White Grass Ski Touring Center facts for kids
White Grass Ski Touring Center is a special place for cross-country skiing in Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia. It's a bit different from regular downhill ski resorts. This center is known for its beautiful trails and natural feel.
It first opened in 1979 near Harrisonburg, Virginia. Just two years later, in 1981, it moved to its current spot. This new location used to be a downhill ski area called Weiss Knob. White Grass still uses the old lodge from Weiss Knob, making it one of the oldest dedicated cross-country ski areas in the United States.
Because it was once a downhill slope, White Grass has some very steep cross-country trails. It has a vertical rise of almost 1,200 feet (370 m). That's even more than the nearby downhill ski area, Canaan Valley Resort State Park!
Exploring the Trails
White Grass has 45 different trails for skiing and snowshoeing. They are rated for different skill levels:
- About 30% are easy trails, great for beginners.
- Around 55% are intermediate, good for skiers with some experience.
- The remaining 15% are very difficult, for expert skiers.
You can ski up to the top of Weiss Knob, which is 4,436-foot (1,352 m) high, using intermediate trails. Or, you can reach Bald Knob, at 4,308-foot (1,313 m), on easier or intermediate paths.
The trails at White Grass stretch along the northern side of Cabin Mountain. They go from Canaan Valley Resort all the way to Timberline Four Seasons Resort. You can also get to the Dolly Sods wilderness area from here, and to trails in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
There are over 50 kilometres (31 mi) of cross-country trails right on the White Grass property. Plus, more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) of trails are available nearby! About half of the main trails at White Grass are groomed by machines, which means they are smoothed out for easier skiing.
Fun Activities and Snow
White Grass gets a lot of natural snow, about 150 inches (3.8 m) each winter. They use special snow fences, stretching for 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), to help collect and keep the snow on the trails. This is sometimes called "snow farming."
Besides cross-country skiing, you can also go snowshoeing here. Snowshoeing is like hiking with special wide shoes that help you walk on top of the snow. They also offer telemark skiing, which is a unique style of downhill skiing with free heels.
Once a month, White Grass even has special moonlight tours! These are a fun way to explore the trails under the stars. The staff also leads free natural history snowshoe tours every Sunday. These tours go into the Canaan Valley Fish and Wildlife Refuge, where you can learn about the local plants and animals.
A Unique and Eco-Friendly Place
White Grass is known for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere. People often describe it as a "fleece-and-flannel scene," meaning it's casual and comfortable.
During the summer, the area around White Grass is used as a 500-acre (2.0 km2) cattle farm. This shows how the land is used in different ways throughout the year.
The resort has a natural foods cafe that is very popular. They even published two cookbooks with their recipes! In 2017, a USA Today survey voted White Grass the most popular ski center in North America.
White Grass is also very focused on being good to the environment. Back in 2004, the resort lodge used less than $2 worth of electricity per day! It was heated by a wood-burning stove, which is a very old and natural way to stay warm.
In 2003, the West Virginia Environmental Council recognized White Grass for its environmental sustainability. This means they operate in ways that protect the environment, like their snow farming methods. In 1994, The Washington Post newspaper even called White Grass Touring Center one of the top ten Nordic ski areas in the entire nation.
