Visit Bluestone State Park

Exploring Bluestone State Park

Bluestone State Park in Hinton is another fantastic park in West Virginia with a little bit of everything for those who love the outdoors. Located by Bluestone Lake and Bluestone River, visitors can fish or enjoy the water by boat. This park also has a pool, multiple hiking trails, and other activities to keep you and your family busy. Like most state parks in West Virginia, Bluestone is also pet-friendly so you can bring your pup along to join in on the fun.

What to Expect at Bluestone State Park 

This particular state park is located near Bluestone River and Bluestone Lake offering several water-based activities. There are several hiking trails available with most of them having some steep inclines. Cell phone service is intermittent, so make sure to download or grab a map at the visitor station during you’re your stay.

While driving through the park, the roads do have multiple curves as you make your way to the different facilities and trailheads. Since many of the trails require hikers to either cross the road or walk along the roads to get back to their starting point, it is important to drive carefully and pay attention. This is especially important because some areas do not have space for pedestrians to walk next to the roads which means they will be sharing the roads with you.

There have been a few bear sightings in the park so make sure to utilize the trashcans and don’t leave any food or trash behind. You will also want to be aware that there are two types of venomous snakes in the area: copperheads and rattlesnakes. Like most animals, they typically will leave you alone if you leave them alone. The best thing to do is to stay on the trails and if you see one, just give them a wide berth. Keep an eye out for other animals like turtles and some cool-looking fungi.

Are Dogs Allowed at Bluestone State Park?

Dogs are allowed at Bluestone State Park. They can join you on the hiking trails, campgrounds, and even in some of the cabins.  Like most parks, you are not able to bring your dog to the pool area. However, depending on the ranger at the visitor center, you may be able to bring your pup there. If you are really lucky, you may get a chance to meet one of their dogs too!

Bluestone State Park Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is located off the main road that leads into the park. This is where all campers and cabin guests will need to check in for their reservations. Inside is where you can ask the ranger on duty any questions you may have, as well as pick up park maps and a calendar of events. The gift shop is located here as well. The parking area is across the street from the buildings against a safety railing which doubles as a nice overlook. Parking is limited so be prepared to have to loop around and try again if you find it full.

Lodging in Bluestone State Park

Bluestone State Park has a full range of campsites and cabins available and there are pet-friendly options for both. The campgrounds are open seasonally and the cabins have year-round availability.

Bluestone Campsites

If you are interested in camping, this park has 4 different campgrounds to choose from Meador, Old Mill, Tent Area, and East Shore. Meador and Old Mill campgrounds are both open to tents and RVs and have central bathrooms with showers. The main difference between the two is that Meador has several sites that have access to electricity and water and Old Mill only has rustic campsites. These sites range from $26- $36 per night.

The tent area campground has 5 rustic camping sites and is available for group camping with the price of around $15 per night. This area also has a central bathroom, but the nearest showers are down the road at Meador campground. The East Shore Campground has only primitive sites and you can only get to these by boat.

Bluestone Cabins

Bluestone has 26 cabins total that can sleep anywhere from 2-8 people: 25 classic cabins and 1 vacation cabin and the starting nightly rate is typically around $127. Not all the cabins are pet-friendly so if you are bringing your pup, make sure you are booking a pet-friendly one. They all have full kitchens, open fireplaces, and bathrooms. Some of the cabins even have heat and air conditioning if you are looking for an optimal temperature experience during your stay. Another bonus to staying in one of the cabins is that you will get access to Pipestem Resort State Park’s indoor pool, sauna, and other facilities.

Another option is booking a room at one of the hotels nearby.

Activities Available at Bluestone State Park

Bluestone State Park has a nice variety of activities without being overwhelming which makes it a great spot for a long weekend. Spend some time on the water, go swimming, hiking, or play some games with your friends and family.

Picnic Shelters and Other Activities at Bluestone State Park

Bluestone State Park does have a picnic shelter available to rent for large gatherings. Guests of the park are also able to rent equipment to play games onsite like croquet, horseshoe, basketball, volleyball, and even shuffleboard during the summer.  

If you are interested in attending organized activities hosted by the park rangers, check in with the visitor center for an updated calendar of events.

Swimming at Bluestone State Park

Bluestone State Park does have an outdoor pool that you can swim in. There is a small fee for visitors unless you are staying in one of the cabins. Cabin guests get free access to this pool and the indoor pool and sauna at Pipestem State Park as well. All other guests are also welcome to enjoy these amenities at Pipestem but there will be an additional fee.  

Pipestem State Park is also home to Adventure Lake and Splash Park if you are looking for a more active water experience. They have multiple inflatables in the lake that you can climb and jump off of. You can choose between purchasing an all-day pass for around $12 or a half-day pass for $8. They do recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance and check the facilities for current hours as they do occasionally shut down for maintenance.

Boating and Fishing at Bluestone State Park

Fishermen will be excited to know that Bluestone Lake is home to bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. You will need a fishing license to partake in this sport which you can get online.

Bluestone lake is West Virginia’s 3^rd largest body of water which means there is plenty of space for your boats! If you have your own, there are public boat launches on the river and the lake for you to use. You can also go to the Bluestone Marina to rent one. The marina has kayaks and canoes available as well as fishing and pontoon boats to choose from.

Hiking in Bluestone State Park

Bluestone has 7 hiking trails for you to choose from with most of the trails rated as moderate to difficult.

Before you hit the trails, there are a few things you may find helpful to know about ahead of time so you can enjoy your time in nature.

• The more difficult trails can be steep and narrow at times. This can be challenging, especially if you are hiking with a dog that isn’t as aware of its footing or you tend to be a bit clumsy.
• The trails are all marked decently but cell service is spotty. Remember to take a map or at least a photo of the map to help navigate the trails while you are on your hike.
• None of these trails start and end in the same spot. I highly suggest studying the trail map so you can plan the best hiking trail combination for what you want.
• At some point, you will most likely have to walk the road to get back to your vehicle so you will want to be mindful of oncoming traffic since the roads are curvy.
• Some of the trails can be a bit overgrown or go through shallow water so consider wearing tall, waterproof hiking boots and pants to protect yourself from thorns.  

Nearby Attractions

Pipestem State Park is only 20 minutes away and offers a variety of action-packed adventures like a Splash Adventure Area, zipline tours, and more.

New River Gorge National Park covers a large area full of hiking trails and other fun activities like white water rafting.

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine has a unique way of teaching about the history of coal miners in West Virginia. They offer cart tours led by retired miners into a real coal mine.

Organ Cave has several cave tours available to choose from.

Cranberry Glades Botanical Area has a boardwalk where you can find carnivorous plants as you walk the trail.

Why You Should Visit Bluestone State Park

If you are traveling in West Virginia, Bluestone State Park is the perfect place to break up a road trip or spend a nice weekend. Relax on a boat, go fishing, take a hike, or swim while enjoying each other’s company. I appreciated the variety of things to do without feeling overwhelmed by having a ton of options. Bring your dog while you stay onsite in the campground or even in one of the pet-friendly cabins. If you are feeling adventurous, there are plenty of fun activities just a short drive away from the park that you can easily enjoy.

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