Summary
The 230-acre lake offers various recreational activities, making it a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to visit. The lake is surrounded by lush green forests and rolling hills, providing a breathtaking view.
One of the main reasons to visit Lake Stephens is for fishing. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Visitors can also go boating, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming in the lake. The park offers various trails for hiking and mountain biking, and visitors can also enjoy camping and picnicking in the park.
There are numerous points of interest to see at Lake Stephens, including the beach area, picnic shelters, and playgrounds. Visitors can also take a trip to the park's amphitheater, which hosts various events such as concerts, movies, and plays.
Interesting facts about Lake Stephens include that it was created in 1970 and was named after a local resident, William G. Stephens. The lake is also a part of the Little Beaver State Park, which covers over 562 acres of land.
The best time of year to visit Lake Stephens is during the summer months, as the park offers various water activities. However, visitors can also enjoy the park's fall foliage and winter activities such as sledding and ice fishing.
Overall, Lake Stephens is a wonderful destination to explore the beauty of West Virginia's nature while having fun with family and friends.
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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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