Prickett's Fort State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- wvstateparks.com304-363-3030
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 214 acres, Prickett's Fort State Park lies in Marion County, about 4 miles northeast of Fairmont.
Things to do include historic sites, boating, biking, fishing, and geocaching. For overnight stays there are campsites (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 | Daily | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
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
Prickett's Fort is a day-use park, but you're never far from a campground in West Virginia. Try these state parks:
Audra State Park
Cooper's Rock State Forest
Tygart Lake State Park
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Prickett’s Fort State Park does not provide any overnight accommodations, but visitors may camp, rent cabins or stay in the lodge at Tygart Lake State Park, located 22 miles south of the park.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCampingFishingGeocachingHikingHistoric sites and tours
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prickett’s Fort Nature Trail | — | Easy | This trail introduces guests to the flora and fauna of north central West Virginia. Distance: 1/4 mile Difficulty: Easy |
| MC Trail | 3 mi | Easy | A converted rails-to-trail for walkers, joggers and cyclists. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Easy |
Trail descriptions from the park
Prickett's Fort is a great stop for hiking enthusiasts. The Nature Trail starts near the Wildlife Observation Platform, and extends along what would have been the original road used by the area's original settlers. This trail follows a path between Prickett’s Creek and the fort, and ends at the historic Prickett Cemetery. Additional hiking is available on the MCTrail (Marion County Trail), which stretches three miles, from the park to Fairmont.
Boating and paddling
All can enjoy Prickett's Creek and Bay and the Monongahela River with boating facilities including a launch ramp and trailer parking. The park also offers picnic areas, nature trails, fishing and a boat launch on the Monongahela River.
Fishing
Grab your bait and tackle! Fish are plentiful here, with bass tournaments also held in season at Prickett’s Fort State Park. Proper fishing license and stamps are required and may be purchased online at wvhunt.com.
Fishing in Prickett’s Fort State Park
A state fishing license is usually required.
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
- 88 State Park Road
Fairmont, WV 26554 - Nearest town
- Fairmont — about 4 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.5174, -80.0940
- Phone
- 304-363-3030
- info@prickettsfort.org
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- West Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Apr 30, 2026
- 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)
- Photo: 23-11-012-model.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Dsdugan
“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