Beech Fork State Park in West Virginia, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Beech Fork State Park near Barboursville, West Virginia, combines lake recreation with a substantial hiking network and four campground areas. A short woodland walk and a camping trip are different planning tasks here: choose the trail or campground first, then check its access and season.

Lake scenery and a choice of walking routes

• The 720-acre lake is the center of the landscape, with wooded hills around it.
• The 0.8-mile Nature Trail gives a short walking option near park headquarters.
• Four camping areas offer different settings and seasons; the choice matters beyond the campsite number.

Match the visit to the season

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Water and longer-trail limits

Boat renters must be at least 16 and show valid identification. Life jackets are required and supplied with rentals. Do not treat the rental-dock season as proof that a boat is available on a particular day.

The 5-mile, one-way Mary Davis Trail is strenuous, has unmanaged side trails and enters the Wildlife Management Area before returning to the park. The official map advises blaze orange during hunting seasons. This is a different commitment from a short Nature Trail outing.

Keep park and wildlife-area rules distinct

Dogs and cats must remain leashed and restrained. Do not feed wildlife, and use fires only in designated grills or areas. Hunting is prohibited in the state park; the neighboring Wildlife Management Area has a separate purpose and rules.

Booking a campground stay

Use the official camping information and confirm the campground and dates with the park or its booking service. The detailed camping page lists Old Orchard and Moxley Branch reservations from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Contact the park about arrangements outside that reservation window or for another unit before traveling. Weekend reservations require at least two consecutive nights, Friday and Saturday; Sunday–Thursday stays can be one night. The maximum stay is 14 nights, and full payment is due when booking.

A responsible occupant must be at least 18. Use a designated, numbered site, with no more than two motor vehicles. Check-in is 1 p.m.; checkout is noon. Quiet hours run 10 p.m.–6 a.m.

Use the state-park entrance, not the marina

The state-park address is 5601 Long Branch Road, Barboursville, WV 25504. Beech Fork Marina in Lavalette has a separate launch outside the park. Check the destination when arranging a boating meeting or driving to a reserved campsite.

Other parks in the road-trip area

• Cabwaylingo State Forest is at 4279 Cabwaylingo Park Road in Dunlow, for a separate forest outing by road.
• Barboursville Park is on County Road 31/6 in Barboursville, a closer town-park option. At its Lake William, water sports other than fishing require a waiver from the Park Board and City Council.

Choose a short walk or a longer trail

Start with the Nature Trail if a short route is the priority. The 0.5-mile Long Branch Trail connects it with the Overlook/Fire Circle area across a footbridge. Use the official trail descriptions to plan the return route; a connector distance is not a round-trip total.

For a harder walk, Lost Trail is 3.5 miles one way with steep grades and links to Mary Davis Trail. Use the park map before combining routes. Fishing is another option, but a fishing license is required. The park activity page also gives the boat-rental and pool details.

Campground services

The park has 275 campsites, including 99 beside the lake, with bathhouses and restrooms serving the camping areas. Old Orchard provides 50-amp electric, water and sewer hookups, plus coin-operated laundry. Its free Wi-Fi is limited to the bathhouse area. Confirm the services attached to the specific site you select.

A recreation landscape built around a reservoir

From flood-control project to state park

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers formed the lake in the 1970s by damming the Beech and Miller forks of Twelvepole Creek. Flood control, recreation and wildlife management were part of the project. The state park opened in 1979.

Lake and woodland habitats

The reservoir and surrounding hills create a meeting of water and woodland. Keep the park distinct from the neighboring Wildlife Management Area when using species lists or planning activities; the two areas are not interchangeable.

Contact the park

Call 304-528-5794 or email [email protected]. Use the official Beech Fork State Park page for park information and current notices.