Canaan Valley Resort State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Home to the first commercial ski development in West Virginia, Canaan Valley Resort State Park was established in 1971 after many ski resorts already existed on the property. The land of this state park is also known for being the highest valley east of the Mississippi River and home to the country's second-largest inland wetland. Visitors to Canaan Valley Resort State Park know it best for its ski area, ski lift, lodge, and 18-hole, advanced-level golf course.
Nearby Cities
Morgantown, WV
Davis, WV
Bridgeport, WV
Cumberland, MD
Spring 30-60 F
Summer 60-77 F
Fall 43-51 F
Winter 21-36 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Campground Accommodations
Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes, limited
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 50 feet
Other amenities: Camp store, playground, laundry and shower facilities, and paved campsites
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
There is a campground within the Canaan Valley Resort State Park, so you can stay within the park and not have to travel. They have paved RV sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups. Water and sewer hookups are not available from October to April, though. The campground offers free Wi-Fi, laundry and shower facilities, a camp store, a playground, and recreational activities. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Pets are allowed if kept on a leash.
Smokey Bottom Campground
Smokey Bottom Campground in Elkins is a beautiful campground on a native trout stream where you can go catch-and-release fishing. They offer full hookup campsites for RVs. RV sites start at $40 per night. Pets must be on a leash.
Riverside Cabins & RV Park
Riverside Cabins & RV Park in Fisher is on the beautiful South Branch of the Potomac River with a wonderful view of the mountains. RV sites have full hookups, and free Wi-Fi is available. They also have shower facilities and many activities, including canoeing, hiking, fishing, swimming, biking, gem mining, and miniature golf. Rates start at $40 per night.
Five River Camp Ground
Five River Camp Ground in Parsons is located on the Shavers Fork River. It has 138 full-hookup RV sites, a bathhouse with showers and restrooms, laundry facilities, and two dumping stations. Cable TV and Wi-Fi are available for purchase. Rates start at $35 per night, and pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash.
What to Do at
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
The most popular activities at Canaan Valley Resort State Park are snow sports, including skiing and snowboarding on 47 downhill trails. Additional trails are available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and you can find a tubing park and a covered ice rink, too. The par 72 golf course at the park is popular with visitors from April through November.
There are plenty of adventures to be had at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, including rock wall climbing and jumping on the park’s Euro Bungy super trampoline, which is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park has a sporting clay range and a scenic chairlift ride. Plus, there is an archery range with five lanes and targets set from 10 to 35 feet away. Families often enjoy the Turtle Slide Tube Ride in the summer, too.
Inside Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Within the park, you can go golfing, clay shooting, hiking, and biking. You can also take a chairlift ride or go down the slide chute. In fall, you have the added beauty of the fall foliage to look at. In winter, you can go skiing or tubing. The park also has weekly scheduled activities, such as guided hikes. Occasionally, they host larger events, like art shows.
Fishing
Visitors to Canaan Valley Resort State Park can fish in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge with a valid West Virginia state-issued fishing license. Species you may find include brown trout, brook trout, bluegill, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. The Blackwater River is also stocked with rainbow trout.
Geocaching
Canaan Valley Resort State Park hosts its own geocaching events, and there are typically seven hidden cache sites around the park for visitors to find year-round. The caches usually relate to the park’s activities, and visitors can locate them by using a GPS guide on their smartphone.
Nature Watching
The Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is found at the state park, and it is home to unique wetlands at a high elevation within the Canaan Valley. The refuge encompasses nearly 8,400 acres, and animals typically seen in the refuge area include raccoons, geese, squirrels, white-tailed deer, mink, bobcats, barred owls, and even black bears. Beaver dams are also sometimes seen on the Blackwater River and its many tributaries.
Hiking
Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers 18 miles of hiking trails that are best for walking in the summer when the wildflowers are in bloom. Most of these are multi-use trails, and they vary in difficulty from easy to difficult. Some of the easiest trails include the Abe Run Boardwalk Trail and the Blackwater River Trail.
Swimming
Visitors to this state park can enjoy swimming during the summer in an outdoor pool near the main lodge. Swimming lessons are also offered regularly at the pool, and the park's game courts are right beside the swimming area.
Biking
Canaan Valley Resort State Park has a 6.2-mile, NICA-certified mountain bike trail for year-round use. Bikers can also enjoy most of the hiking trails as long as they are marked for multiple purposes. The cross-country Allegheny Trail, a 311-mile north-to-south trail from West Virginia to Pennsylvania, also runs through the park.
How to Get to
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Canaan Valley Resort State Park is located just off West Virginia’s State Road 32 and can be accessed from either the north or the south. Visitors can locate the park by taking Slope Road east from the state road and continuing a half mile to the park's entrance.
Entering Canaan Valley Resort State Park
There is no fee to enter the park, although there may be fees to use some of its recreational sites, including the ski areas.
You'll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Canaan Valley Resort State Park. If you don't have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canaan Valley Resort State Park
There are many activities to enjoy at Canaan Valley Resort State Park at any time of year since hiking trails are usually open all year long. However, visitors who want to enjoy snow sports at the park should come in December and January when the snow falls. Visitors who would rather enjoy swimming and mountain biking may want to come to the park from June to August.
Wildlife is abundant at this state park since it includes a national wildlife refuge, and animals usually seen include small rodents, owls, and deer. Black bears also make this park their home, and there are many American beavers in the river and the streams of the park's area.
A total of 59 camping spots at Canaan Valley Resort State Park are reserved for RVs to use. Each site can accommodate a different maximum length of RV, though, so it's a good idea to check with the park's campground to see whether your camper will fit in one of the sites.
Campsites at Canaan Valley Resort State Park should be reserved in advance either online or by phone. The peak camping season runs from April to October. Water is typically shut off during the rest of the year, so plan your trips accordingly.
From May through October, rates to stay at the campground range from $49 to $59 a night with discounts available for seniors, military members, and senior residents of West Virginia. In winter, rates vary from $44 to $49 nightly with the same discounts available.
Dogs and cats are allowed at this state park and its campground if they are leashed and supervised at all times. Pets may also be allowed at the park's lodge for a small fee.