Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Canaan Valley Resort, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
is set in West Virginia's beautiful Allegheny Mountains, approximately three hours from both Pittsburgh and Washington D.C., and only 38 miles from the Elkins-Randolph County Airport. It shares the Canaan Valley with a second big ski resort, Timberline. Canaan Valley Resort's relatively close driving distance to several large East Coast cities and its many amenities, such as snow tubing and ice-skating, make it a popular family getaway.
The Mountain
The resort's mountain, which is 4,280 feet high, features a vertical drop of 850 feet. Its longest run is 1.25 miles long. Canaan Valley Resort is located in one of the highest regions on the East Coast, which means that it gets a good dose of snow, approximately
, each year. In those times when Mother Nature is less than cooperative, however, Canaan Valley Resort can make its own snow. Skiing conditions can get icy, with the best conditions taking place right after a storm lays down a dusting of white gold. Depending on weather conditions, of course, the resort's
typically opens before Christmas and runs through the middle of March.
Trails And Lifts
The difficulty level of Canaan Valley Resort's
is evenly distributed, with 30 percent of the runs rated beginner, 40 percent intermediate and 30 percent for advanced skiers. There are, however, no double-black-diamond trails at Canaan Valley Resort. The resort's one quad and two triple lifts are capable of delivering 6,000 skiers an hour to their desired ski trails. Many of the Canaan Valley Resort's trails, including Cutback and Canaan Curve, are wide, great-for-beginner slopes. The mountain has a terrain park, and it also offers night skiing.
In The News
In 2011, Canaan Valley Resort was voted the
by visitors to On the Snow's website. Canaan Valley Resort was also voted
by readers of the DCSki website in 2008. Visitors to both sites commend the resort for its relatively uncrowded slopes and reasonable prices. Canaan Valley Resort has also become a leader in promoting airboarding, which is similar to bodyboarding, where riders lie on their stomachs as they carve the trails. Canaan Valley Resort has hosted an annual airboarding competition known as the In Your Face Airboard Race.
Cost
Half-day
at Canaan Valley Resort start at $25 for weekdays and $32 on weekends for adults 12 and older. The same tickets for juniors 6 to 12 and senior citizens 60 to 69 years of age are $18 and $22, respectively. Canaan Valley offers a three-day weekday rate of $75 for adults and $46 for juniors. A two-day weekend pass is $85 for adults and $64 for juniors. The best deal for locals or ski enthusiasts is the
, which starts at $350. Daily ski rentals for adults are $28, with juniors paying $25; snowboards are $37 for adults and $30 for juniors and senior citizens. The mountain has children's helmets for rent, and adult and children's helmets are available for purchase through the ski shop. For guests interested in trying
, a two-hour lesson and rental is available for $40.
Apres-Ski
For visitors who are tired of downhill skiing or snowboarding and are looking for something different, Canaan Valley Resort has plenty of
, including airboarding, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow tubing. In addition,
has an indoor swimming pool, an arcade and an exercise room. Hungry skiers and snowboarders have numerous
, including the Bear Paw Food Court, Caffe Siena, the Clubhouse Grill and the Hickory Dining Room. For tired skiers looking for a place to wind down with a drink and some light munchies, the resort's Quenchers Pub and Laurel Lounge should fit the bill.
WATCH: Canaan Valley Resort
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Airboarders hits the slopes at Canaan Valley Resort.