Bear Creek Lake State Park, VA - All Trails

ABOUT THE PARK:
Bear Creek Lake State Park - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:
This hike starts and ends at Cabin 5.   If not staying in a cabin, there is parking at the beach where the Channel Cat Trail crosses over and this hike can be started from that point also.

Parking where the Channel Cat Trail crosses. (37.52829, -78.270407)

Car passes issued at the time of registration for cabins or camping are valid for parking at all Virginia State Parks, otherwise there is a $4 parking fee.

TRAIL MAP:
Bear Creek Lake State Park Trail Guide - Virginia DCR

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HIKE DISTANCE:  7.5 miles

THE HIKE:
This hike captures just about every trail in the park.

Where else can you saddle up for hiking ...

... and roll right out the front door at 7 AM ...

... down a ramp ...

... and on a hiking trail?  For us this is a luxury!

After the previous day of rain, this turned out to be a gorgeous day.

The trail from the cabin leads to the Otter Trail which ends at the Lost Barr Trail where we turned left.

Morning fog rising away from the lake.

The Lost Barr Trail turns left and goes uphill.

Crossing over Kingfisher Road.

Crossing over Blue Heron Drive.

Every time we hike in Virginia, Shawnee wears her bandana which says "Virginia is for dog Lovers."

So peaceful hiking along the creek.

A creek crossing.

Shawnee can wade on over.

Now on the Lakeside Trail.

There were some tricky spots on this trail (tricky for Shawnee, not everyone else) so I would have to maneuver her through without the wheelchair...

... then park her (she cannot get up from a sitting position without help) and go back for the wheelchair.

Crossing Bear Creek on the Bear Creek Forest Road which is also the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail.

Bear Creek Lake

True to its name, the Lakeside Trail follows along the lake.

Sadly I saw a lot of this along the lake.  The fishing line and hooks are so dangerous for wildlife.

This one I was able to reach, untangle, pack out and dispose of properly.

The Lakeside Trail ends at the Channel Cat Trail at this bridge.

We turned left on the Channel Cat Trail crossing the bridge.

A short distance ahead, steps up to the beach area parking lot which would be another starting point for this hike.

The beach.

A couple of off season beach goers.

Passing by a camping area.

Unmarked side trails go to the top of the dam.

Continuing on the Channel Cat Trail leads to the bottom of the dam.

The Channel Cat Trail continues over a bridge...

... then across the street.

Taking a break.

On the Kestrel Trail ...

... back to the Lakeside Trail ...

... over a long bridge...

... to the Quail Ridge Trail.

The Quail Ridge Trail appears to be a lesser used trail but it makes a nice connection to the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail.

Turning right on the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail.

Leaving the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail ...

... on the Beaver Run Trail.

Then a repeat of a short section of the Lost Barr Trail ...

... but staying left at the creek crossing to the Lakeside Trail where we were earlier.

A side trail to the right off of the Lost Barr Trail leads to a picnic table overlooking the lake.

Back on the Lost Barr Trail to finish up our loop.

Looking back over at the beach.

A left on the Otter Trail...

... back to our cabin.

Heading in for lunch...

... and a nap. 

Later that evening we had company.  Who could this be?

It's our friend Nancy who is the Visitor Services Director at Virginia State Parks coming for a visit and to bring dinner!  We hadn't seen each other in years and had a lovely visit.

Bear Creek Lake State Park, VA - Base Camp

ABOUT THE PARK AND CABINS:
Bear Creek Lake State Park - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Bear Creek Lake State Park Overnight Facilities - Virginia DCR

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates to Park Office:  37.53173, -78.27308
Car passes issued at the time of registration for cabins or camping are valid for parking at all other Virginia State Parks, otherwise there is a $4 parking fee.

HIKES:
Bear Creek Lake State Park, VA - 7.5 miles
High Bridge Trail State Park, VA - 3.25 miles
Cumberland State Forest, VA - 7.25 miles
Twin Lakes State Park, VA - 4.1 miles
Bear Creek Lake State Park, VA Lake Loop - 3.35 miles

Shawnee did three of the hikes over three days for a total of almost 15 miles.  I see no difference in her compared to her regular weekend hikes.  Pretty amazing for a 16-year-old!  (That would be 93 human years!)

BASE CAMP:
Virginia State Park cabins are the best and they are dog-friendly also.  As an added bonus, our cabin, cabin #5, which was the only one available, is handicapped accessible.  For a 16-year-old dog with mobility issues, this was wonderful!  I got a break from having to help her up and down steps which is the only way to get her out at home.

I had a hike planned to break up the drive to Virginia but it rained.  And rained.  And rained.

Somebody was complaining and wanted to get out to stretch her legs.

We got off of I-95 in Fredericksburg, VA, where I lived as a teenager many, many, many years ago. The rain stopped so we went to the Fredericksburg Battlefield National Military Park which is right around the corner from where I used to live.

We did a short hike up to Lee's Hill.

On a clear day there is probably a view.  This day, just fog.

Back to the car for a little nostalgic driving tour since I had an hour to kill before check in time at our cabin.

It was right along in here driving through the battlefield park where, at about 17 years of age, I was pulled over for speeding for the first time.  I saw the park police behind me and was making darned sure the speedometer was smack on the speed limit yet I was pulled over.  Turns out my dad's car was showing 10 mph less than what I was driving.  I got a warning, no ticket :)

The house we lived in.  My parents had it built and the top two windows on the left is where my bedroom was.  Those big trees certainly weren't there back in the day.

Where I worked during high school.

That little hike calmed her down some (or she was bored with the nostalgic tour) and it started raining again so back on I-95.

And here we are at our cabin at Bear Creek Lake State Park.  How nice is that handicapped ramp?

The cabins have wrap around porches with rocking chairs where we were definitely going to be spending some evenings.

Walking in the main door, the kitchen and living room.

The master bedroom.

The second bedroom.

The bathroom.

We like the Virginia State Park cabins!

To keep Shawnee from falling on the floors, had to bring along all of our rugs from home.

We sure know how to give a place that lived-in look really fast.

For Shawnee, an Aerobed, which took up much less room in the car than her dog bed.

Our cabin was lake view and since the rain had stopped, we took a quick walk down to the lake on the trail that started right outside our cabin door.

This is how close our cabin is to the trail.  Literally right outside the door.

Enough for now.  Tomorrow we hike!