Piedmont West VirginiaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Piedmont, West Virginia.
1. Henry Gassaway Davis House
HISTORIC SENATOR'S RESIDENCE
The Henry Gassaway Davis House is a historic landmark built in 1871 for Henry Gassaway Davis, a US Senator and builder of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway. Visitors can explore this well-preserved residence that showcases the architectural style of the late 19th century. The house stands as a testament to Piedmont's rich railroad and political history.
2. Allegany County Library System - Westernport Branch
COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
The Allegany County Library System - Westernport Branch serves as a cultural and educational resource center just across the Potomac River from Piedmont. Visitors can browse an extensive collection of books, use research materials, or attend community events hosted throughout the year. The library offers a peaceful retreat for reading and learning while exploring the region.
3. Paw Paw Tunnel
ENGINEERING MARVEL
The Paw Paw Tunnel is an impressive 3,118-foot canal tunnel built as part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, located a short drive from Piedmont. Visitors can walk through this brick-lined marvel completed in 1850 that required over 14 years to construct. The tunnel and surrounding hiking trails offer spectacular views of the natural landscape and an opportunity to experience 19th-century engineering.
4. Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
HISTORIC RAILWAY JOURNEY
The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad offers breathtaking excursions through the South Branch Valley and Potomac Eagle Trough, a short drive from Piedmont. Passengers can enjoy narrated trips showcasing the region's wildlife, including the chance to spot American bald eagles in their natural habitat. The vintage train experience provides spectacular views of the Potomac River and surrounding mountains not accessible by car.
5. Dan's Rock Overlook
PANORAMIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS
Dan's Rock Overlook sits atop Dan's Mountain offering spectacular 180-degree views of the surrounding valleys and three states. Visitors can enjoy the highest point in Allegany County at 2,898 feet with interpretive signs explaining the geography and history of the landscape below. The overlook is especially popular during fall foliage season when the mountains transform into a sea of vibrant colors.
6. Savage River State Forest
WILDERNESS ADVENTURE PARADISE
Savage River State Forest encompasses over 54,000 acres of rugged mountain terrain with miles of hiking trails and pristine streams, a short drive from Piedmont. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing for native brook trout, hunting, camping, and exploring the extensive network of trails through old-growth hemlock forests. The forest's remote character and limited development provide a true wilderness experience in all four seasons.
7. Swallow Falls State Park
MAJESTIC WATERFALL SANCTUARY
Swallow Falls State Park features Maryland's highest free-falling waterfall, the 53-foot Muddy Creek Falls, along with three additional stunning cascades. Visitors can explore well-maintained hiking trails through ancient hemlock groves believed to be over 300 years old, some of the oldest in the eastern United States. The park's combination of dramatic waterfalls, crystal-clear pools, and old-growth forest creates a photographer's paradise throughout the year.
8. Deep Creek Lake State Park
ALL-SEASON RECREATIONAL HAVEN
Deep Creek Lake State Park offers year-round recreation on Maryland's largest freshwater lake with a mile of shoreline and beach area. Summer visitors enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing, while winter transforms the park into a snowy playground with cross-country skiing trails and proximity to Wisp Ski Resort. The Discovery Center features hands-on exhibits about the region's natural and cultural history, making it educational for visitors of all ages.
9. Blackwater Falls State Park
ICONIC AMBER WATERFALLS
Blackwater Falls State Park showcases the famous falls where the Blackwater River plunges five stories before twisting through an eight-mile gorge. The falls' amber-colored water, stained by tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles, creates one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia. Visitors can access the falls via well-maintained boardwalks and steps, with additional hiking trails leading to spectacular views of the canyon and surrounding Allegheny Mountains.
10. Coopers Rock State Forest
DRAMATIC CLIFF OVERLOOKS
Coopers Rock State Forest features an iconic overlook with panoramic views of the Cheat River Gorge from 1,200 feet above the river. The 12,747-acre forest offers over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails through diverse terrain featuring massive boulders, rhododendron thickets, and historic sites like the Henry Clay Iron Furnace. Rock climbers are drawn to the challenging sandstone cliff faces, while families enjoy picnic areas, fishing ponds, and interpretive programs throughout the warmer months.
11. Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
MOUNTAIN RAILWAY EXPERIENCE
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers a 3-hour round-trip journey aboard vintage diesel or steam locomotives through the spectacular mountain scenery between Cumberland and Frostburg. Passengers travel through the Narrows, a natural gap in the mountains, and experience a turntable demonstration at the Frostburg terminus. The narrated excursions provide historical context about the region's railroad heritage, mining history, and natural landmarks along the route.
12. Dolly Sods Wilderness
HIGH ALTITUDE ECOSYSTEM
Dolly Sods Wilderness encompasses over 17,000 acres of high plateau with ecosystem characteristics typically found in southern Canada. Hikers can explore windswept plains, rocky outcroppings, and extensive bogs through a network of interconnected trails offering spectacular views across the Allegheny Mountains. The area's unique combination of elevation, climate, and past logging creates a landscape unlike anywhere else in the region, with stunning wildflower displays in summer and vibrant foliage in autumn.
13. Cranesville Swamp Preserve
ANCIENT ICE AGE BOG
Cranesville Swamp Preserve protects a rare ecological community known as a frost pocket, where cold air gets trapped in the bowl-shaped valley creating habitat for species typically found much further north. Visitors can explore a half-mile boardwalk through sphagnum bogs, red spruce forest, and meadows while observing unique plants and wildlife. The Nature Conservancy maintains this 1,800-acre preserve as an outdoor classroom demonstrating the effects of climate change on sensitive ecosystems.
14. Seneca Rocks
DRAMATIC QUARTZITE FORMATION
Seneca Rocks rises dramatically nearly 900 feet above the North Fork River as one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in West Virginia. Rock climbers from around the world challenge themselves on over 375 mapped climbing routes on the distinctive white Tuscarora quartzite fins. Non-climbers can enjoy the 1.3-mile trail to an observation platform with spectacular views of the formation, surrounding mountains, and valley below.
15. Canaan Valley Resort State Park
FOUR-SEASON MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUND
Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers year-round recreation in the highest mountain valley east of the Mississippi River. Winter visitors enjoy downhill skiing on 47 trails, cross-country skiing, snow tubing, and ice skating, while summer activities include golf, hiking, mountain biking, and scenic chairlift rides. The park's unique high-elevation wetlands and diverse wildlife habitat can be explored through an extensive trail system revealing panoramic views of the surrounding Allegheny Mountains.