If you are looking for a good old-fashioned getaway, this quaint train trip is ideal. Nestled in the heart of Appalachia, the Cass Scenic Railroad offers passengers a ride on an authentic steam-powered locomotive. While several routes are offered, we opted for the 4.5 hour trip up to Bald Knob, the third highest point in the state of West Virginia. The trip up the mountain is on (what I’m pretty sure are) the steepest railroad tracks in the United States and provides absolutely gorgeous views along the way. Once you reach your destination at the top of Bald Knob you can take in the fresh, cool air and stunning views of the West Virginia landscape.
Many other train rides are available including shorter trips and rides on several types of trains including overnight rides and dining cars. Our train was all open-air cars with no windows which really made the trip more exciting in my opinion. You could breathe in all of that fresh mountain air, feel the breeze as you travel up and down the mountain, and really clock in some quality forest bathing time.
On top of Bald Knob, the highest summit of Back Allegheny Mountain.
We booked our tickets through Mountain Rail West Virginia, which offers train rides throughout that region, including the very popular Polar Express, which takes families on a 1.5 hour train ride during the months of November and December. The Polar Express looks to be brimming with magical Christmas fun including visits with Santa and his elves, hot cocoa, a reading of the classic book Polar Express and a special Christmas gift.
A view from the back. We were happy that we got to sit in the last car where it was a bit quieter and less sooty. Note the gorgeous winding mountain path.
This was our first trip to Cass, WV and it was almost too brief as we only stayed in the area for about 24 hours total but after seeing all that the area has to offer I am sure we will return for a longer family trip. Here are a few of my tips for traveling to Cass.
On board the open air train car. You can stand or sit on the wooden benches.
- TRAIN RIDE- While we went on the 4.5 hour round trip up to Bald Knob, I would also recommend checking out the shorter train rides for families with antsy kids. You still get the excitement of riding on a train, but lower the risk of boredom and potential meltdowns. In order to help keep the peace with my two year old on the train I packed his Amazon Fire Kids Edition pre-loaded with games (because there is obviously no wi-fi on the mountain), a bunch of snacks, and a blanket in case he wanted to doze off.
- LODGING- Cass began as a company town for those who worked for West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, logging the nearby mountains. The old company houses are available to rent out for a single night or longer to really immerse yourself in history. However, we opted to stay in the Snowshoe Village, a ski resort area, just about 10 miles away. Specifically, we stayed at the Inn at Snowshoe, the most affordable option in the village. In July, during the off-season, it was around $100 a night (after all those pesky taxes and fees). For that money you get a whole lotta room. In fact, our room was actually two rooms: a living area with apartment-sized kitchen (including a stove), kitchen table, couch, and full bathroom; and a bedroom with two big beds and an additional full bathroom, which was sparkling clean.
- DIRECTIONS- You will be driving in and around The National Radio Quiet Zone when you visit this area, so make sure to print off any important info like phone numbers, addresses, and directions before you leave. We didn’t have any trouble finding either place, but I would recommend this precautionary step just to be safe.
- WHAT TO DO- Besides a train ride, there is a museum, old-fashioned country store/gift shop with awesome milkshakes, playground, and restaurant in the Cass Train Station area.
Additionally, there seems to be a lot of fun activities in the Snowshoe area. In the summer you can take a scenic ride up the ski lifts to enjoy views of the area, relax on the sandy shore of the lake, hike, bike, or relax with a game of golf or a trip to the spa. In the winter is when this area really shines with ski season in full swing. Here is a link to the activities offered at Snowshoe.
Also in the area, is the Green Bank Observatory featuring the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. The telescope, which listens to the universe, is an engineering marvel and is precise enough to capture the faintest radio waves in the cosmos. The observatory offers tours and features a Science Center that is open to the public and would be fun for kids.
At the Cass Railroad playground. Apparently I’m not the only one who always looks grumpy in pictures.
Overall, we had a great time and hope to go back to the area for an extended stay to really experience all that the region has to offer.
Have you ever been to the Cass/Snowshoe area? Let me know about your favorite excursions in the comments!