Beartown State Park located near Snowshoe WV contains 107 acres of natural beauty on Droop Mountain’s eastern summit. The main objective of the park is to preserve nature and not to over-develop the region. A boardwalk provides visitors easy access to the area. Visitors are able to walk along the boardwalk to view the various rock formations throughout the park. Basic facilities are available for the visitors’ convenience. Signs included on the boardwalk guide people through the area’s points of interest.
Bearton State Park is full of natural beauty and nature lovers everywhere should take advantage of the chance to explore this interesting park. People make return visits to this park and find something new each time they visit. It is one of our favorite places to enjoy nature. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes with traction as some places become slippery when wet.
Bearton State Park is open each day from April through October. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming in Benedict Pond during the warm months. In addition, they can traverse the trails to see the various wildlife species in the park including such animals as bobcats, deer, and black bears. There also is a wide assortment of wildflowers, shrubs, and other plants to behold.
Bearton State Park closes for the winter season. However, you can still walk on the boardwalk throughout the cold, winter months. In addition, visitors can traverse the wilderness areas using snowshoes, skis, and other snow gear. Regardless of the season, the park is free to enter.
Why the Name Beartown?
The local residents named this park Beartown because of the many openings in the rock formations, which bears may use as winter dens for hibernation. In addition to these cave-like openings, there are narrow, deep crevasses that create a crisscross pattern similar to streets in a city.
Bearton State Park is Famous for Unique Rock Formations
Beartown State Park is famous for its unique rock formations made up of droop sandstone. This stone came about during the Pennsylvanian Age. Overhanging cliffs, deep crevasses, and massive boulders await visitors of this park. Vegetation amazingly grows in the cracks of these rock formations. Snow and ice remain into late summer some years in the deeper crevasses.