Best cross country skiing trails in West Virginia

The Pase Point Trail starts at the Harold S. Walters Nature Center. The trail heads southwest from the Nature Center, passing Pendleton Lake. After rounding the south end of the lake, the trail crosses Pendleton Creek, which feeds the Blackwater river, via a footbridge and then heads southwest into forest with heavy tree cover and undergrowth, including thick stands of rhododendron. The trail then skirts the edge of Blackwater River Gorge for over a mile. The gorge is not visible along this stretch because of the dense forest. After about 0.6 miles, the Pase Point Trail splits from the Dobbin House Trail, which had followed the same route to this point. At the split, the Pase Point Trail heads northwest and has red blazes. After about another 0.6 miles, the trail descends to Pase Point Overlook, which is a rock outcrop with very nice views of the gorge. The return to the Nature Center is by the same route.Show more

Wildlife management area along the Cheat River (3 miles) While the 2,000 acre Snake Hill WMA was purchased to protect the views of the more well known Coopers Rock State Forest from development, Snake Hill has some very nice overlooks of its own and this loop takes you to each of them. Starting at the northern parking area and traveling clockwise, a dirt access road takes you to Table Rock and a view towards Cheat Lake and ofCoopers Rock with Haystack Rock seen below it across the gorge. Coming back along another access road will bring you to a small open area. The trail loop there (again moving clockwise) brings you to several unnamed views and finally to Cheat View looking up the river gorge and towards Raven Rock. These overlooks have no developed railing and can be slippery when wet. Be extremely carefully because it's a long drop should you go over the edge. Show more

The trail starts in the woods and then leads to an open field with beautiful views. There is no shade on this trail. Show more

Park at the trailhead near glades boardwalkShow more