The state parks within West Virginia house more than 170 species of fish. A large number of the species belong to the minnow family. However there are over 35 species of fish within West Virginia’s state parks that are an attraction to anglers worldwide. These fish are also known as sport fish. Sport fish such as the black crappie, bluegill, bowfin, brook trout, brown trout, bullhead catfish, carp, and chain pickerel are just a few of the species of sports fish that inhabit the lakes and streams within West Virginia’s state parks.
While some of the lakes, streams, and rivers in West Virginia’s state parks are stark with fish most of them are a self-sustainable ecosystem for many different species of fish. It is for this reason that anglers are all over the world travel to West Virginia’s state parks in order to enjoy some of the most satisfying and challenging fishing that the United States has to offer. West Virginia’s state parks offer novice and professional anglers alike in opportunity to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy a fishing experience of a lifetime. It doesn’t matter if a person is bank fishing, or fishing in a boat, that person will not be disappointed at the fishing experience that the lakes, streams, and rivers that are located within West Virginia’s state parks have to offer.
Most anglers are guaranteed to catch fish whether they are fly-fishing, bobber fishing, or trolling. The rich fishing experience that can be attained from visiting one of West Virginia’s state parks is partly due to the vast variety of species of fish that are located in the water. This diverse collection of fish allows fishermen from different disciplines and opportunity to pit their skills against Mother Nature. Nothing is more satisfying than reeling in the catch of your dreams in a West Virginia state park and bringing that fish back to camp for the rest of the family, or fishing party, to admire and enjoy.
With convenient fish cleaning and preparing stations located within West Virginia’s state parks cleaning and preparing your fish has never been simpler. The remains of the fish that are caught and cleaned at the stations are then used to feed some of the indigenous and migratory animals that call West Virginia’s state parks their home. These animals include several species of eagles, bears, and other small mammals that benefit from a rich supply of food.
When an overabundance of remains are collected at one of the many convenient cleaning stations those remains are gathered and then subsequently put into a compost pile to provide nutrient rich soil for the indigenous plants, shrubs, and trees that make up both the forest canopy and floor. If you know of a fisherman that is longing for the fishing experience of a lifetime encourage them to visit one of these fine state parks located within the borders of West Virginia today. By fishing the lakes, streams, and rivers of West Virginia and the state parks that house a number of them these people would be helping to pay for a number of services that the state park offers to its visitors annually.
Each summer there are millions of Americans that travel and vacation at West Virginia’s state parks. West Virginia state parks are filled with a plethora of diverse wildlife, numerous activities, and breathtaking scenery. When a person vacations in West Virginia one of their many state parks they are assured to have memories to last a lifetime.
West Virginia state parks are a perfect getaway for the whole family. There is something for everyone at West Virginia’s state parks. Children can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, and horseback riding. There are also many mountain bike trails available to the public within West Virginia’s state parks. Rock climbing is also an activity that both children and adults can enjoy together. There are several experienced instructors at each state park that can ensure that parents and children have a safe and invigorating rock climbing experience while they are vacationing in West Virginia state park.
Parents can enjoy lounging in the sun, hunting, hiking, camping, and viewing wildlife. There are thousands of species of plants and animals that reside within West Virginia’s state parks today. West Virginia’s state parks, like other United States state parks, are protected areas where indigenous plants and animals can thrive undisturbed. This allows several species of plants and animals that were once on the endangered species list to repopulate their species and escape extinction. By offering such tranquil scenery to the public West Virginia is quickly becoming one of the nation’s top tourist destinations for family vacations.
Camping is available from mid spring until late on. This long camping season allows more families to come and enjoy all of the sides that West Virginia’s state parks have to offer. Once a person vacations in West Virginia at one of their fine state parks they often return year after year to enjoy the scenery, wildlife, and shrinkable surroundings of West Virginia’s breathtaking parks.
Public support and campground fees usually fund the day-to-day operations of the park along with maintenance and improvements. These improvements include new hiking trails, more campgrounds, clearing debris and brush from roadways after severe storms. Without these fees West Virginia’s state could not operate efficiently. This is not the only revenue that West Virginia’s state parks generate for the upkeep of their parks, salaries for the employees, operation, and equipment costs.
Sometimes many West Virginians will give gifts of cash, checks, life insurance, real estate, and securities such as stocks that have appreciated in value. A good portion of this kind of revenue that is received to the park is received in the form of wills. West Virginia has all formed the West Virginia State Parks foundation which is a non-profit an independent foundation that was formed to solicit, accept, and receive any and all contributions, grants, gifts, and bequests of personal property or real estate in order to support the West Virginia state park system. It is through generous contributions from West Virginia’s residents that allow West Virginia’s state parks to operate and flourish year after year.
There are many popular tourist destinations that travelers may think about when planning a vacation. Some offer extravagant locations, breathtaking views, and family fun. West Virginia is on the top of the list of locations that tourists flock to when vacationing. More and more people are taking advantage of the wonderful state parks in West Virginia and are traveling there to partake in the West Virginia camping experience. There are many parts to choose from and each part is a very popular camping destination. West Virginia’s state parks that allow camping include Babcock, Beartown, Berkeley Springs, Hawk’s nest, North Bend, Stonewall resort, Twin Falls resort, and many others.
There are many things to do at West Virginia’s state parks. A few of the activities that campers take advantage of our viewing wildlife in their natural habitat, fishing, bird watching, swimming, canoeing, and hiking. There are many trails for campers and visitors to hike on and enjoy the breathtaking view that West Virginia’s state parks have to offer. The rates that the state parks charge for camping are very affordable when compared to that of a hotel stay or camping at a private campground. Most of West Virginia’s state parks income this hundreds, if not thousands, of square acres and can hardly be taken all in with one vacation. That is why West Virginia’s state parks have seen an increasing rise in repeat business from vacationers year after year.
West Virginia’s state park system was first started in the 1920s. The main purpose for the West Virginia state park system was to promote conservation of unique and exceptional scientific, scenic, archaeological, cultural, or historical significance and also to provide safe outdoor recreational opportunities for the citizens of West Virginia and all of its visitors.
When camping in West Virginia state parks and forests one can experience nature in varying degrees. The integration includes, but is not limited to, primitive tent sites to full hookup service. West Virginia state park’s camping season is typically from April 1 through October 31. There are a few exceptions however. Some West Virginia campgrounds are open year round. These campgrounds include Laurel Run, Canaan Valley, Pipestem Resort, Stonewall Resort, Beech Fork Old Orchard Area, and Bluestone WMA. There are several choices when determining what type of campsite to reserve.
The different styles of campsites include deluxe, standard, rustic, primitive, and yurt rentals. A deluxe campsite offers an outdoor grill, a pull off for trailers, electric hookups, picnic table, tent pad, dumping station, bathhouses with hot showers, flush toilets and laundry facilities. A standard campsite offers the same choices as a deluxe Linville hookups are available however some sites in some areas may include electric hookups. A rustic campsite is an improved site that offers limited facilities, pit toilets, and well water. A primitive campsite is usually a campsite that is located in an undeveloped area, but some have basic sanitation and water facilities.
Lastly, yurt rentals are a unique offering that are only available at Tomlinson Run and are perfect for the inexperienced camper. Every yurt comes equipped with a propane stove, land turn, picnic table, cooler, and basic cookware. With all of these amenities available to the average camper it is no reason why West Virginia’s state parks are such a hot tourist attraction.
From spring to fall the trees and plants of West Virginia’s state parks are abloom with wildflowers that will captivate any who behold them with their rich colors, shapes, and sizes. There are also many shrubs, trees, and vines which flower and produce beautiful blooms. Visitors of West Virginia’s state parks don’t have to travel far to see a number of these colorful plants and trees.
West Virginia’s state parks have many Mountain Laurel and Rhododendrons that produce large and breathtaking red and pinkish white flowers. Depending on elevation these shrubs and flower between late May and early July. Some Mountain Rose Bay flowers in the high mountains of the Southeastern part of the state are a whitish pink or sometimes a purple. Mountain Laurel is found throughout the state but is most dense in West Virginia. It grows in Sandy and acidic soils and can bloom throughout the summer.
West Virginia’s state parks are also home to a vast number of tulips, magnolias, Ohio buckeyes, black locust, black cherry, and trumpet creeper. All of the aforementioned flowers make the landscape of West Virginia’s state parks bursting with color throughout the vacation season. There are many other flowering plants, trees, and shrubs that make up the ground plants as well as the blossoms found in the canopies within the forest of West Virginia’s state parks.
Thousands of square miles of plant rich forests make up West Virginia’s state parks. The size and aromas of these flowering plants are hard to put into words and need to be experienced firsthand in order to be enjoyed properly. Take into consideration that most residents of West Virginia will help travelers that the best time to be trees, shrubs, and flowers in West Virginia’s state parks would be in the autumn.
In the autumn, the leaves on the trees that are within West Virginia’s state parks live with vibrant colors ranging from pale yellow to a vibrant violet depending on the species of tree and the elevation in which the tree is located. This transformation usually takes place from mid-September until late October. As the tree’s leaves are turning colors on the canopy overhead, there are still many flowering shrubs that are blooming with colorful flowers that make autumn in West Virginia’s state parks truly a sight to be seen with one’s own eyes. Here your photographs and videos simply do not do West Virginia’s state parks justice.
Although autumn may not be the ideal time of the year in which to take a family on vacation one can rest assured that during the fall season within West Virginia’s state parks it is both a romantic and satisfying experience that anyone who has experienced it will surely never forget. West Virginia’s state parks are a perfect place for once you get into touch with nature when urban squall is that an all-time high.