carnifex ferry battlefield state park

Aside from the educational aspects, I really looked forward to what I had been told was a nice view of the Gauley River. If only someone had found the time to plow the extra hundred yards or so to the picnic area. C'mon guys! You work in snow country, not Florida!

Love to visit this spot. Sitting on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon near Summersville, West Virginia, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is an important Civil War battle site that had a win for the Union. Its part of the The Civil War Discovery Trail in West Virginia. Great place for hiking, picnics and quiet time. Try to catch the re enactment of the battle which takes place every other year.

We took our cat and dog up to the park for a short walk. Nice facilities, great overlook, clean and well groomed grounds. There is a trail that is .2 miles that leads down to the river. We did not take it, steep hike, but lots of people were. Seemed to be a nice hike for someone with good knees. :)

We thought there'd be more to see actually AT the Battlefield. The hikes were nice and offered many choices of length and moderation. Views from overlooks were breathtaking

Carnifex Ferry State Park was very pleasant and clean. Nice picnic areas, overlooks which would be breath taking in the fall, trails to take a nice walk. Was a very nice day:)

Nice ambiance, good hiking trails and picnic pavilions, historic buildings, and loads of history. Take in the Battle of Carnifex Ferry re-enactment every year and smell the powder smoke; cheer on the blue or the gray (or both) and enjoy the event. A well-maintained park, always good for an outing!

Wonderful piece of history to visit. This location has a wonderful park area for kids of all ages to play along with covered shelters for a family picnic. Also, this park has clean bathroom facilities on site which is a plus when you have little ones that always seem to need a bathroom stop. If you are in the area this is a great place to stop when the weather is nice to take in some local history and scenery that's free!

A follower of US history and the Civil War especially, we came here originally for the battlefield and the Patterson House Museum. Unfortunately, the battlefield sights are very limited and the museum is only open on Sat, Sun and holidays, days we could not time our visit for. However, this park does offer many recreational opportunities including a couple hiking trails that include excellent views of the Gauley River, a playground, ball fields, horseshoe pits and extensive picnic facilities including tables, pavilions, restrooms and grills. However, the day we visited was very hot and humid and the swarming gnats were unbearable so all we could stand to do was to take a short walk to a nearby platform providing an excellent view of the Gauley, take a quick look at the Patterson House grounds then seek the shelter of the car and leave.

This is a really nice park with a lovely hiking trail and two overlooks with a gorgeous view of the Gauley river. There are a few historic markers relating to the civil war battle that took place at this site. It's a nice place for a picnic. There is a playground and a softball field as well.

This park was beautiful. There are pavilions to rent for events. We rented one for the family reunion. The pavilions have ceiling lights and outlets if you need electricity for anything. The public restrooms are very clean and there is a soda machine which worked out for us when we started running low on drinks. There is a playground and trails and a beautiful overlook where you can see the river and the mountains. Absolutely beautiful. A must see park.

When one reads "Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park," he or she may think it's akin to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. While there is historical significance it's really not like that. I went there just to check the place out. There are trails you can hike, well marked and maintained, that take you to overlooks of the Gauley River canyon. They also have facilities for softball, picnics, and other activities. The only refreshments available in the park come from a single vending machine near the rest rooms. The park's location less than two miles from the beach and campground at Summersville Lake makes it feasible to do both this and that in one day trip. If you budget your time wisely, you could even get down to the New River Gorge Bridge the same day.

Beautiful area, nice picnic and restrooms. Very nice (new) overlook as well, with ample seating. Historical value,

Had a couple trails that had great views of the river. It's one of those places that I hope to visit in the fall with the changing of the leaves.

I remember visiting Carnifex with my family as a child, so this park holds a special place in my heart. Now that I'm married with a child of my own, we enjoy taking day trips to the park to picnic, hike, play, and visit the historical Civil War site. There is a museum, cannon, graves, etc at the park, which is a great & fun way to teach children about Civil War history. You can hike to the river, where you may see some kayakers playing in the rapids. There is also a really nice overlook to view the river and mountains.

We had so much fun at the driftwood cottage. The place was stocked with firewood, even starter wood, it was clean and well-stocked with everything. The view was beautiful and we really enjoyed the hot tub. Good prices, very clean and the owners are wonderful folks!Margaret Darling