Pocahontas State Park · VA
Beaver Lake Trail
Easy, well-marked loop around Beaver Lake in Pocahontas State Park with near-continuous lake views and a waterfall at the CCC-built dam; the park's most popular hiking trail.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the hiking plan today.
Today's best: hiking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- · 84°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — Paved/boardwalk surface — rainfall does not affect traction.
- − 78 min of daylight — You need at least 113 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 2.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 173 ft
- Surface
- boardwalk
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
37.3857, -77.5895 — VA.
Park
Part of Pocahontas State Park (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Beaver Lake Trail?
Beaver Lake Trail is a 2.6-mile route with 173 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Beaver Lake Trail?
Beaver Lake Trail is elevated boardwalk over wet ground — stays passable year-round. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Beaver Lake Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Beaver Lake Trail is in Pocahontas State Park, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.