Cacapon Resort State Park - Hiking

Review

Intro

Nestled in the eastern portion of West Virginia, about 50 miles west of Harpers Ferry in Berkeley Springs, is Cacapon Resort State Park. With more than 20 miles of trails across more than 6,000 acres, it’s is a great place to spend a day outside. The trails range from easy to more challenging, so you are sure to find a hike to suit your skills!

What Makes It Great

The elaborate network of trails spreads in nearly all directions from the park office. If you're looking for a short nature walk, Cacapon State Park has it. If you want to spend the day hiking with your family or friends, you’re covered for that, too. If you are looking for a short, mellow hike, then stay on the trails near the park office and around the rental cabins, since they are mostly flat. A couple of really good ones to keep an eye out for are the Piney Ridge Trail, Tower Trail, and the Cabin Loop Trail.

The outer trails, further away from the cabins, exceed 2,000 feet above sea level and meander along the ridge atop Cacapon Mountain. The Ziler Trail is a fun hike that starts near the park office and climbs up almost 2,200 feet in a zig-zag pattern to the top of the ridge. It hooks up with the longer Ziler Loop Trail (6.6 miles total), and hikers can either go left or right on that route. Both directions are challenging.

If you are looking to hike for multiple days, you can stay in one of the cabins here. Choose one near the 18-hole golf course clubhouse, or a more remote cabin at higher elevations. The cabins are often booked up in advance, so plan ahead and reserve one if you want to stay overnight. There's also a lodge with rooms for rent.

Who is Going to Love It

People from all hiking backgrounds will enjoy Cacapon Resort State Park. Families with young children and/or new hikers can go for leisurely nature walks on the shorter trails, while more experienced hikers can try out the longer, more challenging trails.

Directions, Parking, & Regulations

Cacapon Resort State Park is right off Route 522 in Berkeley Springs, WV. There is plenty of parking on-site.