Watoga State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- 38 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- wvstateparks.com304-799-4087
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 10,213 acres, Watoga State Park lies in Pocahontas County, about 25 miles north of Covington.
Popular activities here are historic sites, hunting in season, boating, swimming, and biking. Its trail network totals roughly 40 miles, according to the park. For overnight stays there are 38 campsites (RV sites with electric hookups and tent sites). If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins.
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.
Campgrounds are open spring through fall, 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
- 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
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping Season: Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis after Labor Day. Watoga State Park has two campgrounds: the 38-unit Beaver Creek Campground and the 50-site Riverside Campground. Beaver Creek has 28 sites with electric hookups, and Riverside offers 50 sites with electric hookups. Each site includes picnic tables, grills, and a central bathhouse with coin operated laundry and dishwashing stations. 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 after Labor Day. A campsite reservation application is available here. | 38 | Beaver Creek has 28 sites with electric hookups, and Riverside offers 50 sites with electric hookups.Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
Watoga State Park has two campgrounds: the 38-unit Beaver Creek Campground and the 50-site Riverside Campground. Beaver Creek has 28 sites with electric hookups, and Riverside offers 50 sites with electric hookups. Each site includes picnic tables, grills, and a central bathhouse with coin-operated laundry and dishwashing stations. Beaver Creek Campground offers free guest wifi at check-in building with firewood and ice also available for purchase at check-in building. Riverside Campground offers free guest wifi at each bathhouse with firewood and ice available for purchase at check-in building. Campsites may be reserved anytime online, by phone, or at the campground office. Watoga campgrounds are open spring through fall, weather permitting. Reservations may be made for no less than two consecutive nights on weekends (Fri. and Sat.) or one night (Sun. – Thurs.) There is a 14-night maximum stay.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Cabins: 34 units
Cabins Watoga State Park has 34 cabins, 10 of which are modern and 24 will take you back with rustic log and stone construction. Cabins are equipped with modern kitchen appliances and bathrooms with showers, as well as common housekeeping wares, such as cooking utensils, bed linens and towels. Watoga's modern cabins are open year-round and can accommodate four to eight guests. The 24 standard cabins are open from April through October and can accommodate two to six persons.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCampingFishingGeocachingHikingHuntingHistoric sites and toursSwimming
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Trail | — | Moderate to difficult | Designated as part of a backpack trail system, this trail extends from its northern terminus near Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County south to its intersection with the famed Appalachian Trail near the West Virginia-Virginia border in Monroe County. Distance: Approximately 5.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Ann Bailey Trail | 3 mi | Moderate to difficult | Trail follows the old roadbed across the top of Pyles Mountain and Workman Ridge to the Ann Bailey Lookout Tower. Mountain bikes welcome. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Arrowhead Trail | 1 mi | Difficult | Not a loop, Return by same trail. Trailhead is at Riverside Campground across from the check-in station. The steep trail leading up to the Ann Bailey Lookout Tower offers spectacular views of the Greenbrier River Valley and Little Levels section of Pocahontas County. Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Difficult |
| Bearpen Trail | 3 mi | Moderate | A loop roughly 4.75 miles long can be made of this trail by incorporating the Buck and Doe Trail and the North Boundary Trail into your walk. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Brooks Memorial Arboretum Trails | 4.5 mi | Easy to moderate | A separate map for the Arboretum is available at the park office, campground check-in stations and other visitor contact points throughout the park. Distance: 4.5 miles (loop) Difficulty: Easy to moderate |
| Buck and Doe Trail | 0.75 mi | Easy | Trailheads are on Bearpen Trail and North Boundary Trail. This trail enables hikes to make a loop of the Bearpen Trail. Distance: 0.75 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Burnside Ridge Trail | 3 mi | Moderate | This trail branches from the Ann Bailey Trail about halfway between the Ann Bailey Trailhead and the Ann Bailey Lookout Tower. Trail ends on end of the ridge. Not a loop; must return by same trail. Mountain bikes welcome. Distance: 3 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Honeymoon Trail | 2 mi | Moderate | Trailheads are located by cabin 34 and on the T. M. Cheek Road 0.5 mile south of the T. M. Cheek Overlook. Distance: 2 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Jesse's Cove Trail | 2.5 mi | Moderate to difficult | The trailhead is in Riverside Campground across from campsite 6. Trail follows the Greenbrier River downstream to the mouth of Rock Run, then follows Rock Run to the top of Workman Ridge, a climb of more than 1,000 feet. Near the top of the ridge is the old Jarvis/Workman Cabin, an original pioneer cabin. The trail ends at the Ann Bailey Trail. Distance: 2.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Kennison Run Trail | 3.5 mi | Moderate to difficult | Trailheads are at Laurel Run Primitive Campground and along the T. M. Cheek Road across from the Honeymoon Trailhead. Not a loop trail. Many creek crossings are encountered so wear sturdy shoes. Distance: 3.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate to difficult |
| Lake Trail | 1.5 mi | Easy | This is a mostly level trail that encircles Watoga Lake. Trailheads are at the boat docks, dam and the pool parking lot. Distance: 1.5 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Monongaseneka Trail | 2.5 mi | Moderate | The trailhead is 0.5 mile above cabin 2 on the Island Lick Road. The trail climbs the sidehill to a reasonably level grade with views through the trees of the Greenbrier River then turns into beautiful Jeff Hollow, before climbing the ridge to the top. The trail ends at the North Boundary Trail. Distance: 2.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| North Boundary Trail | 2 mi | Moderate | This is a connector trail between Buck and Doe Trail, Bearpen Trail and the Monongaseneka Trail. NOTE: Do not follow farm road east beyond the Buck and Doe Trail as the road crosses private property. Distance: 2 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| Pine Run Trail | 0.75 mi | Easy | The trailhead is located between cabins 27 and 28 in the Pine Run Cabin Area. It winds gently up the hollow to intersect with the Honeymoon Trail about 200 yards from the T. M. Cheek Road. Distance: 0.75 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| T. M. Cheek Trail | 0.5 mi | Easy | The trailheads are at cabin 21 and on the T.M. Cheek Road 200 yards north of the overlook. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Easy |
| Ten Acre Trail | 0.5 mi | Moderate | The short Ten Acre Trail affords an easy connection between the Honeymoon Trail and the T. M. Cheek Road. Distance: 0.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate |
| South Burnside Trail | 1 mi | Moderate | This trail branches off from the Burnside Ridge Trail and follows an old farm road out to the end of the ridge. Not a loop; return by the same trail. Mountain bikes welcome. Distance: 1 mile Difficulty: Moderate |
Trail descriptions from the park
Watoga State Park has 40 miles of hiking trails just for you, ranging from short and easy, to long and challenging. Visitors may also access the nearby 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail for more fun and great views. [trailcta]
Swimming
The Watoga State Park pool is closed.
Boating and paddling
Come relax on a paddle boat or canoe for an hour. Personal boats are permitted on Watoga Lake, but motors are restricted to electric, trolling motors only. Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day the park rents paddle boats, row boats, canoes and kayaks for a nominal fee.
Fishing
Go fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and trout at Watoga Lake. But before you head out, make sure you purchase a current West Virginia fishing license, available at www.wvfish.com. If you’re planning a fishing trip and need overnight accommodations, check in to a cabin. But hurry! They book up fast. Make you reservation by clicking Book Now! Fishing in Watoga State Park
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Nature center or museum
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
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
- 4800 Watoga Park Rd.
Marlinton, WV 24954 - Nearest town
- Covington — about 25 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.1213, -80.1381
- Phone
- 304-799-4087
- watogasp@wv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- West Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Jul 1, 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. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology