West Virginia Log Cabin Rentals

Blue Smoke Salsa started as a the dream of Robin Hildebrand.  Number 12 of 14 children, Robin is a West Virginia native and began making her salsa from family garden left overs.  In 1993, she began making Blue Smoke Salsa out of a 10 x 12 state-approved commercial kitchen in her basement.  It was a hit, and remains a hit today in Blue Smoke's present location at 119 East Main Street in Ansted, West Virginia. 

Today, Blue Smoke takes up an entire building, with a sales salsa shop and a hometown cafe.  Products include everything from the Original Recipe Blue Smoke Salsa, to Peach Salsa, Hot Pepper Jelly and Specialty BBQ Sauces.  And Blue Smoke offers tours to folks can see how all the good stuff is made - and taste a few samples as well.

Add a Blue Smoke Salsa Tour to the list of things to do on West Virginia family vacations.  It's just a few minutes away from some great West Virginia log cabin rentals.  Taste some mountain goodness here and even take some home.

We think romantic cabin getaways should always include a hot tub.  There are only a few places that have private hot tubs with every cabin - and we are one of them! Whether it's to warm up on a winter night after a day on the slopes, or a soothing soak after an active day paddling or hiking or biking, or just a bubbly place to sit and sip wine, hot tubs are a great place to cozy up.  Early sunset, a bottle of wine, some crackers and cheese, a quiet wooded setting...romance is definitely afoot. We LIKE that!

There's a ton of stuff to do in the New River Gorge area, from Canopy Tours to mountain biking to or easy hikes along the Gorge rim to fabulous views.  What's nice about West Virginia log cabin rentals is they don't have to be rustic, even if the setting is, and when visitors are done adventuring for the day, they can return to a deluxe abode and settle into that hot tub for the evening.  Or cozy up in front of the fireplace....

If you love to bring your two-wheeled friend along on to you West Virginia cabin vacation rental, don't miss out on late season riding. 

Mountain biking in the south eastern forests is always an adventure, and it's worth saying that as much fun as summer riding is, it can be a little intimidating because lush forest undergrowth can make seeing what's coming next a bit of an adventure if the trail is new to you.  Then November fall comes along and the leaves start to come down and riders find a double bonus of the last sparks of fall color and better visibility on the trails.  Cooler temperatures that make long rides less sweaty don't hurt either.

Another plus is that there are fewer riders out and about, so whether it's just you and your friends or you're riding with a professional guide from our friends down the road, New River Bikes, you'll have more peace and quiet on the trails.  And you get to look forward to hot drinks and warm showers back at those cozy West Virginia log cabin rentals.

The New River Gorge National River offers some fabulous hiking trails, including the spectacular Endless Wall Trail.  Located just a short drive from our West Virginia log cabin rentals, the Endless Wall Trail was added to the Park in 1998, when the Nuttall Estate agreed to sell the property to the National Park Service.  The Endless Wall Trail is one of the best kept secrets of the Park.  Hikers find themselves 1000 feet above the New River Gorge, enjoying unbelievable views - and the trail is only 2.5 miles long. 

Another significant feature of the Endless Wall Trail is its historical value:  It was the site of the Nuttallburg Mine in the 1800s— the largest mine in the New River Coalfields at the time.  Add this trail to the list of things to do on your West Virginia family vacations.

(Photo courtsey of National Park Service)

West Virginia in the autumn is something to see - vivid fall foliage, misty rivers, spectacular vistas of the New River Gorge...what's not to love?  And love is in the air as couple getaway to out mountain cabins for Romantic weekends with a mountain twist.  New River cabin rentals are deluxe log cabins that come with fall colors painting the mountains, cozy fireplaces to enjoy sipping coffee (or wine) and cuddling on cool evenings, and a true sense of escaping it all. 

Our West Virginia log cabin rentals are close to everything.  Quiet, beautiful hiking and horseback riding trails lead to fantastic views.  The Treetops Canopy tours offer a special shared thrill that will be a favorite memory for years to come. Adventure is to be had on ATV tours or mountain bikes. (We can book these guided adventures for you with our partners at nearby Class VI - Mountain River.) Winding roads offer spectacular days of leaf-looking, even on rainy days.  How many intimate moments can you find in the mountains?  The possibilities are endless.  Pretty darn good for an easy, affordable, authentic romantic cabin getaway!

Autumn is a stunning time here in the mountains of West Virginia.  Between crunchy, leaf-carpeted trails through tunnels of shining leaves and views of morning mist rising off the New River, it doesn't get any better than this for a weekend on ATVs!  Some folks bring their own rides, some rent them and add a guide to the mix to make finding the best trails easier. You can take guided ATV Tours with our friends just down the road at Class VI-Mountain River.

West Virginia log cabin rentals are deluxe cabins with private hot tubs, grills, and fireplaces. When you come off the trail after a day of exploring, you'll find a comfortable cabin waiting for you.  Great nearby trails, peak fall colors, talented guides and deluxe log cabins... hmm... sounds pretty good for a weekend away!

Hawks Nest State Park is a beautiful place to visit less than 15 minutes from Country Road Cabins. Nestled in the heart of whitewater rafting country, the Park encompasses 276 acres bordering a rugged section of the New River Gorge National River.

Long known for its panoramic views, the park offers great day hikes, picnic areas, lake access for fishing and boating, and a very cool sightseeing aerial tram, along with jetboat tours that leave from the park's dock. Not to be missed is the park's Nature Center. There is a 31 room lodge at the park as well, if you prefer a lodge room over your own deluxe New River log cabin rental.

Below the lodge, the New River forms peaceful Hawks Nest Lake. Above the lake, the narrow canyon and rushing water create one of the most challenging whitewater paddling waterways in the nation.

Hawk’s Nest Nature Center
This is one of the best parts of our nearby State Park. The Nature Center is definitely worth a visit when you are visiting our southwestern WV area.

The River Nature Center features opportunities for kids of any age to enjoy and experience the life within the New River community. The nature exhibits demonstrate interactive nature displays, as well as an on-site naturalist for assistance and information.

The Nature Center is also the base contact station to the new Hawks Nest Rail Trail operated by the Town of Ansted. Hawks Nest Nature Center is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekends after Labor Day through closing in late October. The Nature Center and the aerial tram operate on the same schedule.

The Nature Center may open for school or other groups on a reservation basis, as available, during the week. (A minimum of a two week advance notice is required for groups.)

Gift shops at the park
There are three gift shops at Hawks Nest State Park. The Lodge Gift Shop is open daily. The Lower Park Gift Shop is located 1/4 mile west on Route 60 and is open May through October. Both gift shops offer many varieties of souvenirs, T-shirts, toys, jewelry, glassware, and other items. The third gift shop is located at the River Marina where you will find our Nature Center. Items you will find include educational gifts related to nature.

Free and low cost fall vacation fun is waiting for you in the beautiful New River Gorge Region of southwestern West Virginia! Next blog is on things to do at Hawk's Nest State Park. We'll cover hiking, jebtboat tours, and the aerial tram.

Hawks Nest State Park:
49 Hawks Nest Park Road
Ansted, WV 25812
(304) 658-5212 or 1-800-CALL WVA

What do you do with a beautiful, big log building that has a large great room centered by a floor to ceiling rustic stone fireplace, plenty of restrooms, shower facilities, small cafe, huge flat screen tv for video shows, and retail store area all on the first floor? Convert the space into a much-needed private retreat and conference center in the New River Gorge area!

So, Jennifer and I got to change it over this spring, and now it's up and running. We added a new word to the mantra "reduce, re-use, recycle", it's now "and repurpose". Some of our office space has been converted into a complete business center for printing, faxing, high speed internet, and copying.

Church retreats, youth groups, weddings, family reunions, and events of many kinds all fit beautifully into our re-purposed space. We think the 35 years of rafting history and good karma that permeates our center is also a nice bonus. All of our West Virginia cabin rentals are just 5 minutes down the road from the center. Couldn't be more convenient!  Come join us this summer for an affordable family vacation or group event in the heart of West Virginia's best outdoor recreation in the New River Gorge.

What do pioneers in rafting in West Virginia and West Virginia cabin vacation rentals have in common? Hi, we’re Paul and Jennifer Breuer, owners of Country Road Cabins. This is our blog. We think of ourselves as Rennaissance River Runners and Blogger Newbies. What a 21st century concept. Paul founded Adventures Mountain Rivers, a whitewater rafting company on the New and Gauley Rivers, in 1973. We built our first log cabin 12 years ago so our guests would have a comfortable, convenient, and beautiful place to stay when they came to the New River on vacation. Having lived in this area for over 35 years (Jennifer is a West Virginia native, Paul moved here in 1971) we have the inside scoop on the best restaurants, shopping, hikes, climbing, outfitter partners, and of course, our favorite, rafting trips. We’d love to help you plan the best mix of what to do and where to go to guarantee your West Virginia family and friends vacation success.