Bear Creek Lake State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Bear Creek Lake State Park is a beautiful park located in Cumberland, Virginia.
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Summary
This park is a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Virginia. The park features a 40-acre lake for fishing and boating, hiking trails, and campsites for visitors to enjoy.
Visitors to Bear Creek Lake State Park can enjoy a variety of activities, including fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and hiking. The park also has a swimming beach, picnic areas, and playgrounds for families to enjoy.
One of the main attractions of the park is the Bear Creek Lake, which is home to a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, and crappie. Visitors can rent boats, kayaks, and paddleboards from the park's marina to explore the lake.
The park's hiking trails offer visitors a chance to explore the area's natural beauty and wildlife. The trails range from easy to moderate difficulty and offer stunning views of the lake and surrounding forests.
Interesting facts about Bear Creek Lake State Park include that it was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and that it is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and eagles.
The best time to visit Bear Creek Lake State Park is in the spring and fall when temperatures are mild, and the foliage is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy winter activities such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
Overall, Bear Creek Lake State Park is a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the natural beauty of Virginia. With its stunning lake, hiking trails, and campsites, this park has something for everyone.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Red Cedar Natural Area
Cumberland State Forest
Turkey Ridge Natural Area
Rock Quarry Natural Area
Willis River Natural Area