Coopers Rock State Forest
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- wvstateparks.com304-594-1561
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Preston County, about 17 miles south of Uniontown, Coopers Rock State Forest covers about 13,057 acres.
Visitors come for historic sites, hunting in season, canoeing and kayaking, biking, and fishing. The official site lists about 50 miles of trails. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites. There are also cabins for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
Fees apply to lodging, camping, pools and activities.
Statewide fee rule from West Virginia's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- WV State Parks reservations (Inntopia-based, reservations.wvstateparks.com)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
WiFi is available at the McCollum Campground for registered campsites and pets are permitted if they remain on a leash.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Coopers Rock State Forest has a primitive campground with 25 sites and an RV campground with 25 sites. Each site can be reserved a year in advance. Both campgrounds close during the winter but open by the first weekend in April, depending on weather. To confirm opening dates, call the forest office at 304-594-1561 or click here to go to Camping information and to 'View Rates and Availability' for all camping options and availability at Coopers Rock State Forest.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingCampingFishingGeocachingHikingHuntingHistoric sites and toursCanoeing and kayaking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Furnace Trail | 0.8 mi | Moderate | This trail is mostly level grade with a few steep sections. It runs from the furnace parking area to the Henry Clay iron furnace. Distance: 0.8 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Clay Run Trail | 1.8 mi | Moderate | View the historic Henry Clay Iron Furnace at the end of this moderate hiking trail. The trail begins across the road from the McCollum camping area entrance. Distance: 1.8 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Darnell Hollow Trail | 4 mi | Moderate/steep | This moderate to steep road/trail begins near the Calvary Church on Fairchance Road and ends at Chestnut Ridge Campground. Distance: 4 miles Difficulty: Moderate/steep |
| Eagle Trail | 0.3 mi | Easy | This very easy trail starts to the right of the gift shop and takes you to shelter #3 and the trailhead of Rock City Trail. Distance: 0.3 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Glade Run Trail | 1.5 mi | Moderate to difficult | This trail begins on the left of Sand Springs Road and ends at Messinger Lake. Distance: 1.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Goodspeed Highway Trail | 3 mi | Easy | This road/trail begins at the Quarry Run Road and leads to Chestnut Ridge Camp. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Johnson Hollow Trail | 3 mi | Moderate to difficult | This moderate to steep hiking trail connects the Goodspeed Highway Trail with Quarry Run Road. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Ken's Run Trail | 4.5 mi | Moderate | This moderate hiking trail runs from the old Sand Springs homestead to the archery range parking lot. Distance: 4.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Lick Run Trail | 1.8 mi | Moderate to difficult | This moderately steep trail begins at Sand Springs Road and ends at W.Va. 73. Distance: 1.8 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| McCollum Trail | 1 mi | Easy | This trail starts at McCollum Campground, crosses Ravens Rock Trail and connects with the main forest road. It is a great connector trail from the campground to Ravens Rock Trail or Coopers Rock Overlook via Roadside Trail. Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Easy |
| Mont Chateau Trail | 2.6 mi | Moderate to difficult | This trail that begins at the Henry Clay iron furnace and ends at Cheat Lake near the old Mont Chateau Lodge. Distance: 2.6 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Rattlesnake Trail | 0.7 mi | Moderate | This trail winds along the rocky cliffs that parallel the rim of the Cheat River canyon, and connects the concession stand and Rock City. Distance: 0.7 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Ravens Rock Trail | 1.5 mi | Moderate | This dual duty access road/trail begins at the gated road on the left, approximately 0.7 miles past the campground entrance. It leads to Ravens Rock overlook, which offers a spectacular view of the Cheat River Canyon. Distance: 1.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Reservoir Loop Trail | 0.7 mi | Easy | This is a nice trail for those looking for an easy loop hike. It starts from the Clay Run Trail near the reservoir and loops back to Clay Run Trail. Distance: 0.7 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Rhododendron Trail | 1 mi | Moderate | This trail starts at the lower picnic area near shelter 3 and ends at the Henry Clay iron furnace. It is the perfect place to see our state flower, the rhododendron. Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Moderate |
| Ridge Trail | 1.5 mi | Moderate | The ridge trail starts at the Rock City shelter, follows a moderate grade and connects with the Mont Chateau Trail. Distance: 1.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Rock City Trail | 1 mi | Easy | This easy to moderate trail runs from picnic shelter 3 through the area known as Rock City. Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Easy |
| Roadside Trail | 3 mi | Easy | This trail leads from the parking lot near the forest entrance to the overlook. It’s a great trail to hike to the overlook while staying off the road. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Scott Run Trail | 2.5 mi | Moderate to difficult | The trail begins near the forest entrance parking area and ends at the McCollum camping area. Distance: 2.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Underlook Trail | 0.2 mi | Moderate | This trail gives a unique view from the underside of the geological formation that is Coopers Rock overlook. Distance: 0.2 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Virgin Hemlock Trail | 1.2 mi | Easy | Visit a large hemlock grove which is over 300 years old at the end of this trail which starts at W.Va.73. Distance: 1.2 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Intermediate Ski Trail | 0.6 mi | Moderate | This trail is a connector trail between the Advanced Ski Trail and the Reservoir Ski Trail. Distance: 0.6 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Advanced Ski Trail | 2.3 mi | Moderate to difficult | This trail begins at the forest entrance parking area. For a short distance this trail shares Roadside Trail. When Roadside Trail forks off to the left, continue straight. The trail will lead you to the historic Henry Clay iron furnace. Distance: 2.3 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Reservoir Ski Trail | 0.8 mi | Moderate | Branching off the Advanced Ski Trail, this trail connects to the Reservoir Loop Trail. Distance: 0.8 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
Trail descriptions from the park
Enjoy hiking on nearly 50 miles of trails that wind through this vast forest! The Henry Clay Iron Furnace Trail, takes you on a trip back in time to find a huge stone structure used for producing iron in the 1800s, located in a grassy glade in an otherwise undisturbed forest. More amazing views and discoveries are found along various trails in the forest.
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Fishing
Cast a line at Messinger Lake and see what you can catch. But before you head out, make sure you purchase a current West Virginia fishing license, available at www.wvfish.com.
Fishing in Coopers Rock State Forest
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Nature center or museum
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 61 County Line Dr.
Morgantown, WV 26525 - Nearest town
- Uniontown — about 17 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.6667, -79.6220
- Phone
- 304-594-1561
- coopersrocksf@wv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- West Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Oct 2, 2026
- West Virginia State Parks park finder: window.parks JSON embedded in the /parks/ page (WordPress page + park post with ACF meta)
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology