Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
- Status
- Status not postedOpen 24 hours
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- wvstateparks.com304-653-4254
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is a 293-acre park in Pocahontas County, about 27 miles northwest of Covington.
Things to do include historic sites and hiking. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Open 24 hours | ||
Official wording
24/7
Overnight accommodations are not offered within this park.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Pets
'Dogs and cats are the only pets permitted in state parks and forests. Pets must be leashed and restrained.' Select cabins are pet-friendly, varying by park.
Statewide rule from West Virginia's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
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.
Camping
Droop Mountain is a day-use park, but you’re never far from a campground in West Virginia. Try these nearby state parks:
Watoga State Park
Seneca State Forest
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park does not provide any overnight accommodations, but visitors may camp or rent cabins at nearby Watoga State Park.
Things to do
CampingHikingHistoric sites and tours
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Spring Trail | 0.75 mi | Difficult | The trail begins at the west overlook and dead-ends at a mountain spring. This trail is a strenuous climb back. Distance: 0.75 miles Difficulty: Difficult |
| Cranberry Bogs Trail | 0.5 mi | Easy | Hikers can start at the park office and end at the south picnic area. This is the most popular trail in the park, winding through a mountain bog where interesting plants, tall pines and wildlife can be seen. This trail is suitable for cross-country skiing in the winter. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Horse Heaven Trail | 0.25 mi | Moderate | This trail starts at the pump house near the cannon and ends at the south picnic area. The trail follows a series of small cliffs and gives access to Horse Heaven Rock, where horses killed in the battle of Droop Mountain were disposed of. Distance: 0.25 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Minie Ball Trail | 0.5 mi | Difficult | This is the most rigorous park trail, located in a ravine where Union soldiers climbed the mountain to attack the Confederates waiting above. The trail begins at the first sharp curve in the road near the office and ends at the tower. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Difficult |
| Musket Trail | 0.5 mi | Moderate | This trail starts near the park office and follows a steep hillside. Stumps of American Chestnut trees that were alive during the time of the battle remain. The trail ends at the lookout tower. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Old Soldier Trail | 0.75 mi | Easy | This easy trail follows an old road grade which passes near the spot where Major Robert Augustus Bailey was shot while trying to rally his men around the Confederate Flag. The trail begins near the battlefield monuments and ends at the stone shed near the tower. It is an excellent cross-country ski trail in the winter. Distance: 0.75 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Overlook Trail | 0.5 mi | Moderate | The trail begins at the pump house near the cannon and ends at the park office. The trail follows a series of rock cliffs. Following the cliffs, visitors can observe several small caves, an old bear den, a scenic overlook and Civil War trenches. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Tower Trail | 0.5 mi | Moderate | This trail begins at the park office and ends at the stone shed near the lookout tower. This is the shortest route from the park office to the lookout tower. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
Trail descriptions from the park
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park has hiking trails and gorgeous scenic views of the Greenbrier River Valley. The park has several trails of varying difficulty to suit every visitor.
[trailcta]
Amenities
Facilities
- Nature center or museum
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ 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
- 683 Droop Park Rd.
Hillsboro, WV 24946 - Nearest town
- Covington — about 27 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.1349, -80.2135
- Phone
- 304-653-4254
- dnrdroopmountain@wv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- West Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Jun 30, 2025
- West Virginia State Parks park finder: window.parks JSON embedded in the /parks/ page (WordPress page + park post with ACF meta)
- Wikidata
- 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