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Little Beaver State Park

Established in 1972, the 562-acre Little Beaver State Park is in Beaver, a few miles southeast of Beckley. Development there began in the late 1930s with Civilian Conservation Corps workers clearing land, cutting stone, and building roads. Originally a 4-H camp, the park’s main attraction now is the 18-acre lake, with its dock, rowboats, and paddle boats. A sandy beach bounded by white pines offers one of the loveliest swimming areas in the state. The lake was created in 1941, with the damming of Little Beaver Creek by the WPA.

Fishermen catch bass, channel catfish, crappies, bluegill, and especially the stocked trout at Little Beaver State Park. There is the paved Lake Front Trail suitable for handicapped use, and also a pier for people with disabilities. Local people have filled the park’s museum with their collections of antique bottles and farm implements. There are covered picnic shelters near the museum and near the lake. Youngsters enjoy the recreation building, game room, and playground. In 2011, a campground opened with 30 sites. The park now has 16 camping sites with water hookups and 30 with water and electric. The park also has a small cabin available for rental.

Hiking trails lace through the rhododendron bushes and hemlock trees in the hills around the lake or follow the shore. Visitors can use picnic tables and shelters, some at the water’s edge, others back in the woods. Little Beaver State Park is a popular place for family reunions, with many scheduled there each summer.

Written by Maureen F. Crockett