Tygart Lake State Park, Grafton, WV. Mon-Tues, Sept 8-9, 2025. This state park, in the foothills…read moreof the Allegheny mountains in scenic north-central West Virginia, features a 10-mile long, 1,750 acre lake. The lake offers the usual water activities (swimming, boating, scuba diving, fishing (bass!), but also Adventure Lake with inflatables (closed when we visited). There are also trails for family-friendly hiking or biking, as well as options for staying overnight (a lodge and campground). There are also playgrounds for the kiddos.
Our activities included:
*Stopped at the PARK OFFICE to pick up a map. The ranger was friendly and helpful. The NATURE CENTER in the same building was closed.
*Checked out the overlook near the DAM which regulates the waters of the Tygart Valley River. This is a tourist-friendly area with a visitors center/restrooms, informational signs, covered picnic tables, outdoor tables with phone charging stations, a WV photo-op at an "Almost Heaven" swing, free parking, and more. The U.S. Corps of Engineers also offers free tours of the dam every Friday in June, July, and August; pre-registration is required.
*HIKED the easy Tygart Dam Trail (1.7 miles out-and-back, 160' elevation gain) that connects the Tygart Lake Dam to the Tygart Lodge. The trail was mostly flat, except for a steep paved section at the very beginning/ending on the dam side. There were limited views of the lake from the trail due to foliage, except near the lodge. Our turn around point was the lodge. We sat on a bench on the stairwell going up to the lodge to drink some water and eat a snack; a minor concern was that wasn't a bench in the shade.
*Finally, we CAMPED overnight in our Class-B (van-sized) RV in the campground. There are 36 well-maintained sites, of which 26 are non-electric sites ($29.99/night) and 10 that offer 50-amp electric and water for $39.99. While the office on-site was closed when we arrived (Mon, 3:45 pm), there was a sign outlining ways to pay either by calling or online. Each site had a picnic table and fire ring. The restrooms/showers, about 50 yards from our site, were clean. We were one of only two campers on the night that we visited so it was very peaceful, and we enjoyed being able to see the dark night sky. We noted, however, that the sites are close together and campers wouldn't have much privacy at busier times. Also, wi-fi was unstable at our (but not all) sites.
Overall, we had a very peaceful stay. While we encountered occasional people in the park office, on the trails, in the dam area, and in the campground, it was mostly a solitary experience on a Monday-Tuesday in early September. Also, some of the attractions (Adventure Lake, kayak rental, the Nature Center, campground office) were closed. We didn't have any security concerns.
We hope to return one day.