalls on this short 3 mile drive -- and black water river gorge on the right side.
---> Now, if you are up for a short walk, from where you parked at the parking area / turn around near Limerock cemetery and the gate blocks the pathway from further car travel, walk up the trail past the gate about 1000 feet to see the best waterfall / waterfall canyon of all -- and feel fre to hike down and check it out in person!
Fernow Experimental Forest
About a mile from camp towards Parsons, this spectacular preserve includes gorgeous Elklick Run (creek) filled with waterfalls and shallow swim areas, a gorgeous road to hike or bike and just stunning creek valley scenery.
Take a sharp left turn after crossing over the concrete bridge off Brooklyn Heights Rd. on the way back to town onto State forest road 701.
The first mile of this magnificent creek is filled with waterfalls, rapids, and spectacular creek topography... sometimes hard to see with summer foliage and often steep drops down into the creek canyon, use caution and enjoy.
Thomas / Davis / Canaan Valley towns and resorts
So just up the mountain, 15 minutes from the riverfront town of Parsons, begins the high elevation mountain tourism economy of Tucker County.
Grab a bite to eat, or an appetizer, a cold beer or coffee at one of the many eateries in these towns.
Nearby Parsons
Parsons has a few places to enjoy food or coffee or dessert.... best to see the list in the Nearby Services page -- click here
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Thomas & Davis
With 19th century main street Thomas and Davis (about 2 miles apart), there is a variety of cafes, restaurants, galleries, brew pubs, night life, antiques, and more in these two beautiful walking friendly towns. The historic late 19th century and early 20th century architecture from the coal mining and virgin forest harvesting railroad days remains mostly intact!
---> Try the Purple Fiddle in Thomas for free music most Saturday and Sunday afternoons (perhaps noon to 3pm or 1 to 4pm).
While you are at the Purple Fiddle, eat some lunch, have coffee or ice cream (real ice cream choices) and bring your laptop or tablet and just hang out a while! Evening concerts too -- $$.
These towns have really put Tucker County on the map in terms of quaint, charming, fun, and simply awesome places to visit and hang out.
Davis area includes Blackwater Falls State Park and Lodge -- eat, drink hang out, tour. Weekend breakfast buffets -- all you can eat for $15 includes coffee.
Elakala Falls is just next to the lodge on the left -- short trail, spectacular fall!
Then, 4 amazing look out points from Blackwater Falls state park -- all close by, some with short hikes.
1.) Blackwater Canyon just behind the lodge -- amazing views of this 800 foot deep canyon
2.) Pase Point (3 mile loop trail) -- another amazing overlook!
3.) Lindy Point (0.7 mile out and back trail) -- amazing overlook!
4.) Pendleton Point Overlook and Falls (falls seen from 800 feet above -- difficult treacherous dangerously steep hiking trail to see up close)
Davis also has the Convention & Visitors Bureau visitors center open weekdays 9 to 5 and has tons of literature for places nearby... in the county and beyond.
Canaan Valley
Canaan is more sparse, spread out and scenic.
It includes Canaan Valley ski resort and lodge -- another great hang out during inclement weather.... also with an all you can eat breakfast buffet on weekends for $15.
a few eateries along the way..... and also Timberline Ski Resort -- likely closed during summer.
The National Wildlife Refuge is along the way too... with an indoor educational facility worth checking out.
A great resource: www.CanaanValley.org -- by Tucker County Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce. Things to do, lodging, eateries, brewpubs, etc. sorted by our 4 towns -- Thomas / Davis / Canaan Valley and Parsons.
Otter Creek Wilderness Area
OtterCreek Wilderness Area is best accessed across the river by car.... drive back into Parsons and go up Rt. 219 a couple of miles and turn right onto Rt. 72 -- drive through the villages of Hambleton and Hendricks and about 3 miles past Hendricks, off of Rt. 72, you will see parking for OtterCreek (sign is difficult to see -- RHS). Another beautiful swinging bridge and miles of spectacular hiking along OtterCreek.
After you cross the bridge, go right, and walk up short set of step in hillside to begin the awesome creekside trail.