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State Park · Greenbrier Valley

Watoga State Park

West Virginia's largest state park at over 10,100 acres, built largely by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. An 11-acre lake, extensive trail network, cabins, an arboretum and direct connections to the Greenbrier River Trail and the adjoining Calvin Price State Forest.

10,100 ac · Largest state park1930s · CCC-built

Know before you go

  • The park is a designated International Dark Sky Park
  • Ann Bailey Lookout Tower gives the best view in the park
  • Trail network connects into Calvin Price State Forest for real backcountry

What you can do here

Hiking

Year-round

Camping

Apr–Oct

Fishing

Year-round

Mountain Biking

Mar–Nov

Birding

Year-round, peak May

Horseback Riding

Apr–Nov

Flatwater Paddling

Apr–Oct

Nature Observation

Year-round

Geocaching

Year-round
AdvertiseThis space is available

Guides, gear and lodging near Watoga State Park

Place-level placement for operators within range of this trailhead, put-in or crag.

List your business here

Who looks after it

Greenbrier River Watershed Association Nonprofit One of West Virginia's oldest watershed associations and especially important for Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas and Summers county research. Visit West Virginia Scenic Trails Association Nonprofit Home organization for the Allegheny Trail — maintenance, mapping, guidebooks and volunteer trail work. Visit Allegheny Trail Nonprofit West Virginia's roughly 300-mile north–south long-distance hiking trail. Visit Snowshoe Highlands Area Recreation Collaborative (SHARC) Nonprofit Regional trail development around Snowshoe and Pocahontas County, home to an IMBA Ride Center designation effort. Visit Greenbrier River Trail Government 78 miles, 35 bridges and 2 tunnels along the Greenbrier River — the state's flagship rail-trail. Visit U.S. Forest Service — Monongahela National Forest Federal 919,000 acres of public land open to hunting, dispersed camping, hiking and backcountry use. Visit Monongahela National Forest Equestrian Trails Federal Extensive national forest equestrian trail mileage with horse camping opportunities. Visit Monongahela National Forest Federal 919,000 acres including Dolly Sods, Otter Creek, Cranberry and Roaring Plains wilderness areas, Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob. Visit

Nearby in the Greenbrier Valley

Trail · Greenbrier Valley

Greenbrier River Trail

Seventy-eight miles from Cass to Caldwell on a former Chesapeake & Ohio logging grade, crossing 35 bridges and passing through 2 tunnels, following the Greenbrier River the entire way.

78 mi length35 bridges
State Park · Greenbrier Valley

Beartown State Park

A half-mile boardwalk through a formation of large Droop Sandstone blocks separated by deep crevasses, some of which hold ice into early summer.

110 ac park0.5 mi boardwalk
National Forest · Greenbrier Valley

Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

The largest area of bogs in West Virginia — sphagnum and cranberry peat bogs holding plant communities left behind after the last glaciation, more typical of Canada than the mid-Atlantic, including carnivorous sundews and pitcher plants.

750 ac glades0.5 mi boardwalk
National Forest · Greenbrier Valley

Falls of Hills Creek

Three waterfalls in three-quarters of a mile, dropping 25, 45 and 63 feet — the last is the second-highest waterfall in West Virginia.

63 ft lower falls3 waterfalls
National Forest · Greenbrier Valley

Highland Scenic Highway

A 43-mile National Scenic Byway climbing over 4,500 feet across the Allegheny plateau between Richwood and US 219, with four major overlooks and access to Cranberry Glades, the Falls of Hills Creek and the Cranberry Wilderness.

43 mi byway4,500+ ft high point
Wilderness · Greenbrier Valley

Cranberry Wilderness

47,815 acres of second-growth northern hardwood and red spruce on the high plateau — the largest wilderness in West Virginia.

47,815 ac wildernessUnblazed by design

Almost Heaven Swings