Beartown State Park is a great place for a leisurely forest walk in the heart of West Virginia. Enjoy its many unique rock formations!
Images by Matthew Durfee
West Virginia's parks are never a one-size-fits-all experience.
For the adventurer, you have whitewater rafting near New River Gorge, ziplines at Pipestem Resort, or kayaking at places like Little Beaver State Park.
And then some parks are a bit more low-key. Up for a nice stroll through some beautiful (but not overly taxing) scenery? You'll want to check out Beartown State Park. It's located halfway between Marlinton and Lewisburg, West Virginia.
This tiny park allows you to enjoy an easy trek through the beauty of the forest, with some impressive rock formations along the way.
Here's what to expect if you go!
What's the Main Attraction at Beartown State Park?
The main activity at this state park is walking the boardwalk.
It's a half-mile that runs alongside cliffs, crevices, giant boulders, and interesting rock formations. Some stairs are included.
People generally visit this park to enjoy a simple scenic walk. You don't really need any hiking gear for this one, but sometimes a trekking pole can still make things more comfortable.
Admission is free.
By design, the park has remained relatively undeveloped since it was established in 1970.
Signs along the way offer insight into the park's natural history. You can read about a place where lightning struck twice, why the rock faces are pitted, and how chestnut trees have changed over the last century.
Why the name Beartown? All the rocky crevices and cavernous openings look like the perfect winter dens for bears! You're not too likely to see a bear at this park, though — and bear-proof garbage cans have been installed to further reduce the possibility.
The park is open April through October for day use. If you visit in summer, it will be a shady, leafy retreat from the heat of the day.
Where Can I Stay Near the Park?
There are no overnight accommodations inside the park — not even camping. It's about an hour's drive from the campgrounds at Summit Lake or Watoga State Park, and a little further to the camping at New River Gorge or Seneca State Forest.
There are hotels and lodges a little closer: the towns of Lewisburg and Marlinton are each about a 30-minute drive.
What Other Destinations Can I Visit Near This Park?
It doesn't take long to see the sights at Beartown State Park. If all you want is an afternoon out from one of the nearby towns, it's perfect. But if you want to make it part of a longer itinerary, here are some other points of interest in the area.
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is less than five miles away and has several nice hiking trails and a neat lookout tower.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is about an hour's drive and offers vintage locomotive rides with far-reaching views.
Green Bank Observatory's Science Center and enormous radio telescope are about an hour's drive.
And West Virginia's only national park, New River Gorge, features some of the most epic views in the state on trails like Long Point, Endless Wall, and Grandview Rim. It takes a drive of about an hour and a half from Beartown.
Where will your West Virginia explorations take you? Let us know in the comments!
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