Are you looking for a new park in West Virginia for your next family RV vacation? Even those who live in and around the area will tell you that the 2,588-acre Cedar Creek State Park is worth taking a look at. Whether you are coming from across the country or the street, this historical park is an awesome place to explore, enjoy, and make memories. With the beauty of the Allegheny Mountains in the background, everywhere you look in this park is a photograph waiting to happen.
You can learn about the history of the area by touring the schoolhouse that dates back to 1910. Bring the kids so they can see how schools used to look way back when. They will be amazed. The furnishings are the same as they would have been in the early 1900s, with a potbelly stove and wood desks, making this a fun place to teach the kids about how different things are now. The log cabin at the park is also iconic and should be included as part of the history of the park.
There are also a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy at Cedar Creek, including fishing in one of the three lakes, swimming at the pool, paddle boating, and hiking. And you can always go splash around in the creek, which is the namesake of the park. One of the unique activities here is the miniature golf park that the kids (and you) will love. And you don’t have to head home when the sun goes down. There are 65 campsites where you can park the RV for a night or a week. Some have water and electric hookups, and all of them have grills and tables for cooking and eating.
In the middle of West Virginia, Cedar Creek State Park is only a few miles southeast of US-33 on WV-17. Just seven miles south of Glenville, you can take US-119 to reach the park from there. Less than 100 miles from Charleston, which is the state’s capital, you can stop by and visit the golden-domed State Capitol Building or one of the several museums in the city. Roanoke is just a little over 30 miles to the east where you can find Stonewall Jackson Lake and State Park.
You will be traveling on some of the curviest roads in the area, so if you are driving a large motorhome or pulling a trailer, you need to pay attention. The hilly streets and sharp turns can give you some trouble if you are not watching the roads. Drive slowly and pull over if you need to take a break. You should be wide awake and alert for this drive.
When you get into the park, the roads are a bit better, but you’ll still find some curvy streets that can give you a bit of a headache. As long as you are prepared and take your time, you will be able to make it to your campsite. Once you park the rig, it is a good idea to use an alternate form of transportation like walking, biking, or ATVing where allowed.
Cedar Creek State Park has 65 spacious campsites of various length limits. Two of the sites can handle rigs up to 30 feet, 18 of them can accommodate those up to 40 feet long, 24 can fit rigs up to 50 feet, 17 can accommodate up to 60 feet, and four can handle rigs up to 70 feet. You will have no trouble cooking up a meal with the campfire and grill pit, and the family can all eat together at the picnic table provided. Sites have water as well as 30-amp electric hookups, and several comfort stations have restrooms and hot showers. There is even a laundromat in the middle of the campground. The kids will love the four playgrounds at the park, and you will appreciate the firewood available by the park office. Reservations can be made from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. All other times are first-come, first-served. And you can bring your furbaby, too, as long as it is supervised and restrained at all times.
At the end of the park near the park office and store, you can find the group campground. The area has 10 different sites that can each accommodate up to six people for a maximum of 60 people in total. Two vehicles per site are allowed with a total of 20 vehicles as well. All the sites have water and electric hookups available. Each section has its own fire pit, BBQ, and picnic table, but there is also one group fire pit in the middle of the campground for everyone to come together as a group.
There is potable water access, restrooms, and showers with hot water within walking distance. Pets are allowed but must be restrained and supervised the whole time you are visiting. You can stay for up to 14 days in a row at any one site, and reservations can be made up to a year in advance. From Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend, the sites are first-come, first-served.
Geocaching is a fairly new activity that many people still have not heard of. This is probably one of the best ways to get your kids outdoors and having fun, including teens who seem glued to their phones. Using a phone’s GPS to find a hidden treasure is a genius idea, and the best part is that it is completely free. You don’t have to buy special shoes, balls, or other gadgets for this fun activity, and it gets you and your kids out in nature. Cedar Creek has several geocaches located on its property that you can find, but don’t forget to put them back where you found them so others can enjoy the fun too.
Be sure to pack your swimming suit and towels in the RV before heading to the park because the Cedar Creek State Park swimming pool is a fantastic way to spend a hot summer day in West Virginia. The pool is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. It is outside but heated, so even if it's not quite warm enough outside, you can get in and enjoy the water. The pool is located near one of the playgrounds by the recreation building and miniature golf course.
Pack a lunch in the RV or bring the coals along to Cedar Creek State Park so that you can enjoy a picnic or barbecue at one of the picnic areas. Alongside the creek, you can let the kids play in the water or the nearby playground while you cook up some food on the grill. Several pavilions boast multiple tables and BBQ pits to accommodate a whole group of people if you want to have a party or get-together. You will need to reserve a spot in advance for that, but it is worth it.
During the peak season, both campgrounds operate on a reservation-only basis, but once the peak season ends, both campgrounds move to a first-come, first-served status, making it easy to visit whenever you feel like a last-minute campout.
You will want to remember to bring your walking shoes so you can enjoy the 14 miles of trails at the park. The shortest and easiest, Grassy Ridge Trail, is just a quarter-mile path from the picnic area to the pool. Another nice short trail is the 0.5-mile Nightingale Trail by the picnic area. For a challenge, try the 1.75-mile Park View Trail, which starts at the bridge and takes you up and around the overlook, ridge, and into some thick timber.
Speaking of hiking, if you are an angler, try exploring the 1.5-mile Fisherman’s Trail, which starts at the ball field and meanders along between Cedar Creek and the three fishing ponds. The path takes you to some of the best fishing spots in the park. With three ponds and miles of creek to fish, you should be able to catch something to cook for dinner. Bass, bluegill, and crappie are typically caught using flies or worms with a bobber. The big catfish in the lakes are susceptible to any kind of live bait that you sink to the bottom with a weight.
Guests to Cedar Creek State Park who have an interest in history may wish to visit the Bulltown Historic District in the nearby town of Burnsville. A visit to Bulltown Historic Village is a fun way to go back in time. Experience life as it was during the Civil War with the annual historic reenactments that are done at the village. See the site where seven of the Confederate soldiers were buried and areas of the Weston-Gauley Turnpike. If you are out and about, and you aren't ready to head back to the campground, one of the oldest churches in West Virginia, which was believed to have been built in the 1860s, is also nearby.
