Bear Creek Lake State Park

About Bear Creek Lake State Park

Bear Creek Lake State Park is located on the west side of Lake Michigan, just a few miles from Lake Erie, and offers the convenience of a large park without crowds. The activities revolve around the lake and its many lakes, as well as a variety of hiking, cycling, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and other activities.

The park is surrounded by a network of guarded, dirt forest paths offering hiking, mountain biking and nature observation. Four smaller lakes in the state forest are managed by the Ministry of Wildlife and Inland Fisheries for recreational fishing. The four lakes and Bear Creek Lake State Forest offer opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities.

Bear Creek Lake was founded in 1938 by the state Forestry Department as a project of the Virginia Department of Agriculture. The Virginia Forest Department also operates sports facilities in the Cumberland State Forest.

The 100 men who built the lake were members of the Civil Protection Corps when the project was implemented in the final days of the Great Depression.

They were simply carpenters, farmers and unskilled workers looking for work, and they built the next lake beside the lake.

In the 1940s the land was handed over to the State Park and used as a recreational area for day visitors. In 1962, a campground was added and the area was renamed Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Prices for cabins and tents vary according to the season and the offer of the park. First, choose the season (which may vary depending on the park) and then a reasonable price. Prices are the price of your cabin or tent, but also the cost of food, accommodation and other amenities.

As the beach is only open in summer, swimming is free for the tent dwellers, but you will have to pay for access to the pool and other amenities such as picnic tables.

Under no circumstances will the cost of swimming be refunded, but for parking fees please click here. Boat and bike rentals are available daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and boat launch is available for boats without fuel.

Over-the-shoulder rental is only available on weekends from May to September and all rentals require the supervision of a parent. Pets are not allowed on rental boats, but pets may not be left on the boat for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Rowing boats, kayaks, pedal boats, canoes and kayaks can also be rented in the park. Rental agreements can be terminated at any time during the summer months for a fee of $25 per day or $100 per month for the entire year.

A valid Virginia fishing license is required for lake fishing, and troll motors can be rented for a fee of $10 per day or $100 per month for the entire year.

The 40-acre lake offers a variety of recreational activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing and autumn hunting in the nearby Cumberland State Forest. Two canoe starts are on the Willis River, which reaches its mouth in Bear Creek Lake State Park. The slow-flowing tributary of Bear Creek, the Willis River, offers scenic views of the state park and its surroundings, as well as access to a number of scenic hiking trails.

D archery ground will be closed for construction until further notice. For further information please call the park at 804 - 492 - 4410. D archery range in Bear Creek Lake State Park, call park officials for specific information or email or call Parks at (814) 494-2.4410.

The park offers picnics on the lake and beach, as well as a variety of activities for children and adults in the park's picnic area.

Picnic facilities include drinking water, barbecues and toilets, and picnic huts are available on the park's picnic area on weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The property is rented from 1 April to 31 October and can be rented daily between 8 a.m. and nightfall.

Boat rentals and swimming are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and in the summer months on the lake and beach.

Parking for these accommodations is very limited, so car-pooling is recommended, as is the use of the multi-storey car park and car park.

The park features the Lost Barr Trail, a 10-mile trail that winds through Bear Creek Lake and the surrounding area. The trail is owned by the Virginia Forest Service and is also suitable for bikes, horses and hikers, but is not returned to the park. Horses and bicycles are allowed on the busy trails, but due to cabin work in the parks, the entire Lost Barr Trail is closed and this trail does not lead back into the park.

The park is accessible from either Route 622 or Route six29, which can be reached via the Bear Creek Lake Trail or the Lost Barr Trail. For more information, please call the park at 804-492-4410 or contact the Virginia Forest Service at 800-855-5555.