As you ride through Smoke Hole Canyon you’ll see the deep canyons carved by the once raging river. But, the only way to see The Trough canyon is to hike, paddle or take the excursion train. Follow the new highway to its end and you’ll enter country roads that wind through Trout Pond Recreation Area (See listing). A ride through stunning Lost River Valley leads to Lost River State Park and over Branch Mountain (CAUTION: there are some patches of rough road before you reach the summit). Turning south, you’ll follow the South Fork River until you reach the mountains near Franklin.
Bella Vita’s Italian and American cuisine and pizza. Family friendly. Located inside the Hermitage Inn. 203 Virginia Ave, Pe-tersburg; (304) 257-1713; www.bellavitawv.com.
Lost River General Store 1898 country modern Café, American & WV products, artisan beer, wine and coffee. Best Little Outhouse in WV! Open Fri – Sun. 6993 SR 259, Lost River; (304) 897-7000; www.theinnatlostriver.com.
South Fork General Store Convenience in the country! A friendly place for made-to-order deli, groceries, supplies & local crafts. Open Thurs – Sun, Mon holidays or ring bell. 111 Peru Hollow Rd, Milam; (304) 434-4120.
Star Mercantile Burgers, beer, daily specials & the best fried chick-en you’ll ever taste. Antiques & collectibles. Open: Lunch/early Dinner Fri-Sun, Breakfast Sat – Sun (Mon seasonally). 80 W Main St, Wardensville; (304) 874-3663.
Lost River Artisans Cooperative A local gem of a store celebrating 30 years of selling unique handmade crafts & artwork. Can’t carry your purchases home? We can ship. Apr to mid-Dec. Fri – Sun. 8937 SR 259, Lost City; 304-897-7242; www.lostrivercrafts.com.
Michael Brothers Athletic Fields Modern County complex hosts area Little League Baseball/Youth Soccer, PHS Softball and state-wide tournaments. Includes lighted ball fields, soccer field, and grandstands; 861 Petersburg Gap Hwy; (304) 257-1725
North Fork Mountain Trail Nationally recognized hiking trail. 24.7 miles of raw beauty with relentless views. A must-hike or mountain bike trail. See this site first: www.hikingupward.com/MNF/North-ForkMountain
Old Grant County Court House Museum and Tannery House Built in 1878-79 and expanded in 1909; On National Register of Historic Places. Built for tannery workers, Tannery House is an original home moved to its new location near court house; Tours upon request; 109 VA Ave, Petersburg; (304) 257-4879.
Smoke Hole Canyon Magnificent 20-mile long WV treasure in Monongahela National Forest. “One of the most biologically rich places in the East” with “globally rare plants and animals.” Can-yon has some vertical walls over 1,000’ high. A favorite for fish-ing, hunting, hiking, canoeing & camping. (304) 257-4488; www. fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=9916
Spring Mountain Festival 25 years of entertainment, musical per-formances, arts/craft vendors, rides, games, food & more. Held last full weekend in April. Petersburg City Park; (304) 257-2722; www.gowv.com
Tri County Fair Oldest Fair in WV celebrating over 97 years of live-stock shows & sales, carnival rides, tractor pull, derby & more. Big name entertainment each year, Queens scholarship pageant. Late July/Aug; Tri County Fairgrounds; www.tri-countyfairwv.com.
Welton Park 29-acre park has ball fields, pavilions, grills, play-ground, walking trail; two on-site boat ramps access the South Branch of the Potomac River; Celebrate the Christmas Festival of Lights, a spectacular light display annually Nov-Dec 31. Peters-burg; (304) 257-1725.
Brighton Park Playgrounds, picnic tables, ball fields, gazebo, walk-ing trails and boat ramp to South Branch of the Potomac River. 644 Fisher Rd, Moorefield; (304) 530-0244.
John Mathias Homestead 1797 log structure was home to Mathias family for 165 years until 1974. On National Register of Historic Places. Weekends Jul & Sept; SR 259 & Howards Lick Road, Math-ias. Email: mathiass@hardynet.com.
McCoy’s Grand Theatre Historic treasure, formerly a movie house, theater was remodeled and now serves as a showcase for commu-nity theater productions and event venue. 121 N Main St, Moore-field; (304) 530- 7115; www.mccoysgrand.com.
Lost River Museum Focuses on rural families & agriculture. Dis-plays of hand tools, photographs & fiber arts. Weaving demos most Saturdays. Apr to mid-Dec, Fri – Sun. 8937 SR 259, Lost City; (304) 897-7242; www.lostrivercrafts.com.
Shooks Run Hardy County is great for birding (eagles soar above the rivers & farmland). Shooks Run, located along South Fork River, is one of the top locations for bird watching in WV. Maps & info: www.mybirdmaps.com.
Trout Pond Recreation Area Includes Rock Cliff Lake (swim-ming area) & Trout Pond, the only natural lake in WV (with na-tive Brook Trout). Campsites, lakeside trails & playground. May – Oct. 814 Trout Pond Campground Rd, Lost City; (304)897-6450; www.recreation.gov.
WV Poultry Festival Pageants, parade, food vendors and youth competition, golf tournament, train ride, educational program, President’s Dinner and more. Mid-July; (304) 530-2725; for infor-mation: cshreve@wvda.us.
The Highlands Golf Club at Fisher Mountain 18-hole course sur-rounded by tall pines, narrow fairways and greens with tiered land-ings. Work on your game during your stay in Pendleton County. www.fishermountain.com.
Valleys and Ridges
Approximately 154 miles
As you ride through Smoke Hole Canyon you’ll see the deep canyons carved by the once raging river. But, the only way to see The Trough canyon is to hike, paddle or take the excursion train. Follow the new highway to its end and you’ll enter country roads that wind through Trout Pond Recreation Area (See listing). A ride through stunning Lost River Valley leads to Lost River State Park and over Branch Mountain (CAUTION: there are some patches of rough road before you reach the summit). Turning south, you’ll follow the South Fork River until you reach the mountains near Franklin.
Bella Vita’s Italian and American cuisine and pizza. Family friendly. Located inside the Hermitage Inn. 203 Virginia Ave, Petersburg; (304) 257-1713; www.bellavitawv.com.
Lost River General Store 1898 country modern Café, American & WV products, artisan beer, wine and coffee. Best Little Outhouse in WV! Open Fri – Sun. 6993 SR 259, Lost River; (304) 897-7000; www.theinnatlostriver.com.
South Fork General Store Convenience in the country! A friendly place for made-to-order deli, groceries, supplies & local crafts. Open Thurs – Sun, Mon holidays or ring bell. 111 Peru Hollow Rd, Milam; (304) 434-4120.
Star Mercantile Burgers, beer, daily specials & the best fried chicken you’ll ever taste. Antiques & collectibles. Open: Lunch/early Dinner Fri-Sun, Breakfast Sat – Sun (Mon seasonally). 80 W Main St, Wardensville; (304) 874-3663.
Michael Brothers Athletic Fields Modern County complex hosts area Little League Baseball/Youth Soccer, PHS Softball and state-wide tournaments. Includes lighted ball fields, soccer field, and grandstands; 861 Petersburg Gap Hwy; (304) 257-1725
North Fork Mountain Trail Nationally recognized hiking trail. 24.7 miles of raw beauty with relentless views. A must-hike or mountain bike trail. See this site first: www.hikingupward.com/MNF/North-ForkMountain
Old Grant County Court House Museum and Tannery House Built in 1878-79 and expanded in 1909; On National Register of Historic Places. Built for tannery workers, Tannery House is an original home moved to its new location near court house; Tours upon request; 109 VA Ave, Petersburg; (304) 257-4879.
Smoke Hole Canyon Magnificent 20-mile long WV treasure in Monongahela National Forest. “One of the most biologically rich places in the East” with “globally rare plants and animals.” Canyon has some vertical walls over 1,000’ high. A favorite for fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing & camping. (304) 257-4488; www. fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=9916
Spring Mountain Festival 25 years of entertainment, musical per-formances, arts/craft vendors, rides, games, food & more. Held last full weekend in April. Petersburg City Park; (304) 257-2722; www.gowv.com
Tri County Fair Oldest Fair in WV celebrating over 97 years of live-stock shows & sales, carnival rides, tractor pull, derby & more. Big name entertainment each year, Queens scholarship pageant. Late July/Aug; Tri County Fairgrounds; www.tri-countyfairwv.com.
Welton Park 29-acre park has ball fields, pavilions, grills, playground, walking trail; two on-site boat ramps access the South Branch of the Potomac River; Celebrate the Christmas Festival of Lights, a spectacular light display annually Nov-Dec 31. Petersburg; (304) 257-1725.
Brighton Park Playgrounds, picnic tables, ball fields, gazebo, walking trails and boat ramp to South Branch of the Potomac River. 644 Fisher Rd, Moorefield; (304) 530-0244.
John Mathias Homestead 1797 log structure was home to Mathias family for 165 years until 1974. On National Register of Historic Places. Weekends Jul & Sept; SR 259 & Howards Lick Road, Mathias. Email: mathiass@hardynet.com.
McCoy’s Grand Theatre Historic treasure, formerly a movie house, theater was remodeled and now serves as a showcase for community theater productions and event venue. 121 N Main St, Moorefield; (304) 530-7115; www.mccoysgrand.com.
Lost River Museum Focuses on rural families & agriculture. Displays of hand tools, photographs & fiber arts. Weaving demos most Saturdays. Apr to mid-Dec, Fri – Sun. 8937 SR 259, Lost City; (304) 897-7242; www.lostrivercrafts.com.
Shooks Run Hardy County is great for birding (eagles soar above the rivers & farmland). Shooks Run, located along South Fork River, is one of the top locations for bird watching in WV. Maps & info: www.mybirdmaps.com.
Trout Pond Recreation Area Includes Rock Cliff Lake (swimming area) & Trout Pond, the only natural lake in WV (with native Brook Trout). Campsites, lakeside trails & playground. May – Oct. 814 Trout Pond Campground Rd, Lost City; (304)897-6450; www.recreation.gov.
WV Poultry Festival Pageants, parade, food vendors and youth competition, golf tournament, train ride, educational program, President’s Dinner and more. Mid-July; (304) 530-2725; for information: cshreve@wvda.us.
The Highlands Golf Club at Fisher Mountain 18-hole course surrounded by tall pines, narrow fairways and greens with tiered landings. Work on your game during your stay in Pendleton County. www.fishermountain.com.
Lost River Artisans Cooperative A local gem of a store celebrating 30 years of selling unique handmade crafts & artwork. Can’t carry your purchases home? We can ship. Apr to mid-Dec. Fri – Sun. 8937 SR 259, Lost City; 304-897-7242; www.lostrivercrafts.com.