The holidays are all about spending time with loved ones and making memories that last a lifetime.
Get in the Christmas spirit by rounding up the family and heading out to one of these winter wonderland parks for some quality time you won’t soon forget. Plan for a quiet getaway and join in one of the many holiday-themed events our parks are offering this year!
Blackwater Falls State Park
If the snow-blanketed boughs of evergreens and the awe-inspiring frozen waterfalls weren’t reason enough to visit this park in winter, there’s more! Blackwater Falls is home to the longest sled run on the East Coast. Zip down a quarter-mile run of freshly groomed snow, then ride the Wonder Carpet back up and do it again.
When you need to warm up and refuel, head into the Warming Hut for hot drinks and soup. The sled run is lit up, so you can keep playing long after the sun goes down! The park also offers snowshoe and ski rentals for use on more than 10 miles of snowy, wooded trails.
Park accommodations include a lodge with a full-service restaurant and 39 cozy cabins.
Pipestem Resort State Park
Perched on the rim of the beautiful Bluestone Gorge, Pipestem’s McKeever Lodge promises breathtaking views all four seasons. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even spot a bald eagle soaring through the skies!
On snowy days, the park’s rolling hills and hiking trails are the place to be for sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Bring your own equipment or stop by the Pro Shop for rental information.
Lodge amenities include an indoor heated swimming pool, game room, saunas, an exercise room and two restaurants — the Bluestone Dining Room and The Black Bear Grill and Lounge. The park also has 26 fully-furnished rental cabins available year-round.
Twin Falls Resort State Park
Its 47-room mountaintop lodge with full-service restaurant, indoor pool and hot tub and 24-hour fitness center may make it tempting for you to stay inside (you’ll also find 14 secluded cabins with stone fireplaces). But you won’t want to miss out on hiking the nearly 40 miles of trails that wind through Twin Falls.
The kids will enjoy visiting the Pioneer Farm, a 19th-century working homestead and home to several friendly farm animals. If the caretakers are home, they’re happy to chat with visitors about the day-to-day workings of the farm.
Cacapon Resort State Park
Set in the foothills of Cacapon Mountain overlooking the picturesque Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course, Cacapon Resort beckons visitors year round. Get out and enjoy the crisp winter air on any of Cacapon’s 23 miles of hiking trails. When it’s time to warm up, take a drive over to Berkeley Springs State Park for a soak in a Roman bath fed by warm spring water straight from the mountain. Ahhhh!
The 48-room lodge features a full-service restaurant and a lounge complete with a cozy fireplace, TV, board games and comfortable furniture just right for family gatherings. Four types of cabins also are available for year-round rental.
Chief Logan State Park
Without a doubt, Chief Logan is the place to be for the holidays. The park is renowned for its annual Christmas in the Park exhibit, featuring more than 100 twinkling light displays set out along a 2.5-mile drive through the park. The drive-thru display is open through Dec. 31. Beginning in December, kids can visit with Santa from 6-8 p.m. nightly at Museum in the Park.
Winter recreation at the park includes 18 miles of hiking trails. ATV riders can take advantage of nearby access to Bearwallow trailhead, part of the extensive Hatfield McCoy Trails system which is open 365 days a year.
The park has three modern four-bedroom cabins for rent. Amenities at the 75-room Chief Logan Lodge include a full-service restaurant, indoor pool and fitness center. Overnight guests also have access to the Recreational Center’s aquatic and fitness centers which includes multipurpose areas and an indoor walking track.
What are you waiting for? Book your West Virginia State Parks trip today!
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