Cross country skiing in our backyard!

One famous landmark in Pocahontas County is the Highland Scenic Highway. Also known throughout the area simply as Rt 150 - the Highland Scenic Highway, a National Forest Scenic Byway, is the highest major roadway in West Virginia and extends 43 miles from Richwood to U.S. Route 219, seven miles north of Marlinton. The Highway follows State Route 39/55 for 21 miles from Richwood to the Cranberry Mountain Visitor Center. It then turns onto State Route 150 for the 22 mile Parkway section and rises from an elevation of 2,300 feet to over 4,500 feet. The Route 150 section of the Highland Scenic highway is less than a mile North of our cabin as the crow flies. In fact, there is a section of Route 150 where you can actually stop and look down into the valley below and see the roof of our cabin in the distance. Needless to say - traveling this section of Highway is one of the most breathtaking journeys in the spring or especially in the fall when the area foliage reaches it's peak.

One thing that many may not know is that the Highland Scenic Highway is never plowed during the winter months. This lack of "pavement grooming" by Pocahontas County makes this area an awesome winter paradise for cross country skiers. Even though cross country skiing and snowshoeing are even more dependent on natural snowfall than downhill skiing at the resort, great snowfall amounts this year are making for a most enjoyable cross country skiing experience. Please let us know if you are interested in pursuing cross country skiing during your stay at Mountain Valley Retreat and we'll be glad to provide directions to the entrance of Route 150 as well as guidance on equipment rentals,etc.