Recreation

Skiing
If you are looking for great skiing in the Mid-Atlantic, Pocahontas County, West Virginia is the place to find it. With elevations soaring above 4,800 feet, this area gets pounded with an average of 180” of fresh snow each year and features the Mid-Atlantic’s #1 ski resort, Snowshoe Mountain. Whether it’s downhilling, snowboarding or snowmobiling that tickles your fancy, it’s all right here. Elk River Touring Center also offers some great cross-country skiing excursions and is located on Rt. 219 just south of Sunset Mountain Village.

Golf
The Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain has been voted the #1 public access golf course by GolfWeek Magazine for four years running. Designed by Gary Player, the Raven boasts breathtaking Allegheny Mountain vistas from tees that overlook long, rolling fairways. Rock formations and mountainous terrain line the holes. This is truly a beautiful golf course. Just south of Marlinton, there is a demanding 9-hole course at the Pocahontas Country Club that challenges golfers with tricky terrain nestled in the WV mountains. Both courses are open to the public and welcome golfers of all levels.

Trout Fishing
The headwaters of eight different rivers (Elk, Cranberry, Tygart, Williams, Cheat, Gauley, Greenbrier and Cherry) originate in Pocahontas County making for phenomenal trout fishing. The Allegheny Mountains feed these rivers with pure, translucent water that ripples with life inhabiting rainbow, brook and brown trout. Fly fishing enthusiasts come back year after year to wade these serene waters and enjoy one of Pocahontas County’s most special experiences.

Whitewater Rafting
The crinkled paths of the Gauley and Upper Gauley Rivers begin in Pocahontas County. Traveling out of the mountainous terrain, gaining volume and speed, these rivers become a thrill-seekers paradise. Their bustling waters area heralded by whitewater aficionados world wide, some claiming them to be the best white water excursions Mother Nature has to offer.

Hiking and Biking
Around nearly every corner, there is a great hiking or biking trail suitable for all ages. Popular spots for hiking or mountain biking are the Greenbrier River Trail, the West Fork Trail, the Allegheny Trail, the Cranberry Wilderness Area and the Cranberry Backcountry. All of these excursions are scenic and offer varying levels of difficulty. Snowshoe Mountain has extended their mountain biking program in recent years to include a slew of new trails, terrain parks and events making it a summertime haven for mountain bikers.

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
The Cass Scenic Railroad winds through the Alleghey Mountains with a legacy that speaks for itself. A steam-driven locomotive takes visitors from the charming logging town of Cass, WV on adventurous trips that are astounding and educational to kids and adults alike. Popular day trips include the Fiddles and Vittles Trains and the exciting Murder Mystery Trains.

NRAO – National Radio Astronomy Observatory
This has quickly become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope impressively sits 485 feet above the ground below and weighs in at 17 million pounds with a backdrop of never-ending mountains. It is the largest moving structure on land and is used to study the sun, planets and distant galaxies residing millions of light years away. The NRAO designs and operates the world’s most revolutionary radio telescopes and is sought out by individuals and groups of all ages.