Outdoor enthusiasts will find a natural playground in the Mountain Highlands of West Virginia, home to natural wonders such as Smoke Hole Caverns and Seneca Rocks. Whether it is hiking, biking, fishing, camping, rock climbing or just admiring the great outdoors, experienced thrill seekers to weekend warriors will find exciting mountain adventures for all ages.

In this part of West Virginia — nestled just west of the Eastern Continental Divide— you are surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, rocks and natural waterfalls. An easy drive from the Baltimore-Washington region from I-66W to VA-55W, visitors from the Baltimore-Washington region will travel only about 200 miles and feel as if they ended up in the mountains of Colorado.

Smoke Hole Log Cabins Resort & Motel

When city folks travel this deep into the mountains of West Virginia, they will appreciate having a local to show them around. Jerry Hedrick, owner of Smoke Hole Resort and Seneca Rocks Caverns, loves to show off his “backyard.”

Whether you want to hunt, fish, go horseback riding, take a wilderness Jeep tour or see the beauty of the area from an ATV or motorcycle, Hedrick will be able to accommodate you. This area of the Mid-Atlantic region definitely has the market cornered on natural beauty.

The main property of the Smoke Hole Resort, which is on Route 55/28 in Grant County, offers log cabins — all riverside on the banks of the North Fork of the South Branch. It also has a log motel just down the road, situated next to Seneca Rocks Caverns and gift shop, which boasts to be “West Virginia’s largest souvenir shop.”

The log cabins — a one bedroom for couples and two bedrooms and loft for families — have porches, fireplaces, kitchens and private Jacuzzis. Each room is custom decorated with country appeal and has wireless Internet.

Hedrick’s wife, Janet, works tirelessly in the kitchen, serving up delicious, homestyle country cooking for guests and locals.

Whether you just want to kick back and relax, taking in the majestic scenery, or get out there and enjoy the outdoors, you will enjoy this mountain getaway. There’s plenty of fishing on the premises in a fee-fishing pond, along with a catch-and-release stream where you will find plenty of trout.

When you visit, remember that this area is deep into the country, so plan accordingly. In addition, keep in mind that it is easier to navigate in the daylight hours.

Smoke Hole Caverns

Even the inside of the mountains are a sight to behold. Visitors will enjoy a walking tour of the caverns, which were formed 300 million years ago. Seneca Indians used the front section of the caverns to smoke wild game. The slow burning wood fires sent clouds of smoke swirling out into the valley, causing early settlers to call the place Smoke Hole. Legend has it that during the Civil War, gold bars and coins were hidden in the cavern walls, although none have been found. The cavern has an impressive system of walkways that folks of all ages will be able to enjoy. Tours of the caverns are given every 30 minutes by an experienced geologist. Highlights of the tour include the Room of a Million Stalactites and the Queen’s Room, which features her canopy and is more than 10 million years old. The cavern also features the Crystal Cave Coral Pool, which is filled with rainbow and golden trout.

Be sure to bring your camera to take a photo of the world’s largest ribbon stalactite, which is thought to be 5 million years old, is 16 feet long, 13 feet wide and weighs more than 2.5 tons. Smoke Hole Resort and Seneca Rocks Caverns is located at Rt. 33 East, Seneca Rocks, W.Va. For information and reservations, call 1-800-828-8478 or visit www.smokehole.com.

Seneca Rocks

Seneca Rocks is just a 10-minute drive away and is the perfect place to begin your visit to the area. The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, which is open in season, is located at the base of Seneca Rocks and provides an outstanding, majestic view of the vertical wall of Seneca Rocks dominating the scene. All levels of rock climbers will find an exciting adventure in this area.

For information, contact the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center at 304-567-2827 or Potomac Ranger District at 304-257-4488.