Bear Creek Lake State Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Bear Creek Lake State Park, Virginia, USA
iucn_category = V


caption =
locator_x =
locator_y =
location =
nearest_city = Cumberland, VA
lat_degrees = 37
lat_minutes = 53
lat_seconds =
lat_direction =N
long_degrees = -78
long_minutes = 27
long_seconds =
long_direction =W
area = 326.4 acres
established = 1940
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Bear Creek Lake State Park is a state park located in Cumberland, Virginia. It is used as a recreational and camping facility that surrounds an artificial 30 acre lake.

The park was built in 1938 as a project of the Virginia Department of Agriculture through the State Forestry Division. Although this project was undertaken during the closing days of the Great Depression, the 100 men who built the lake were not members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. They were simply carpenters, farmers and unskilled laborers seeking jobs. Along with the lake, these men built two pavilions, a concession stand and six fireplaces. The land was given to the Division of State Parks in 1940, and it was operated as a day-use recreation area. In 1962 the division added campgrounds and the area's name was changed to Bear Creek Lake State Park.

The park is surrounded by the convert|16000|acre|km2|sing=on Cumberland State Forest, which provides opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities. Four small lakes in the state forest are managed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for recreational fishing. A network of gated and ungated forest roads provides hiking, mountain biking and nature observation.

External links

* [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/parks/bea.shtml General Park Information]