Tygart Lake State Park is located approximately 4 miles south of Grafton, West Virginia. From Interstate 68, just outside Morgantown, WV, simply follow route US119 to the town of Grafton. Once in Grafton you can follow the posted signs to Tygart Lake State Park.
The State Park is located on the eastern shores of the 10-mile, 1,750 acre Tygart Lake. There are five hiking trails located within the park. I was able to make a circuit hike using three of the trails located near the south-eastern section of the park.
My hike started near the cabins and camping area of the park. The first trail that I started hiking on was the Woodland Trail.
The first part of the trail started with a gradual ascent of about 120 feet mid-way up a ridge. The lake could be seen to my left as the leaves were off the trees. To my right was the edge of the state park as well as remnants of an old fence row. According to the park brochure, the Woodland Trail passes through what was once a farm.
At about 0.5 miles into the hike I began another ascent as the trail gradually turned the to the right and then made a sharp turn to the right onto the ridge line. At three quarters of a mile I reached the highest point on this hike and was treated to "winter" vista of the lake below.
I followed the ridge line for about 1000 feet before the Woodland Trail switch backed to the left and began a descent down the northern slope of the ridge. After a few more switch backs I emerged at the end of the Woodland Trail just across the road from the Park Office.
At this point there is a convergence of three trails: the Woodland Trail, Ridge Trail, and Lake Trail. I followed the paved road for about a tenth of a mile and then beared right onto the Ridge Trail at about 0.9 miles into the hike.
The Ridge Trail scrambled up
for a short distance before it leveled off and then descended into a hollow. At 1.2 miles the trail turned left to follow the hollow for the next tenth of a mile back to the paved park road. I turned right here, following the paved road once again, before bearing left off the paved road and onto the Lake Trail at 1.4 miles.
The Lake Trail began a gradual descent through a nice wooded area towards the lake shoreline. The Lake Trail visits the lake and then returns back on another leg which ends at the park office. After 0.2 miles of hiking I emerged in a clearing near the lake.
Tygart Lake is used to control flooding in parts of West Virginia as well as Pennsylvania. During the fall and winter months they lake is drawn down to accommodate the spring rains and snow melt. When I arrived at the lake "shoreline" I soon discovered the lake bed was exposed for a good 500 feet in front of me. The scene was somewhat surreal. I would most definitely be interested in visiting this site again, when the lake is full in its bed.
After pausing to take some pictures, and trying to imagine what the lake would look like during the summer months, I turned to my left to follow the other branch of the Lake Trail. This section of the trail followed a dried out creek bed for about 400 feet before it climbed out on the western bank. After 0.4 miles of hiking, about 2 miles into my hike, I came to the end of the Lake Trail. It emerged in a large picnic area located right next to the park office.
After taking a break and reading the material posted outside the park office, I retraced my steps, heading back the Woodland Trail. On my way back to the trailhead, I spooked, or rather I was spooked, by three deer that crossed the trail not more than 50 feet in front of me. As is typical, by the time I got my camera out to snap a picture, the deer were over the top of the ridge and out of sight.
The entire hike was about 3 miles in total. I was able to make a nice circuit hike on three of the trails at the park. This was my first hike in West Virginia, and even though it was a short hike, and not all that challenging, I did enjoy the varied terrain and landscape. On subsequent trips to WVU for visiting my daughter, I believe I will try to arrange for longer hikes in the mountains of West Virginia. Perhaps I can even talk my daughter into going on a West Virginia backpacking trip with me as well.
Our adventures begin at the trailhead and the start of the Woodland Trail.
A partial vista of Tygart Lake that would not be visible during the spring or summer.
The Ridge Trail was a lot shorter than the maps made it out to be.
Heading off the Ridge Trail down towards the lake on the Lake Trail.
The lake was partially drained, but on a typical day I'm sure this would be an awesome campsite.
Tracing my steps back to the trailhead on the Woodlands Trail across this ridge line.
