Beech Fork Lake is Huntington’s home lake – a 720-acre reservoir just south of the city, wrapped around Beech Fork State Park and its huge campground, one of the largest in West Virginia. Calm, no-wake-friendly and full of bass, crappie and bluegill, it’s a family fishing-and-camping lake that draws steady crowds from the Huntington-Barboursville area all season.
This guide covers Beech Fork Lake: the state park and camping, the fishing, and access. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
Beech Fork Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~720 acres on Beech Fork
- Location: Wayne & Cabell counties, southwestern West Virginia (near Huntington & Barboursville)
- Built: Beech Fork Dam, completed 1978 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- State park: Beech Fork State Park – one of WV’s largest campgrounds
- Top fish: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, muskie
Beech Fork State Park
Beech Fork State Park is the centerpiece, with one of the biggest campgrounds in the West Virginia state-park system, plus cabins, a marina, trails, a nature center and playgrounds. Its closeness to Huntington makes it a go-to for family camping, and the quiet, no-wake stretches of the lake suit kayaks, canoes and small fishing boats perfectly. It’s the kind of lake where kids learn to fish off the bank.
Fishing Beech Fork Lake
Beech Fork is a productive warmwater fishery: largemouth bass are the headliner, with excellent crappie, plenty of bluegill and channel catfish, and some muskie. A West Virginia fishing license is required. The standing timber, coves and brush make it a panfish and bass lake well suited to patient, structure-focused fishing.
Recreation and access
With a marina, boat ramps and the big state-park campground, Beech Fork is built for low-key recreation – fishing, paddling, camping and picnicking – rather than high-speed boating. The trails and nature programs add to its family appeal, and its location minutes from Huntington means full services are close at hand.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Beech Fork Lake is just south of Barboursville and Huntington in southwestern West Virginia, about 20 minutes from downtown Huntington. The Huntington metro, Marshall University and the Ohio River are all close by.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a West Virginia license is required.
- Family/quiet lake: much of it is no-wake – ideal for paddling and small boats, not powerboating.
- Best seasons: spring and summer for bass, crappie and bluegill; prime family camping season.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Beech Fork Lake?
Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and some muskie – a strong panfish and bass lake.
Can you camp at Beech Fork Lake?
Yes – Beech Fork State Park has one of the largest campgrounds in West Virginia, plus cabins, a marina and trails.
Where is Beech Fork Lake?
Just south of Huntington and Barboursville in southwestern West Virginia, about 20 minutes from downtown Huntington.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
