Bear Creek Lake State Park

Number of each site type: EW - 23; RV35 - 11; Waterview TENT - 10; BC Group Site - 1

EW – Electric-water sites; gravel parking area; can hold various equipment up to 20 feet; accepts outlets 20 and 30-amp current in the Acorn Loop. Black Oak and Chestnut accepts outlets 20, 30 and 50-amp current.

RV35 – Electric-water sites; gravel parking area; holds equipment up to 35 feet long; accepts 20, 30 and 50-amp current. These are located in Black Oak and Chestnut Camping Loops. Note that 35ft means the the combined length of the tow vehicle and trailer should not exceed 35 ft.

Waterview TENT - Tents only. No hookups. Gravel parking area; tent pads and natural surface for setting up a tent.

Total: 45 sites

Group Campsite

The park rents a group campsite that has no hookups and is for tents only. It's near Chestnut Loop and next to the bunkhouse. The site accommodates up to 36 people and is near a restroom. It has six picnic tables, a large pedestal grill and a stone fire pit surrounded by three benches. All equipment must be set up on gravel-covered areas. The campsite is available from April 1 through Oct. 31. Group campsite guests use restrooms in nearby Chestnut Loop and Acorn Loop (about 200 yards away). There is a non-refundable transaction fee plus a cancellation fee when reservations for this site are canceled. The fee for canceling any group site that accommodates more than six people is greater than that for single campsites.

• Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Dogs must be attended to at all times and are not allowed on the beach.
• Sites are primitive; no water or electricity.
• One vehicle is allowed per campsite. No more than 6 vehicles are allowed in the group campsite area. Additional vehicles may be parked at the park office, and a daily parking fee is charged.
• Check-in is at 4 p.m., and check-out is at 1 p.m.
• A burn ban is in effect from midnight to 4 p.m. from Feb. 15 to April 30.

From Feb. 15 through April 30, a burn ban is in effect from midnight to 4 p.m. No open fires, including charcoal fires, are allowed until after 4 p.m. unless a camp host is on-site.

During prime season, weekly rental for cabins 6 through 9 starts on Friday, cabins 1 through 5 on Saturday, and for 10 through 13 on Sunday.

• Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m.
• Maximum two cars per cabin; additional parking is very limited and may not be available. Guests will find an overflow parking area by the linen building. A parking fee is charged for additional cars. 3 bedroom cabins allow 3 vehicles.
• Each cabin has at least one bathroom.
• Kitchen: Refrigerator, stove, coffeemaker, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster, manual can opener.
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bath mat, kitchen towels and cloths.
• Bring food, dish detergent, dish towels, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, body wash/soap, bath towels, books, board games or cards.
• Keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet when they're not in an enclosed area. Pets are not allowed on the beach. Pets may not be left unattended at any time during your stay.
• A fee is charged per pet per night.
• No smoking in cabins.
• No dishwasher, phone, TV, washer or dryer.
• Wood-burning fireplace. The park provides one bundle of complimentary firewood; extra firewood is available for a nominal fee. Firewood is available in a shed at the entrance to the Acorn Camping Loop. Firewood sales support the Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park. Cash payments are accepted. Credit card payments through a QR code are accepted at the firewood shed.
• Living area: Sofa, dining table, chairs and end tables.
• Bedrooms: Bed(s), nightstands, dresser, closet with hangers, clock radio.
• Heated and air-conditioned with a heat pump.
• No smoking.
• Each cabin has a picnic table, fire ring and a charcoal pedestal grill.
• Wrap-around deck; open porch with rocking chairs and end tables.
• Out of respect for cabin guests, large gatherings and camping are not allowed in the cabin area.
• Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. Only overnight guests are allowed in the park after 10 p.m. Visitors are charged daily parking fees; visitors must park in the area designated by the park.
• Cabins 2, 4, 5, 11 and 12 are waterview.
• Two Bedroom Cabins are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12. Maximum capacity six, one queen bed, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four); one bathroom which is a stand-up type shower stall. No bathtubs.
• Cabin 5 is a two bedroom cabin and it is handicap accessible. This cabin has a queen bed, one set of bunk beds and a full-size pullout couch in the living area. This cabin has a handicap accessible bathroom and accessible shower.
• Cabin 6 has 15 steps leading to the cabin.
• The 3-bedroom cabins, 9 and 11, have two bathrooms. Cabin 9 (handicap accessible) has one bathroom with a shower/tub combination and one with an ADA-accessible shower. In cabin 11, the two bathrooms include a shower/tub combination. Three-bedroom maximum capacity eight, one queen bed, two single beds in the second bedroom, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four) in the third bedroom; no bed rentals.
• The two-bedroom cabins offer a shower amenity in the bathroom.
• Each cabin and the lodge allows for an electric vehicle to be charged. It is 15 amp service.

Lodges

• Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m.
• No bed rentals.
• Maximum occupancy is 16.
• Maximum five cars; additional parking is very limited and may not be available. A parking fee is charged for additional cars. Overflow parking is nearby.
• Six bedrooms, one of which is universally accessible, and three bathrooms, one of which is universally accessible. One universally accessible bath is between the master bedrooms; the other two baths are shared by the four remaining bedrooms.
• Two bedrooms have queen size beds.
• Two bedrooms each have two single beds.
• Two bedrooms have two sets of bunk beds (each room sleeps four).
• Universally accessible: Kitchen, dining area, living room, one bedroom and one bath. The other bedrooms and bathrooms are not universally accessible.
• The lodge has 3 bathrooms. One is universally accessible with a shower. The other two bathrooms offer a shower/tub combination.
• No smoking.
• Kitchen-dining-living area has an open floor plan.
• The kitchen is equipped with an electric range/oven, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, drip coffee maker, pots, pans, dishes and utensils.
• The living area includes a fireplace with gas logs. One bundle of wood is provided free of charge for use in the fire ring. Firewood is available in a shed at the entrance to the Acorn Camping Loop. Firewood sales support the Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park. Cash payments are accepted. Credit card payments through a QR code are accepted at the firewood shed.
• The dining room table seats eight, and there are six other seats at the counter.
• Heated and air-conditioned with a heat pump.
• One porch on the front; a second porch on the back of the lodge.
• Washer and dryer.
• Limited view of the water from the lodge.
• Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet when not in an enclosed area. They are not allowed on the beach. Pets may not be left unattended at any time.
• A fee is charged per pet per night.
• Large gatherings and camping are not allowed in the cabin area to respect other cabin guests.
• Each cabin and lodge allows for an electric vehicle to be charged. It is 15 amp service.

Total sites of each type: two-bedroom frame, 6; two-bedroom frame waterview, 4; three-bedroom frame, 1; three-bedroom frame waterview, 1; Bear Creek Lodge, 1

Site Types:

Two-bedroom frame cabin, maximum capacity six, one queen bed, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four); no bed rentals; one bathroom.

Two-bedroom frame waterview cabin, maximum capacity six, one queen bed, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four); no bed rentals. Cabin 5, which is universally accessible, has a queen bed, one set of bunk beds and a full-size pullout couch in the living area; one bathroom.

Three-bedroom frame cabin, maximum capacity of eight, one queen bed, two single beds in the second bedroom, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four) in the third bedroom; no bed rentals; two bathrooms. This three-bedroom cabin is universally accessible.

Three-bedroom frame waterview cabin, maximum capacity eight, one queen bed, two single beds in the second bedroom, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four) in the third bedroom; no bed rentals; two bathrooms.

Bear Creek Lodge (aka The Lakehouse) - six bedrooms, maximum capacity 16, three bathrooms, universally accessible, a queen-size bed in each of the two-bedroom, two single beds in two bedrooms, two sets of bunk beds each in two bedrooms (each room sleeps four); no bed rentals.

Bunkhouse

The park rents a bunkhouse that is next to the group campsite and near Chestnut Loop. The bunkhouse is not a full-service lodge. It has two rooms and seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a coffee pot, and heating and air conditioning. The bunkhouse also has a charcoal grill and deck outside. Cooking and smoking are prohibited inside the bunkhouse. Five vehicles are permitted with the rental of the bunkhouse; the daily parking fee must be paid for additional vehicles.

This facility becomes available in January each year; unlike most overnight facilities, it is not sold 11 months in advance. Check-in is 4 p.m., and checkout is 10 a.m. The check-in envelope will be posted outside the park office door beginning at the 4 p.m. check in time.

The transfer deadline and cancellation and pet fees are the same as those for cabins, but there is no week stay requirement; there is a two-night minimum.

• No linens are provided. Guests must bring all linens: sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bath mat, kitchen towels and cloths.
• Maximum occupancy is 14. Guests are responsible for any damage.
• The minimum stay is two nights.
• It has no bathroom, kitchen or fireplace.
• Bunkhouse guests use the bathhouse in Chestnut Loop, which is about 75 yards away. The bathhouse in Acorn Loop, which is about 200 yards away, is available during shoulder seasons.
• A fee is charged per pet per night.
• Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside.
• Electrical outlets are available but limited to 15-amp service.
• No extra bed rentals are available.
• The bunkhouse is next to the park's group campsite, which may be rented by calling the Customer Service Center (800) 933-PARK (7275). Large groups should consider renting the bunkhouse and the group camping area.

Please note: The bunkhouse is not Bear Creek Lodge. The bunkhouse is next to the park's group campsite.

Whenever Watersports Self-Serve Kayak Rentals

Single and tandem kayaks are available to rent for an expanded season through the Whenever Watersports app and kiosk. Find more details here.

Those interested in fishing outside of the state park in the Cumberland State Forest lakes, including Arrowhead, Bonbrook, Oak Hill and Winston lakes, must obtain a State Forest Use Permit (in addition to a regular freshwater fishing license). Call 804-492-4121 or visit the state forestry department's website for details.