Beech Fork Lake

About Beech Fork Lake

Beech Fork Lake is located a few miles south of Huntington City, West Virginia, USA, and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the state of Virginia. Located in a remote area near the southern end of Beech Mountain in Huntington County, this hotel offers a variety of fun outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.

Popular belief is that George Washington was the explorer who named the Twelve Pole Creek River and that its mouth measures 12 poles. The US Army Corps of Engineers created Beech Fork Lake by damming the 12-mile-long, 1,000-foot-deep river at the river's mouth.

The lake opened to the public in 1978, and nearby Beech Fork State Park opened in 1979. The park has more than 2,500 hectares of hiking, biking, camping, fishing and hiking trails, as well as a variety of other leisure activities.

Beech Fork Lake is maintained by the Corps, and water levels reached an all-time high of 608.45 feet on March 6, 1997. The lake's water level has been lowered to 583 feet to make way for melting snow and heavy spring rain.

On more than 12,000 hectares of land, including the lake, state park and nature reserve, beginners and advanced users can fish, paddle, row and hunt on Beech Fork Lake. Hunters will find a wide variety of bird species, reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey, fish and wildlife. The 720 hectare lake is a peaceful place for a winding boat ride, although it is banned from engines over 10 horsepower and large boat engines have to remove the propeller. You can rent pedal boats and kayaks, as well as a pedal boat or licensed Jon's boat, which can be rented for $5 per day or $10 per week for a full day trip.

Swimmers and sun-worshippers can swim and relax on the beach or on the dam, but don't forget to take a hike or bike ride in the dense hickory oak pines that cover 85% of the area. Throughout the landscape, you can look for birds, reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey, fish and wildlife, and discover a wide variety of plants and animals such as wild flowers, locusts, wild turkeys, deer, elk and much more.

If you're looking for an overnight stay, Beech Fork State Park has hundreds of campsites, from primitive to fully equipped with water, sewage and electricity. Many of the campsites are located directly on the lake and have a variety of amenities such as picnic areas, picnic tables and picnic benches. If camping is not your style, try cabins with lake views and modern amenities, such as a cabin with pool, picnic table or even a private beach. Why not play volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis or horseshoe, or have your meal on one of our picnic blankets? Beeches Fork State Park is a popular destination for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and more.

Camping sites and cabins are available all year round, and the nearby town can be explored both in the summer and winter months.

In nearby Milton, you can visit the glass factory and watch craftsmen make glass, blow it into shape and then finish it on the observation deck or watch them make it in the park. Historic Huntington is also nearby, then wander downtown to the Heritage Village and visit Huntington's first bank, which was allegedly robbed by the James Gang in September 1875. Located on the Ohio River, it houses a renovated B & O station, a museum, an art gallery, the Huntington Museum of Art and a few other historic buildings.

It's easy to see why Beech Fork Lake attracts millions of visitors each year, and fun is never lacking any day, weekend or week.