Panther State Forest
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- Required
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- wvstateparks.com304-938-2252
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Panther State Forest is a 32-acre forest in Mcdowell County, about 23 miles north of Richlands.
Popular activities here are horseback riding, hunting in season, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Overnight options include 2 camping areas, with RV sites with electric hookups, tent sites, and group camping.
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 | 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. | — |
Official wording
6 A.M. to 10 P.M.
The campground is open year-round, weather permitting.
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
- Required
- Booking system
- WV State Parks reservations (Inntopia-based, reservations.wvstateparks.com)
Reservations are required so call ahead before you plan to visit.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping Season: Group Camping
Panther has a group camp consisting of a 60-person barracks-style house and a main building with a modern kitchen, fireplace and a large open area for meetings and banquets. Camping
Panther State Forest has an improved rustic campground with six campsites. The campsites alongside Panther Creek, have electrical hookups, fireplaces and picnic tables with water access available at the park office about 2.5 miles from the campground. Camping is available year-round. Campsites at Panther State Forest are reservable by phone or in person at the forest office. Online reservations will become available in 2021.
Group Camping
Panther has a group camp consisting of a 60-person barracks-style house and a main building with a modern kitchen, fireplace and a large open area… | — | The campsites alongside Panther Creek, have electrical hookups, fireplaces and picnic tables with water access available at the park office about 2. | — |
| Group Camping Season: Panther has a group camp consisting of a 60-person barracks-style house and a main building with a modern kitchen, fireplace and a large open area for meetings and banquets. Panther has a group camp consisting of a 60-person barracks-style house and a main building with a modern kitchen, fireplace and a large open area for meetings and banquets. The group camp area has a large, open field with a volleyball and basketball court, a campfire ring with benches, and hiking trail access to the fire tower and swimming pool. Reservations are required so call ahead before you plan to visit. | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Panther State Forest has an improved rustic campground with six campsites. The campsites alongside Panther Creek, have electrical hookups, fireplaces and picnic tables with water access available at the park office about 2.5 miles from the campground. West Virginia State Park campground reservations are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis through October 31.
Panther has a group camp consisting of a 60-person barracks-style house and a main building with a modern kitchen, fireplace and a large open area for meetings and banquets. The group camp area has a large, open field with a volleyball and basketball court, a campfire ring with benches, and hiking trail access to the fire tower and swimming pool. Reservations are required so call ahead before you plan to visit.
Note: Beginning October 1, 2020 the Panther State Forest Group Camp will not be available for rent due to renovations which includes roof replacement. The group camp will be available to rent starting May 1, 2021. Reservations can be taken in advance for dates the group camp is available.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingFishingHikingHorseback ridingHuntingSwimming
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drift Branch Trail | 1.7 mi | Difficult | This trail starts behind the Group Camp. (When the Group Camp is occupied the trail can be accessed from the footbridge downstream.) The first section is steep and follows a contour until the trail reaches a drain, then follows the drain. The trail crosses two roads and a powerline right of way. At the top of the hill the trail ends at the fire tower. Distance: 1.7 miles Difficulty: Difficult |
| Twin Rocks Trail | 0.75 mi | Moderate | The easiest trail in the forest, Twin Rocks starts on the Drift Branch Trail behind the Group Camp. (When the Group Camp is occupied the trail can be accessed from the footbridge downstream.) Twin Rocks veers right where Drift Branch leads around a contour. The trail then crosses a powerline right of way and leads down an old tram road and back onto the main road. Distance: 0.75 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Overlook Trail | 0.75 mi | Difficult | This trail can be accessed either from the campground or Georges Fork. The overlook structure has been removed but hikers can still find scenic views from the site. Distance: 0.75 miles Difficulty: Difficult |
| Loop Trail | 2 mi | Difficult | As the least utilized trail in the forest, Loop Trail is hard to follow on several sections and is recommended for experienced hikers. Distance: 2 miles Difficulty: Difficult |
Trail descriptions from the park
Get back to nature with a hike through the dense forest. Miles of connecting trails and unimproved roads are open for hikers. All gated roads are open to foot traffic, but be sure to pick up a trail guide from the office before you head out.
Swimming
Bring the kids swimming! Surrounded by beautiful mountains, the swimming pool at Panther provides an ideal spot to cool off and relax from summer heat. The little ones can also splash around in the wading pool. Hours and days can vary during the summer, and evening rentals of the pool is available by advanced reservation.
NOTICE: The pool at Panther State Forest is undergoing repairs and hours of operation are subject to change. For up to date information about pool availability, call the forest office at 304-938-2252.
Fishing
In the spring, a four-mile section of Panther Creek is stocked with fresh trout. A fishing license and stamps are required, but you can purchase one online before heading to Panther.
Fishing in Panther State Forest
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Group facilities
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ 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
- 239 Ostenaco Road
Panther, WV 24872-1200 - Nearest town
- Richlands — about 23 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.4143, -81.8807
- Phone
- 304-938-2252
- dnrpanther@wv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- West Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated May 22, 2025
- 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