1.800.447.8797 Official
Website of Berkeley Springs, WV ~ The Country's First Spa
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Morgan County began its historic life as the playground
of Thomas Lord Fairfax. Period letters and documents describe Fairfax's
frequent visits to his spa on the edge of the wilderness. Along with many
social gatherings, he soaked in the warm
mineral waters of the springs and rode into the mountains. Fairfax
was occasionally joined in these adventures by his friend and Virginia
neighbor, George Washington. Today, Morgan County remains a favorite playground
of folks along the East Coast. The area is blessed with wooded mountains
and ridges, two rivers, several lakes and a wide selection of contemporary
recreation activities for both individuals and families. Natural wonders
abound in the area side-by-side with man-made recreation.
As part of Morgan County's ecotourism, you can explore geology, birding,
rare plants, hiking and the ecosystem of the Cacapon River on your own.
Organized education opportunities are also available. Contact Travel Berkeley
Springs at 1-800-447-8797 for special brochures on the Cacapon River and
Ecotourism
in Morgan County. GOLF The 18-hole, 72-par championship golf course at Cacapon State Park was designed by Robert Trent Jones in the mid 1960s. Meticulously maintained, it is one of the region's most popular public courses, open for year 'round play, weather permitting. Carts, driving range, picturesque putting green, pro-shop, clubhouse and challenging play which includes deer as obstacles are all part of Cacapon's appeal. Cold Run Driving Range is open Thursday through Monday in season. WINTER SPORTS Cross country skiing is a popular sport on the mountain trails of Cacapon State Park, and along the many back roads of the county. Bring your own equipment. HORSEBACK RIDING From Easter through Thanksgiving,
mountain trail rides originate from Cacapon
State Park. FITNESS & GAMES Rankin’s Fitness Center is open daily and welcomes walk ins for classes and the state-of-the-art machine room. Indoor basketball court and therapy pool. Public tennis, basketball and volleyball courts are found at Cacapon State Park and Biser Street Park in town. Paw Paw Town Park has a softball field and playground. The Morgan County Recreation Area provides five ballfields for league play. Spectators are welcome. HUNTING & FISHING Quail Hollow Hunts, located 8 miles south of Berkeley Springs, is a 300 acre mountainside hunting preserve offering guided pheasant, quail and chukar hunts with dogs. Learn one on one the art of flycasting from FFF (Federation of Fly Fishers) Certified Instructor at Shenandoah Streamers. More than 20,000 acres in two wildlife management areas provide opportunities for hunting everything from white-tailed deer to roaming flocks of wild turkey. There are both spring and fall seasons for various game. Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area also offers primitive camping and a lake. Varying settings for canoeing, fishing and boating are found on the Potomac and Cacapon rivers, on area streams and on lakes at Cacapon State Park and Sleepy Creek Wildlife Area. The Ridge Fish Hatchery breeds famous West Virginia trout used to stock local lakes. Sleepy Creek Lake has bass, sunfish, pike and crappie. There are several public access points to the rivers noted on the map. Camping and sportsman access are found along the Potomac River in Paw Paw. Hunting and fishing licenses are required of both residents and nonresidents 15 to 65 years of age. NEVER hunt on private land without permission!
SHOTGUN SPORTS are available at two locations in the county. Sporting clays and trap are available at Sleepy Creek Sports a National Sporting Clays Association member. The wooded range is located 15 minutes from Berkeley Springs and is fully equipped and staffed. Sleepy Creek Sports also provides handgun and rimfire rifle lanes with 50 foot pulleys and metal spinner targets. Cacapon State Park’s newest outdoor sport activity is trap shooting, one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting (shotgun shooting at clay targets). BIKING The ridges and valleys of Morgan County are ideal terrain for both scenic road biking and mountain biking. Easy riding is best enjoyed on the C&O Canal towpath just six miles north of Berkeley Springs along the Potomac River. The towpath ride also takes bikers through the nearly mile-long Paw Paw Tunnel, largest man-made structure on the Canal. Bikes rentals are available at C&O Bicycle. HIKING trails abound along Cacapon Mountain accessible from both Cacapon State Park and Coolfont Resort. Other trails include the Tuscarora Trail which connects to the famed Appalachian Trail. The C&O Canal provides easy hiking as well as biking. Hikers particularly love the Paw Paw Tunnel. Eidolon Nature Preserve includes about four miles of hiking trails. MINI GOLF open for daily family fun during the summer months at Cold Run Driving Range. The bowling alley is open daily, year 'round.
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One
of the most popular rides starts in the state park and crosses along
the top of Cacapon Mountain for 10 miles to the historically and geologically
prominent Cacapon Rocks. With its spectacular views of the Cacapon
River
Valley, the Rocks were a common destination for 18th and 19th century
riders, George Washington wrote often of his daily rides there. 
WATER
SPORTS are not limited to soaking in the warm mineral springs.
The lake at 
Morgan
County Recreation Area 