West Virginia's Watoga State Park has plenty of trails for hikers to explore, plus it's a wonderful after-dark destination for stargazing.
Images by Matthew Durfee
Watoga State Park, not far from the West Virginia and Virginia state border, has always been kind of a big deal. Literally. It's the largest state park in West Virginia, with expansive views and lots of hiking.
But it's become even more exciting in recent years thanks to its designation as an International Dark Sky Park. Far away from intrusive lights and large cities, it now draws stargazers for nighttime views that are hard to find in the eastern United States.
If you'd like to visit Watoga, here's what you should know as you plan a trip!
Lodging at Watoga State Park
There are two campgrounds at Watoga: Beaver Creek on the east side of the park, and Riverside on the west. A bath house and laundry facilities are available at each.
The campgrounds are open spring through fall.
Cabins are also available to book, including several historic CCC-built ones that have been outfitted with modern conveniences. All the cabins, whether new or old, have furnished kitchens, fireplaces, and bathrooms with showers.
There are also a few camping sites at Laurel Run Primitive Campground, with pit toilets nearby. This is on the south end of the park, off Beaver Creek Road (County Route 21). For these spots, you self-register and pay your cash fee in an envelope at the information board.
For an inn or bed-and-breakfast, you'll find a few locally run options in the town of Marlinton, about a 40-minute drive from the park.
Food Options
You'll need to plan ahead for food, as the park is pretty remote. For groceries, there's a couple small convenience stores within a 15-minute drive of the park, but for anything larger than that you'll be driving more like an hour toward Lewisburg.
A handful of locally owned restaurants as well as fast food are within about a half-hour of the park at Marlinton.
What Is There to Do?
Daytime in the Park
There are multiple easy to moderate trails for hiking and biking, anywhere from half a mile to 5 miles.
For a longer challenge, you might try a section of the Greenbrier River Trail. It's not technically inside the state park, but is right across the river from it. This river trail is nearly 80 miles in total and follows an old railway route.
During the summer season, the park rents paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks for use on its small lake.
Interested in the history of the park? There's a small museum in the main office, and you can get a map there that will guide you on a CCC driving tour.
For a fairly easy "discovery" stroll through the heart of the park, don't miss the 400-acre Fred E. Brooks Memorial Arboretum. You can go through it or around it on three possible routes, searching out the different species of native trees and plants as you go.
Nearby parks worth checking out include the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park for train rides and beautiful views, Beartown State Park for a leisurely stroll with cool rock features, and Summit Lake for more camping opportunities. All of these spots are less than an hour from Watoga.
Nighttime at Watoga State Park
If you have the privilege of staying after dark in Watoga on a clear night, you can experience a starry sky to a degree that's hard to find nowadays.
The park received its official Dark Sky status in 2021. The nearby Calvin Price State Forest and Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park join it as West Virginia's premier spots to stargaze.
Keep in mind that clear skies are more likely when conditions are chilly and dry.
If your timing is good weather-wise, make sure to dedicate some evening time to this, letting your eyes adjust to the darkness to see the Milky Way shimmer above you.
Occasional "star parties" with telescopes are scheduled at the Watoga Lake Dam.
Will I Have Cell Service at Watoga State Park?
Probably not. You might be able to access wi-fi at the park headquarters or at the campground bath houses if you need it.
When we're hiking without cell service but feel the need to have an emergency backup, we bring our Garmin inReach mini 2, which uses a satellite network to send out location and basic messages.
What About the Synchronous Fireflies?
The light show put on by synchronous fireflies is one of the most mesmerizing shows you can see in nature.
The Smoky Mountains National Park has been a hotbed for them, attracting thousands of visitors each year. But they've been spotted a few other places too, including this part of West Virginia! (Watoga's efforts to become recognized as a Dark Sky Park led to this discovery in 2020.)
How can you see them? Well, there are no guarantees as to exact timing, but it's usually around the latter half of June.
If you want to see them, plan to stay late in the evening. They don't really get going until well after dark, and they take a little while to synchronize. The park schedules viewing programs that may differ from year to year, so keep an eye on their Facebook page and be prepared to call ahead to reserve a spot.
Between the starry skies and the firefly show, we can't think of a better place to be than Watoga State Park in June! But, really, it's ideal throughout the year as a place to unwind and disconnect. Enjoy your visit!
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