Explore Beartown State Park

Hike Beartown State Park

If you are looking for a short and beautiful hike near Renick, West Virginia then you will want to explore Beartown State Park. This Park is open to the public from April to October and is for day use only. It is made up of 110-acres which makes it one of the smaller West Virginia parks. Home to only one gorgeous trail, it showcases the beauty of the ‘Mountain State’ and is full of large boulders and deep crevices for you to admire. This stop offers a relaxing break from the everyday stresses of the world and is a fantastic place to hike with your dog. This park is also wheelchair accessible.

What to Expect

Beartown State Park was named for two things. The ‘bear’ part of its name was selected because the park has many openings in the rocks that residents believe would make great bear dens. The “town” part of the name is because the many deep crevasses in the park look like the streets in a town.

To get to the park you will have to travel on a mostly unpaved road which may be difficult depending on the weather and your type of vehicle. At the end of the road is a small parking lot available for your use. There is an outhouse nearby and some picnic tables available making this a perfect stop during a road trip or part of a fun and relaxing day outing.

Lodging Near Beartown State Park

Beartown State Park is for daytime use only which unfortunately means no camping in the park. However, there are two areas nearby where you can set up camp and they both allow dogs.

Seneca State Forest has nonelectric campsites that start at $19 per night and cabins that start at $65 per night.

Watoga State Park is home to two different campgrounds that start at $28 per night for non-electric campsites and $33 per night for electric campsites. They also have cabin rentals that start at $115 per night.

For the non-campers, there are several hotels available nearby in Lewisburg.

Hiking Beartown State Park

Beartown State Park has one memorable trail for nature enthusiasts. It is a beautiful ½ mile loop on a wooden boardwalk. This path is well known for its beauty and provides a wonderful calm escape for visitors as they hike through the park.

The boardwalk will lead you by the deep crevices and large boulders that Beartown is known for. Along the way, there are numerous educational signs that point out and explain how these natural sights created by Droop Sandstone have occurred. Droop Sandstone is made up of small amounts of rock grains and clay minerals including mica in a maze of quartz cement. Small amounts of quartz and mica can be seen in some of the rocks if you look closely enough.

The boardwalk is a wooden path that will take you up and down staircases. It will also lead through some tighter spots but it is guaranteed to provide you with some amazing views.

The scenic landscapes that you can see are amazing, but you should also take the time to admire the smaller details along the boardwalk like the amazing collections of fungi.

There is a shorter handicap accessible path, so all visitors can enjoy the highlights of this park.  

Nearby Attractions

If you have a furry friend with you along for the ride, then you will want to explore some of these other dog-friendly attractions in the area. To continue the relaxing atmosphere that you have gained at the park consider taking your pup to Greenbrier Valley Brewing or Smooth Ambler Spirits for some drinks along with a casual atmosphere.

You may also want to consider visiting some of the neighboring parks in the area like Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Watoga State Park, or Seneca State Forest.

• Droop Mountain Battlefield is a part of the Civil War Discovery Trail and is where the last major conflict of the Civil War happened in West Virginia. It has several trails and a play area for kids.  
• Watoga State Park is the largest of West Virginia’s state parks. Watoga provides the opportunity for more hiking as well as water activities like boating, fishing, and swimming.     
• Seneca State Forest has 23 miles of trails available for biking or hiking. There is a lake where you can go fishing and they also have a volleyball and horseshoe court. The park is known for the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower.            

For those that are not traveling with a dog, there are a few more fun stops to check out. The Salt Cave and Spa is a great place to continue to relax and unwind. For those that are interested in underground adventures, you will want to visit the Lost World Caverns or Organ Cave. The Greenbank Observatory is another interesting stop that is home to the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope along with a science center. They do offer tours of the site if you would like the full experience.

Why You Should Visit:

Beartown State Park is a wonderful natural oasis that is accessible to everyone. If you are nearby, it is worth a stop to admire the beauty of the area. With access to a bathroom and picnic tables, this is a perfect place to stop and eat lunch or an afternoon or midmorning snack before taking a short, beautiful hike on the boardwalk. This is a great place to visit while enjoying this region of West Virginia.

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