Summary
The park is known for its picturesque setting and natural beauty, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and families.
One of the main reasons to visit Cedar Creek State Park is to enjoy the many outdoor activities available, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. Visitors can explore the park's many trails, which wind through lush forests and scenic valleys, or fish for trout, bass, and other species in the park's streams and lakes. Boating and swimming are also popular activities at the park, with several boat ramps and swimming areas available for visitors.
In addition to its natural beauty, Cedar Creek State Park also features several historic attractions, including the Pioneer Farmstead and Museum and the restored Cooper's Mill. These sites offer visitors a glimpse of life in rural West Virginia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Interesting facts about the park include its location on the site of a former lumber camp and its designation as a state park in 1955. The park is also home to several rare and endangered species, including the Indiana bat and the timber rattlesnake.
The best time of year to visit Cedar Creek State Park depends on the activities and attractions that visitors are interested in. The park is open year-round, but the summer months are the most popular for camping, swimming, and boating. The fall is a great time to visit for hiking and enjoying the fall foliage, while the winter months offer opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Overall, Cedar Creek State Park offers visitors a unique combination of natural beauty and historic charm, making it a must-visit destination in West Virginia.
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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.
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