The Beartown Boardwalk in Beartown State Park West Virginia

This is part five of a travel series to West Virginia.  To start at the beginning, go HERE!

After spending the morning being inspired by the panoramic views at Spruce Knob, we then headed over to Beartown State Park.  This park was one of the most unique parks I have ever visited but unfortunately it is very hard to photograph.  I don't know if it was the harsh mid-morning light or what, but my photos just couldn't capture the depth and details of this amazing place;  so hopefully my words will help you visualize it.

Beartown State Park is located on the eastern summit of Droop Mountain in northern Greenbrier County.  It is known for its deep crevices, massive boulders, overhanging cliffs, and unusual rock formations.  It features rock from the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian eras.  A boardwalk maze takes the visitors through the Droop (or Pottsville) Sandstone.  It is an easy less than half mile loop around the maze.

It is called Beartown State Park because local residents historically claimed the massive cave and deep rock openings made ideal winter dens for black bears.  The "town" part of the title came from the deep narrow crevices that criss-cross the rock formations and create a pattern that when viewed from above resembles the grid and streets of a tiny town.

There were lots of warning signs about bears and all the garbage cans were bear-proof.  There was even a sign that said "You WILL see bears";  but we didn't see any bears.  I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing 😁.

The boardwalk is definitely a maze, there were times when I didn't know which way to go as I didn't want to miss any section of it.  It takes you down below into the rocks, through the rocks, and above the rocks.  It's pretty awesome because it's a great way to view Mother Nature without harming her.

I was absolutely fascinated with all the rock formations.

Is this cool or what?  😃

Lots of vegetation grows on the rock formations.   When the shale limestones become weathered it makes soil that supports the vegetation and,  in turn,  the wildlife here.

My son being silly when I asked him to pose for a photograph 😆.

The faces of the rocks are covered in thousands of small pit marks caused by either the non-cementation of sand grains or water erosion over time.  Some of these "Pitts" may be a few inches across or so big a person could climb into!

The photo below shows some smaller pits, and the next one shows a much larger Pitt.

Some of the tight spaces on the boardwalk might not be wide enough for a larger person to squeeze through 😁.

I spotted this large nest while photographing my son.  See it in the upper left?  There is a close up in the next photo.  I wonder whose home it is?

This moss covered rock wall was one of my favorite spots in the park.  Isn't it beautiful?

When you get above the maze and look down, you can kinda see where bears may like to make a cozy little den, like underneath these rocks pictured below.

Here is another possible bear den spot!

While exiting the maze I spotted this rock formation which looks like a face of some sort!

Well I didn't see any bears at Beartown, but I did see this cute little guy!

It was still early and we had a lot of daylight left, so we headed to our next destination:  Lewisburg!  This will be the place we spend the night, but we had lots more planned for the day.  See you next week!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

For more posts from this travel series check these out:

Harpers Ferry West Virginia

Hiking the Maryland Heights Trail at Harpers Ferry

Old Town Winchester

Blackwater Falls State Park West Virginia

Seneca Rocks West Virginia

Spruce Knob, West Virginia's Highest Point