About This Park

Found among the Mid-Ohio Valley’s rolling hills, lakes and streams, North Bend State Park offers a multitude of recreational facilities in a beautiful pastoral setting. Named for the horseshoe curve of the North Fork of the Hughes River, this year-round park is lush with hiking trails and abundant wildlife. Located near Cairo and Harrisville, North Bend State Park is best known for the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, which follows a railbanked B&O Railroad corridor with several tunnels along the way.

Accommodations

Select an option below to learn more about the accommodations at this park.

Cabins

Camping

Lodge

Activities

Select an activity below to learn more
  • ATV
  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Geocaching
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Outdoor Adventures
  • Swimming
Attraction is located outside of the park.
Groups, Meetings and Weddings Rules & Regulations Download Park Pack & Map Deals

Contact

History

Development of North Bend State Park began in 1951 when the state Legislature allotted funds to purchase land in Ritchie County. By 1954, the state had purchased 1,405 acres for the park. The park is located in West Virginia’s historic oil and gas fields. About 50 wells, dating from the 19th century, were once active in the present park area, and visitors may still see a few still standing around the park. As the park grew in popularity over the years, the lodge, campgrounds and recreational facilities were added to accommodate the growing number of visitors.

Dining

Before you leave, make sure you stop by the park’s lodge for some real home cooking! The North Bend Dining Room is open year-round and offers WiFi at no cost.

Trails

Access Trail to North Bend Rail Trail

This road bed provides access for hikers, bikers and horseback riders to the North Bend Rail Trail. Access Trail begins in the recreation area near Shelter #3 and ends at the rail trail. Featuring 11 tunnels and 32 bridges, the North Bend Rail Trail is 72 miles long with North Bend State Park situated at the midpoint. Parking is available.

Distance:  0.8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Barton’s Lake Trail

This trail can be accessed from the Overlook Trail, Jughandle Day-Use Area and the Cokeley Recreation Area equestrian trail head. It winds through the woods with varying grades and follows along the lake.

Distance: 3 miles

Castle Rock Trail

This short spur is located to the left of the dam off the Lake Trail. It features a large rock formation known as the Castle Rock. The trail has a moderate uphill grade with a rocky surface and good sight lines.

Distance: 0.3 miles

Extra Mile Trail

This is a self-guided, paved interpretive trail equipped with braille and English interpretive signs. At the end of the trail is a small deck that sits back in the woods along an intermittent stream. From this trail, you may access the Overhanging Rock Trail and the Access Trail.

Distance: 0.3 miles

Fisherman Trail

This trail can be used to access fishing along the lake shore. The trail begins by the Cokeley Recreation Area boat dock and runs along the lake shore to the Jughandle Day-Use Area.

Distance: 1.3 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Giant Pine Trail

This trail begins and ends across from the lodge. It is a beautiful hike through a white pine thicket offering views of birds, deer and other wildlife. It features moderate grades, smooth tread and changing sight lines.

Distance: 0.6-mile loop

Giant Tree Trail

This short, flat trail links the picnic area with the playground area. Large oak, beech and poplar trees may be seen. It features moderate grades, smooth tread and good sight lines.

Distance: 0.5 miles

Gibbons Nature Trail

This is a short backtrack trail dedicated to the late, natural foods advocate Euell Gibbons, who was featured at early Nature Wonder (Wildfoods) Weekends held annually at the park. The trail begins beside the pond and ends near the swimming pool parking lot. It features a gentle grade with rough tread and good sight lines.

Distance: 0.25 miles

Hibbs Cemetery Trail

This trail that begins in the pond area, follows the ridge to the Hibbs Family Cemetery and ends behind the lodge. It features a constant grade with changing tread and good sight lines.

Distance: 1 mile

Nature Trail

This is one of the park’s longest trails. It begins and ends near the pond area, circling part of North Bend and its facilities. The trail goes through a variety of habitats and allows viewing of expansive fern beds, fungi and rocky outcrops. It features moderate to strenuous grades, along with changing tread conditions and sight lines.

Distance: 4-mile loop

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Overhanging Rock Trail

This trail begins at the entrance to the recreation area and ends at the Extra Mile Trail. The main view is a large rock formation in a cool ravine. It features moderate to strenuous grades.

Distance:  0.5-mile loop

Overlook Trail

The trailhead is by the cabin supply building. Highlights include rock formations along the Hughes River and an overlook of the Hughes River Dam. It features moderate to strenuous grades with changing tread surfaces and sight lines.

Distance: 1.2-mile loop

Southern Railroad Trail

This trail follows the old Harrisville Southern Railroad Grade that previously went from Cornwallis to Harrisville and now connects River Run Campground to the base of the Hughes River Dam. In the spring, abundant wildflowers may be seen on this trail.

Distance:  1.5 miles

Tanker Run Spur Trail

Designed by mountain bikers, this trail provides a more rideable way out from the Nature Trail Loop. The grades change from moderate to flat, the tread is smooth single track and sight lines are good.

Distance:  0.8 mile

Ten Acre Trail

This trail was designed by mountain bikers to be ridden in a counterclockwise direction and features one big climb and one descent.

Distance: 3 miles

Union Ridge Connector Trail

This trail is a repurposed roadbed that connects the cabin area to Barton’s Lake Trail.

Distance:  0.2 miles

Water Edge Trail

This trail connects the Cokeley Recreation Area boat ramp to the canoe launch area. The trial follows the lake below Cokeley Campground.

Distance:  1.6 miles

Additional Information

Nature and Recreation

Get the most out of your time in this beautiful park with various events! A year-round nature and recreation program highlights the park’s natural and cultural history. Programs run daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but special programs or tours can be arranged for groups.

Picnic areas including picnic shelters are seasonal by nature.  These areas close November 4 in 2019 and will reopen for use or rentals in  mid-spring 2020.

North Bend Quest

Are you ready for a great adventure? Unique to North Bend State Park alone is the Quest program, an ala carte outdoor adventure, customized by you to meet your leisure time and interest. Build and package your quest by choosing from backcountry camping, canoe/kayaking, biking, backpacking, hiking, yoga, navigation, nature interpretation and other adventure activities at North Bend State Park.

For more information on the program, call Quest Leaders at 304-643-2931 or check out the program menu by clicking here.

Nearby Attractions

North Bend Rail Trail

Formerly a railbanked spur of the CSX system, the North Bend Rail Trail is part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. It stretches for 72 miles from I-77 near Parkersburg in Wood County, to Wolf Summit in Harrison County. The trail is easily accessible from North/South Interstates 77 and 79 and nearly parallels US Route 50 East and West.

Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park

Step back in time at this historic mansion filled with stories. The sternwheeler from Parkersburg’s Point Park will shuttle you to the historic island where Irish aristocrats Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett built their magnificent Palladian style mansion in 1800. The Blennerhassett home became a beacon of refined culture, taste and fashion in the wilderness — until events took a tragic turn with ties to American history. Be a guest of Blennerhassett Island and join the likes of George Rogers Clark, King Charles X of France, Johnny Appleseed, Henry Clay and Walt Whitman.

The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History

The museum in Parkersburg showcases three floors of priceless historical relics and objects of art from the Ohio Valley’s past. The Blennerhassett Museum became the first professionally-operated, publicly-funded museum of regional history in west-central West Virginia.

Downtown Parkersburg and Greater Ritchie County Area

Shop, dine and enjoy a night out on the town in downtown Parkersburg or get out and explore more of Ritchie County! For upcoming events, festivals, things to do and other activities, visit greaterparkersburg.com and visitritchiecounty.com.

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