Destination Guide: Winter in Davis, West Virginia

Almost Heaven…West Virginia!

Yes, you will see signs saying this everywhere, and honestly, even in the main town of Davis, you’ll hear Take Me Home, Country Roads at seemingly every establishment.

But…they have a point. West Virginia, especially this area in the mountains, is a special place. And many people don’t even know about it! So let’s talk about why you should visit Davis, West Virginia AND awesome things to do here!

But first, here is our quick story of why we went to Davis:

Back in the summertime, my dad had a brilliant suggestion: let’s do Thanksgiving in the mountains of West Virginia, somewhere closer to my sister and her family as they live in the DC metro area.

For them, the holidays mean driving 9+ hours (honestly, more with small children with tiny bladders) to my family’s home in rural Kentucky. Also, the boys (Chris and I have 4 nephews between my two siblings) are getting bigger and need places to run around/wear themselves out, otherwise, they will cause chaos.

So we packed up our bags, the copious amount of ingredients and supplies for making a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, and went to the mountains.

And honestly, it was the best Thanksgiving we’ve ever had as a family of 8 adults and 4 children.

It started snowing (which is actually normal given the elevation of 3,100 ft), and we were able to take the boys on winter hikes and let them get their energy out sledding in the state park.

The large cabin had amazing views of the valley and we had so much fun relaxing in the hot tub as the snow fell softly around us. Bliss.

If you’re considering going somewhere to celebrate the holidays in the future, or you just want to escape to a hidden gem mountain destination, consider Davis, West Virginia.

Best Things to Do in Davis, West Virginia in the Winter

Okay, now that I hope I have convinced you to visit this place, let’s talk about amazing things to do in and around Davis, West Virginia in the winter.

1. Skiing or Snowboarding

Are you a fan of hitting the slopes, but can’t make it out to the Rockies out west or even up north to Vermont? Or want to ski on a budget? Then, going to Davis, West Virginia is a great idea!

First of all, you can go skiing and snowboarding at either Canaan Valley Ski Resort or Timberline Mountain while you’re there. Are the mountains as big as out west? No, but this is great for beginners or people who just want to get out on the slopes if they live nearby in places like Pittsburgh, DC, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, etc.

Plus, the fact that lift passes are under $100 for a day is astounding in the US! Out west, tickets go for upwards of $150-200 for a day pass- and that doesn’t even include ski rentals!

So to go skiing for about half the price is well worth it in my book. Plus, the hotels are less expensive than the places out west that are more popular.

Oh, and the slopes are now open! They opened the first weekend of December this year!

2. Cross Country Skiing or Snowshoeing

Is the thought of downhill skiing daunting? Or do you honestly want one heck of a workout? Then you can also go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on many trails! Check out White Grass Ski Touring Center and enjoy exploring the wintry forest on skis or snowshoes!

3. Sledding

Being a mountainous place, you’ll for sure want to go sledding! We packed up many sleds for the kids and the VRBO we rented also had many sleds with skis on them!

We just went nearby to Canaan Valley Resort State Park and went on a smaller hill. But the kids went absolutely nuts, and we had a fantastic time sledding!

I even bruised my butt from the number of wipeouts I had on a particularly icy patch!

There are places to sled in Canaan Valley Resort State Park as well as a sledding area at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Just note that you’re going to want to stick to the state parks for sledding and don’t just go into the woods randomly as there are hunters out.

4. Winter Hiking!

Yes, it is cold! Call me crazy, but I LOVE hiking in the winter! Why? There are zero bugs.

There are also way fewer crowds than the rest of the year. So lace up your waterproof hiking boots, bundle up in many layers, and hit the trails!

There are several great hikes in Blackwater Falls State Park like Elakala to Yellow Birch Trail (4.6 miles), Balance Rock Trail (2.5 miles), Blackwater Falls (0.4 miles-lots of stairs but great for the kids!), and Lindy Point Overlook (0.7 miles).

Over in Canaan Valley Resort State Park, you’ve got the Bald Knob (2.1 miles) and Blackwater River Trial (0.8 miles).

For a more challenging hike, you can opt for the Red Creek Trail to Lion’s Head Rocks at 7.4 miles and 1,236 feet in elevation gain for an epic overlook!

I don’t recommend super long day hikes, though, during the winter, as it is really cold!

5. Explore Davis

Davis is such a cute town to check out, so why not explore it? There are several great ski and sports shops, boutiques, etc. I got a fantastic crewneck sweater that is so warm, that I’ll likely be wearing it all winter!

Also, there are plenty of great restaurants and even a couple of breweries like Stumptown Ales or Mountain State Brewing Company. We love trying local breweries when we travel, and we enjoyed sampling some of these!

But if there is one place you have to go, definitely check out Hellbender Burritos. There are plenty of great restaurants in Davis, so if you’ve got the time, go check those out! But we loved Hellbender Burritos!

They’ve got delicious chips and queso/salsa/guac, but their burritos are huge and are packed with many options like buffalo shrimp or chicken burritos, veggie burritos, chicken bacon, ranch, and more!

6. Nothing. Just Relax at Your Cabin.

Honestly, this was a ton of fun to do during our stay. Our cabin was spacious (which is helpful when you’ve got 12 people!). But we enjoyed cozy nights in, cooking and hanging out by the fire, having dance parties with the kids, and even soaking in the hot tub.

Where to Stay in Davis

While I recommend just checking out VRBO for great cabin rental options, you can also check out the nearby Canaan Valley Resort or Blackwater Falls State Park Lodge.

Final Tips:

Just a couple of more tips before you visit:

• Pack many layers! It was in the 20s (F) when we were there, so be sure to pack warm clothes. Even though West Virginia has a more mild climate, in the mountains with the elevation, it is colder and snowier.

• Be careful driving! The roads can sometimes be covered in snow and occasionally ice, so please use caution and drive slowly in adverse weather conditions. Also, as there is a wildlife refuge nearby, there are deer everywhere and they aren’t afraid. So use caution so as not to hit a deer.

There you have it! The ultimate winter guide to Davis, West Virginia! Would you like to visit?