Bear Creek Lake State Park in Virginia, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-26. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bear Creek Lake State Park in Cumberland County, Virginia, is a place for a lake-edge walk, woodland birdwatching, and a picnic within the Cumberland State Forest landscape. Plan this as a day outing, using the park’s pedestrian trails and checking access notices before travel.

Woodland walks beside the lake

The lakeshore’s deciduous woods attract mixed feeding flocks, including Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice. The park trail map identifies several short choices, including the half-mile Pine Knob Trail and quarter-mile Running Cedar Trail. Choose a named trail and its return route before leaving the parking area.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Choose the right trail and access area

The park map marks the Willis River and Cumberland Multi-Use trails as routes that do not loop back to the park. Do not assume that following a connecting trail will return you to your car. Swimming and wading are restricted to designated areas during operating hours; confirm the applicable water-access conditions with the park before entering the lake.

Keep park and forest uses distinct

Park hiking trails are for pedestrians. Bicycles and horses use the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on state park trails. Keep pets enclosed or on a leash no longer than six feet.

Reservations and lake-access credentials

For reservable park facilities, call 800-933-7275. Virginia DWR requires one of these credentials to access the lake: a Restore the Wild membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or access permit. Confirm which option applies before your visit.

Maps, location, and access

The address is 22 Bear Creek Lake Road, Cumberland, VA 23040. From the Midlothian direction, follow U.S. 60 west, turn onto Route 622/Trents Mill Road, then Route 629/Oak Hill Road and Route 666/Bear Creek Lake Road. Use the DWR park listing for the address, directions, and access requirements.

Nearby parks and forest access

Cumberland State Forest surrounds the park; its Coffey Trail parking area is near the forest office at 751 Oak Hill Road. The forest’s Warner swinging bridge is closed as unsafe. For a separate road outing toward Powhatan, consider Powhatan State Park at 4616 Powhatan State Park Road.

Watch birds and take a short walk

Walk slowly through the deciduous lakeshore woods and look for birds moving together through the canopy. For a shorter route, compare Pine Knob and Running Cedar on the map; for a longer outing, check the connecting trail’s endpoint and make a return plan.

Day-use facilities and accessibility

DWR lists parking, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms at Bear Creek Lake. It also identifies an accessible pier. Contact the park about the route and facilities you need rather than assuming that every woodland trail is accessible.

A recreation area within Cumberland State Forest

From a 1938 lake project to a state park

The lake was created in 1938 as a Recreation Development Area. It passed to the Division of State Parks in 1940, and the name Bear Creek Lake State Park followed in 1962. The Virginia historic register records the site’s development and its National Register listing in 2012.

Forest birds and lakeshore animals

Look for green herons at the shallows and eastern painted turtles along the banks. The woods can also hold white-breasted nuthatches and hairy woodpeckers. These are wildlife-watching possibilities rather than guaranteed sightings.

Contact

Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation manages the park. Call 804-492-4410 or email [email protected] for current access and facility information.