Beartown State Park, Marlinton

Definitely worth checking out of you have some spare time! A pretty plus-size friendly hike from your fellow plus size hiker. The entire trail is a board walk and very short! We walked it in 20-30 minutes. Lots of steps, but just a few at a time, and then straight level walking. Beware how slick it is when wet! A very small portion is handicap accessible. When you pull in, you see the main parking lot. When entering the trail, to the left you’ll see a gravel drive way. If you drive down it, you are taken directly to handicap parking spaces that take you to the board walk without using stairs. From there, there is just a small portion to see before you have to inevitably use stairs.

Located on the eastern part of Droop Mountain, Beartown State Park is an 110-acre park with a fairly narrow access road. Its peaceful environment has been a nice spot to explore for over 50 years. One of the nice things about the park…there was no getting lost in the maze of rocks as long as you stayed on the “elevated” boardwalk that runs throughout the park. According to Alltrails app, the Beartown Boardwalk is labeled as an “easy” 1/2-mile loop trail. The wooden walkway does a great job winding you through the rock maze so that you have an up-close adventure. The downside…if you have mobility issues, I need to mention…there are multiple sets of stairs throughout the boardwalk trail. I’m always amazed how adaptive trees are. Don’t trees need soil and nurturing to live? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen trees literally growing on rocks and other surfaces you wouldn’t think they could. The horizontal fractured rock formations of what they call “droop” limestone could be seen throughout the park. The towering trees were just beginning to change colors in this part of Greenbrier County when we were there. With trees as tall as 30 ft, Beartown is a great place for tree and rock lovers.

if you like nature, Moss and rocks, you will absolutely love this State Park! And the boardwalk around the park blends right in to the landscape, what an awesome experience you get to have, It is a small park in a secluded area of Greenbrier County, West Virginia!I can’t wait to go view it in the Fall, I know it’s going to be just gorgeous, Hopefully this time I will get to see a bear and get to stay longer

Words and pictures don't do it justice, you really have to experience it firsthand. Note that it is partially wheelchair/stroller accessible, but the accessible portion of the boardwalk is pretty short. The gate to the park was closed and there were some confused people standing outside the gate unsure of whether to go in. Luckily we had read other reviews that instructed us just to walk through the gated section. From the gate to the park it is about .3 miles. Even though the park was technically closed because of the time of year, the bathroom was unlocked. Keep in mind if you do visit when it's closed there's only room for 2, maybe 3 cars to park by the gate.

Beautiful as always. We stop every time we pass by there. It's one of those places I can see 100 times and still find it amazing each time. Wear appropriate shoes,the walkways are very slippery