West Virginia State Parks

Current West Virginia state parks
Park name	County and location	Area in acres (ha)	Date of establishment	Streams and/or lakes	Remarks
Audra	Barbour and Upshur	355 acres (144 ha)	1950	Middle Fork River	Former site of the commercial logging town of Audra and of Barbour County’s first 4-H camp. The park’s Alum Cave is formed at the base of a sandstone formation, where it makes contact with pyritiferous shale.
Babcock	Fayette	4,127 acres (1,670 ha)	1934	Glade Creek Manns Creek	Named for previous owner Edward V. Babcock, the park contains two architectural landmarks: its administration building, one of the major Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) accomplishments in West Virginia, and Glade Creek Grist Mill, one of the most photographed structures in West Virginia. Completed in 1976, the mill is a working monument to the more than 500 mills formerly located in the state.
Beartown	Greenbrier and Pocahontas	110 acres (45 ha)	1970	None	Trails wind through a network of crevices between massive fragmented boulders, which are a part of the “Droop Sandstone” formation. Large elephant ear lichens (Lobaria pulmonaria) in the “Big Beartown” section of the park are more than 500 years old.
Beech Fork	Cabell and Wayne	3,860 acres (1,562 ha)	1978	Beech Fork Lake	Includes the 720-acre (290 ha) Beech Fork Lake, a reservoir created by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dam.
Berkeley Springs	Morgan	7 acres (3 ha)	1970	Warm Spring Run	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).The park’s springs, held in trust for the public since 1776, were known by European settlers as early as 1736 and were frequented by Lord Fairfax and George Washington. The temperature of the spring water remains at a constant 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit (23.5 degrees Celsius).
Blackwater Falls	Tucke	2,358 acres (954 ha)	1937	Blackwater River North Fork Blackwater River Pendleton Lake	Major attractions include 63-foot (19 m) Blackwater Falls, 8-mile (13 km) Blackwater Canyon, Elakala Falls on Shays Run, and Pendleton Falls on Pendleton Run. The park’s original forests were completely lumbered by 1924, and the current secondary forests were spurred by a CCC reforestation program in the 1930s.
Blennerhassett Island Historical	Wood	511 acres (207 ha)	1989	Ohio River	The park is divided between two facilities: a museum in Parkersburg and 511-acre (207 ha) Blennerhassett Island, which contains the reconstructed (1984–1991) Palladian-style Blennerhassett Mansion, originally completed in 1800. The island is accessible by paddle steamers May through October and is listed on the NRHP.
Bluestone	Summers	2,155 acres (872 ha)	1950	Bluestone River Bluestone Lake New River	Named for the bluish-gray shale between sandstone deposits. Adjoins Bluestone Lake, the state’s second largest body of water, which was formed as a result of Bluestone Dam, completed by the USACE in 1948.
Cacapon Resort	Morgan	6,115 acres (2,475 ha)	1937	Cacapon Lake	Initially constructed by the CCC beginning in 1937, with facility expansions in the 1950s and the addition of a Robert Trent Jones golf course in 1973, the park is considered a showcase of the state park system due its proximity to the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The state park system’s first wobble clay shooting range was opened here in 2007.
Camp Creek	Mercer	500 acres (202 ha)	1987	Camp Creek	Formed from Camp Creek State Forest in 1987, when a tract of 500 acres (202 ha) was set aside to create this recreation area. It is administered with Camp Creek State Forest.
Canaan Valley Resort	Tucker	6,120 acres (2,477 ha)	1957	Blackwater River	One of three state parks, along with Pipestem Resort and Twin Falls Resort, planned in the 1960s with funds from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Contains the first ski facility in West Virginia, opened in 1971.
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield	Nicholas	165 acres (67 ha)	1931	Gauley River	Site of 1861 American Civil War Battle of Carnifex Ferry, which secured Union control of western Virginia and eventually led to the formation of West Virginia. The park, which includes Patteson House, a restored mid-19th-century farmhouse, is listed on the NRHP.
Cass Scenic Railroad	Pocahontas	940 acres (380 ha)	1961	Greenbrier River Leatherbark Run	A former logging spur, the park’s scenic railroad climbs West Virginia’s second-tallest peak, Bald Knob. In addition to the railroad, the state acquired the town of Cass and restored 13 of its former company houses as rental units for park visitors, creating West Virginia’s only restored company town complete with the Cass Country Store. The park is listed on the NRHP.
Cathedral	Preston	133 acres (54 ha)	1942	Rhine Creek	Formerly known as Brookside Woods, the park is a 133-acre (54 ha) stand of uncut old-growth forest and contains the only remaining stand of virgin Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in West Virginia. The park is entirely contained within the Brookside Historic District, which is listed on the NRHP. It was also designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.
Cedar Creek	Gilmer	2,588 acres (1,047 ha)	1953	Cedar Creek	Contains two relocated structures of historic significance: the Log Cabin Service Station (1928), which now serves as the park office and nature center, and Pine Run School (1909), a one-room country schoolhouse with period furnishings.
Chief Logan	Logan	3,303 acres (1,337 ha)	1961	Buffalo Creek	Formerly a part of the Merrill Coal Company camp, now minus the camp’s houses, mining equipment, and tipple. Performed at the park is The Aracoma Story, a historical drama about Aracoma, the daughter of Cornstalk, and the Shawnee tribes people who lived at the present-day location.
Droop Mountain Battlefield	Pocahontas	287 acres (116 ha)	1928	None	Site of the one of West Virginia’s largest engagements during the American Civil War, and listed on the NRHP. Dedicated on July 4, 1929, it was the first state park established in West Virginia. In 1935, the CCC built the park’s iconic wooden observation tower and a rental cabin that now serves as a museum.
Fairfax Stone Historical Monument	Grant, Preston, and Tucker	4 acres (2 ha)	1957	North Branch Potomac River headwaters	The park contains the Fairfax Stone historic marker, which traditionally marked the western boundary of Lord Fairfax’s Northern Neck Proprietary and is responsible for the present-day boundary between Maryland and West Virginia. The park is listed on the NRHP.
Greenbrier River Trail	Greenbrier and Pocahontas	936 acres (379 ha)	1980	Greenbrier River	The trail is a 78-mile (126 km) section of a former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway line between North Caldwell and Cass.
Hawks Nest	Fayette	370 acres (150 ha)	1935	Hawks Nest Lake Mill Creek New River Turkey Creek	Planned by the NPS and built by the CCC, the park features an aerial tramway to a marina on the New River, and its overlook allows for panoramic views of New River Gorge. Its lodge was designed by The Architects Collaborative (TAC). A 71-acre (29 ha) historic district containing the park’s CCC resources is listed on the NRHP.
Holly River	Webster	8,294 acres (3,357 ha)	1938	Laurel Fork of Holly River	The park’s land was salvaged in 1937 following its purchase by the Farm Security Administration (FSA) for the purposes of reforestation and stream reclamation following extensive logging operations in the area. The park’s historic district containing 93 Works Progress Administration (WPA) resources was listed on the NRHP.
Little Beaver	Raleigh	562 acres (227 ha)	1971	Little Beaver Creek Little Beaver Lake	Originally developed as a Raleigh County recreation area by the CCC in the late 1930s. Used as a county 4-H camp from 1941 to 1965. The park’s lake was created in 1941 when the CCC and WPA constructed the 400-foot (122 m) Little Beaver Dam on Little Beaver Creek.
Lost River	Hardy	3,712 acres (1,502 ha)	1934	Howards Lick Run	Henry Lee III received this land in 1796 for his American Revolutionary War service. His son Charles Carter Lee founded Hardy White Sulphur Springs resort here in 1852. Later renamed Lee White Sulphur Springs, it burned down in 1910. The state acquired the land in 1934, and the NPS and CCC developed the park and its recreational facilities. The park’s 142 CCC resources and its Lighthorse Harry Lee Cabin (c. 1800) are listed on the NRHP.
Moncove Lake	Monroe	896 acres (363 ha)	1991	Devil Creek Moncove Lake	The park’s 144-acre (58 ha) Moncove Lake was created in 1960 by the 1959 impoundment of Devil Creek. Formerly a wildlife management area, the park is located under an autumn flyway for migrating raptors, including broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus).
North Bend	Ritchie	2,492 acres (1,009 ha)	1951	North Bend Lake North Fork Hughes River	Named through a contest sponsored by the Ritchie Gazette in the 1950s, the park features the “Extra Mile Trail” for the disabled and hosts the annual International Sports Jamboree for physically or visually challenged athletes. The park’s 305-acre (123 ha) North Bend Lake was created by an impoundment on the North Fork Hughes River in 2002.
North Bend Rail Trail	Doddridge, Harrison, Ritchie, and Wood	Not applicable	1991	Goose Creek Hushers Run Little Kanawha River Middle Island Creek North Fork Hughes River Walker Creek	Consists of a 72-mile (116 km) section of an abandoned spur of the CSX Transportation system between Parkersburg and Wolf Summit. Passes through 13 tunnels and over 36 bridges, and is part of the 5,500-mile (8,851 km) American Discovery Trail. The longest tunnel is the 2,207-foot (673 m) Tunnel No. 6 between West Union and Central Station.
Pinnacle Rock	Mercer	374 acres (151 ha)	1938	Jimmy Lewis Lake	Named for the 3,100-foot (945 m) tall Pinnacle Rock sandstone formation. Its rustic park facilities were built by the CCC in 1938 and the 15-acre (6 ha) Jimmy Lewis Lake was built between 1965 and 1968.
Pipestem Resort	Mercer and Summers	4,050 acres (1,640 ha)	1963	Bluestone River Long Branch Creek Long Branch Lake Mountain Creek	Named for the pipestem bush (Spiraea alba). Considered the “crown jewel” of the state park system upon its completion in 1971, it is one of three state parks, along with Twin Falls Resort and Canaan Valley Resort, to receive funding from the EDA. The park has a seasonal aerial tramway between the rim and floor of Bluestone Canyon, which features a vertical drop of approximately 1,200 feet (366 m).
Prickett’s Fort	Marion	188 acres (76 ha)	1975	Monongahela River Pricketts Creek	Features a reconstruction of Prickett’s Fort, an 18th-century fortification built to defend settlers against Native American attacks. Includes the Prickett cemetery (1772), the area’s oldest burial ground. The park’s Prickett’s Fort and Jacob Prickett Jr. Log House are listed on the NRHP.
Stonewall Jackson Lake	Lewis	1,736 acres (703 ha)	1990	Stonewall Jackson Lake West Fork River	Located along the 2,650-acre (1,072 ha) USACE Stonewall Jackson Lake, the park was developed, constructed, financed, and operated through a public–private partnership between McCabe-Henley LP and WVDNR.
Tomlinson Run	Hancock	1,396 acres (565 ha)	1935	Tomlinson Run Tomlinson Run Lake	Developed by the West Virginia Conservation Commission with support from the NPS, the park features the 30-acre (12 ha) Tomlinson Run Lake, completed by the WPA in 1942.
Tu-Endie-Wei	Mason	4 acres (2 ha)	1956	Kanawha River Ohio River	Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. Site of the only major action during Lord Dunmore’s War, the Battle of Point Pleasant. Acquired by the state in 1901. The granite obelisk monument commemorating the battle was dedicated in 1909, and they were added to the state park system in 1956. The park features the Mansion House Museum (c. 1796) and a monument to Cornstalk who is buried there. The park is listed on the NRHP.
Twin Falls Resort	Wyoming	3,776 acres (1,528 ha)	1964	Black Fork Marsh Fork	Named for two waterfalls about zero point five miles (0.80 km) apart: one on the Marsh Fork and one on the Black Fork of Cabin Creek. One of three resort state parks funded by the EDA along with Canaan Valley Resort and Pipestem Resort. Contains a golf course, a reconstructed pioneer homestead serving as a living museum, and a lodge designed by TAC. Its diverse species of flora reflect an overlap of northern and southern ecosystems.
Tygart Lake	Barbour and Taylor	2,134 acres (864 ha)	1945	Tygart Lake Tygart Valley River	Contains the 1,750-acre (708 ha) USACE Tygart Lake, created as a result of the Public Works Administration’s Tygart Dam in 1938. The dam, designed by Charles M. Wellons and Paul Philippe Cret, is listed on the NRHP.
Valley Falls	Marion and Taylor	1,145 acres (463 ha)	1964	Tygart Valley River	Named for two fast-moving waterfalls of 12 feet (4 m) and 18 feet (5 m) in height on the Tygart Valley River. During the 19th century, a milling and industrial town flourished at this site.
Watoga	Pocahontas	10,100 acres (4,087 ha)	1934	Greenbrier River Island Lick Run Watoga Lake	Initially developed as a state forest in 1926. One of West Virginia’s first CCC camps was established here in 1933. The largest of West Virginia’s state parks, it contains the 11-acre (4 ha) Watoga Lake. A historic district containing the park’s 103 CCC resources is listed on the NRHP.
Watters Smith Memorial	Harrison	532 acres (215 ha)	1949	Duck Creek	Consists of the pioneer homestead of Watters Smith who moved here with his wife Elizabeth in 1796. A log cabin similar to the original was reconstructed at the park along with period farm buildings. The Smith family home (c. 1876) has also been restored as a museum. The park is listed on the NRHP.