Home » Explore Parks » Holly River State Park » Activities at Holly River State Park

Holly River State Park Activities

Holly River State Park is known for its wide range of flora, including wildflowers and ferns, and the park’s natural setting is ideal for camping, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and other outdoor activities.

    Biking

    Is biking your style? Mount up for 42 miles of trails varying in difficulty, so no skill or prior experience is necessary. Trail maps are available at the park office.

    42 miles of trails
    Trail map available
    Learn More

    Fishing

    Holly River State Park is a great place to go trout fishing. With its swift water and currents, the Left Fork of Holly River makes an ideal habitat for these fish. But before you head out, make sure you purchase a current West Virginia fishing license, available at www.wvfish.com.

    Fishing (Trout)
    Fishing license required

    Camping

    Holly River State Park’s campground has 88 units with electric hookups, picnic tables and cooking grills. A dumping station and four centralized bathhouses with coin-operated washers and dryers are available. Only one tent or trailer is allowed per site and check-in time is noon. Campsites also offer free Wi-Fi. Find more information here.

    Primitive sites are also available on a first-come-first-serve basis, for $24.99 a night.

    88 campsites
    Hookups available
    Grilling station
    Picnic area
    Bathhouses available
    Wi-Fi

    Windy Gap School

    Dive into the past at the Windy Gap School at Holly River State Park, which has years of history written on the walls. The school was restored in 1991 by the Holly River State Park Foundation after closing in 1960, and now preserves its rich history. Visitors can even trace generations of family and friends with the evidence showcased on the walls, with the help of the specialized guide. This schoolhouse isn’t just a historical site; it’s a blast from the past that takes you back to the mid-1900s.

    • Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day
    • Open Saturday & Sunday
    • 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

    Trout Rearing Pond

    Just a few minutes from The Cookhouse Restaurant is the Trout Rearing Pond at Holly River State Park. There are plenty of places to sit and take in the sounds of nature. This all-stone pond is full of Rainbow and Gold trout, ready to be fed with fish food! Watch the fingerlings grow from the end of April until they are released in the Holly River in the fall. The Trout Rearing Pond is a great place to relax, observe, and be in touch with nature!

    • Pond stocked seasonally
    • Can be fed by the provided food machines
    • Located in the park, right by the main office and restaurant

    Geocaching

    Holly River contains three cache sites for geocaching enthusiasts. Try to hunt down the treasure before someone else beats you to it!

     

    Holly River State Park Geocache Locations:

    Holly River Cache
    Dreamers Meadow Cache
    Tater Cache

    3 geocaching sites

    Hiking

    Come see Holly River State Park’s rich woodlands, filled with abundant wildflowers. Hike one of the park’s many trails stretching 42 miles for a real scene stealer. Popular hikes include treks out to the Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa waterfalls and Potato Knob, which offers a commanding view of the park from 2,480 feet.

    42 miles of trails
    Trail map available
    Learn More

    Horseback Riding

    Holly River State Park offers overnight camping with horses. Advanced reservations are required to reserve one or more of the three campsites (numbers 79, 80, 81). Corrals are included in the campsite reservation. Trails designated for equestrian use are marked on the park map.

    Outdoor Adventures

    The adventures continue with more attractions, including a swimming pool, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, basketball, volleyball, tennis, shuffleboard and badminton courts, as well as areas for croquet and horseshoes. During the summer season, a park program coordinator plans special activities for the nature/recreational program. Such popular features as nature hikes, films, hayrides, marshmallow roasts and sports events are organized for your added enjoyment.

    Court sports
    Special events

    Dining

    Dine at The Cookhouse at Holly River State Park for “ridiculously good food.” With bread made from scratch, your meal is bound to be delicious. Known for their delicious breakfast, the delicacies don’t stop there. Leave some room for dessert, a hand-dipped ice cream cone is calling your name. Indulge from 8 am to 8 pm any day of the week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or have the Cookhouse cater your event!

    • Opens the first Friday of April until Memorial Day – Friday – Sunday – 8 am to 8 pm
    • Memorial Day to Labor Day – 7 days a week – 8 am to 8 pm
    • Labor Day to the end of October – Friday – Sunday 8 am to 8 pm

    Museums and Historical Sites

    Quaint, historic Helvetia shouldn’t be missed. Ever since the first European immigrants arrived in 1869, the town has retained its old-world character. The Hutte Swiss Restaurant is a highlight. Order authentic Swiss and German cuisine like sauerbraten, musli and morgan henalie!

    Not in park

    Swimming

    The outdoor pool at Holly River State Park is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If Monday is a holiday the pool will be open. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Pool passes are available to purchase at park headquarters.

    Note: The pool closes for the season in mid-August during the week and remains open on weekends, pending lifeguard availability.

    Open seasonally