BEECH FORK SHELTERS

OVERVIEW Take a day trip to Beech Fork Lake and choose from one of five picnic areas. Hang out, fire up the grill, and enjoy time spent outdoors on one of the many hiking trails that weave through droves of Appalachian hardwood trees. Keep an eye out for birds like thrushes, chats, and cuckoos. RECREATION Fishing is a popular activity, both by boat and on shore. Common fish include largemouth and hybrid striped bass, catfish and saugeye. Hiking is another great thing to do. The Spillway Trail can be accessed from shelters 1 and 2. Kids will be pleased to find horseshoe pits and a playground near each shelter. Basketball and volleyball courts are also provided for the sports enthusiasts, as well as a playground and swimming area near the deck. FACILITIES Electric hookups are included with each shelter, so you can bring anything from an electric grill to Christmas lights when planning your outing to the lake. Traditional grills are also supplied, so don't forget the charcoal. The deck is not a covered shelter and does not have electricity. NATURAL FEATURES Beech Fork Lake is a 720-acre reservoir in the western edge of West Virginia. Stemming from the lake are lush river valleys that attract many types of birds. Shelters are set in an open area with scattered trees near the northwest end of the lake. Two of the Beech Fork Shelters are close to the lake and feature panoramic views. The other two shelters are near a stream below the dam. The deck is at Stower's Branch Swim Beach in a shaded area close to the lake. A wooded area borders the recreation areas. NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Shelters are a close drive away from the Stower's Branch Swimming Beach, where the deck is located. The beach is close to the marina, a convenient spot for boat rentals, bait, and tackle. Beech Fork State Park, a 3,144 protected area for hiking, camping, boating and wildlife spotting, is on the eastern edge of the lake and about a 25-minute drive from the shelters.