Cathedral State Park
Cathedral State Park is a West Virginia state park about one mile east of Aurora in Preston County, and it protects one of the largest old-growth forests and one of the largest stands of virgin hemlock in the state. The official West Virginia State Parks page lists the park as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It suits visitors who want to see old-growth trees on foot. Check the official park conditions before you go, because the sources do not confirm whether the trails are accessible on a given day.
Should you go to Cathedral State Park today?
Good day to go
- Dry daytime forecast.
- Tue 20Dry daytime forecast
- Wed 21Dry daytime forecast
- Thu 22Dry daytime forecast
- Fri 23Dry daytime forecast
- Sat 24Dry daytime forecast
Weather at Cathedral State Park, today
| Time | Sky | Temp | Wind | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 am | Sunny | 37°F | E 2 mph | 0% |
| 10 am | Sunny | 50°F | E 1 mph | 0% |
| 12 pm | Sunny | 59°F | NE 2 mph | 0% |
| 2 pm | Sunny | 62°F | NE 3 mph | 0% |
| 4 pm | Sunny | 62°F | NE 2 mph | 0% |
| 6 pm | Clear | 57°F | NE 2 mph | 0% |
Daylight
| Sunrise | 7:31 am |
|---|---|
| Sunset | 6:34 pm |
| Question visitors ask | Is Cathedral State Park open and are the old-growth hemlock trails accessible? |
|---|---|
| County | Preston County |
| Official site | wvstateparks.com |
How do you get to Cathedral State Park?
The official West Virginia State Parks page gives the address of Cathedral State Park as 12 Cathedral Park Drive, Aurora, WV 26705. The phone number is 304-735-3771, and the email address is [email protected].
Wikipedia places the park about one mile east of the town of Aurora and five miles west of Redhouse, Maryland. The sources do not describe the parking areas or the driving route inside the park.
Is Cathedral State Park open, and what are the hours?
The official West Virginia State Parks page lists the hours of Cathedral State Park as 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The page does not list an entrance fee. The park is managed by West Virginia State Parks, and its page was checked on October 15, 2026, when no alerts were listed.
The official page does not say whether specific trails are open or closed. Check the park's conditions section on the official page, or call 304-735-3771, before you go.
What is there to see in the old-growth forest?
The official page describes Cathedral State Park as the state's largest old-growth forest and as one of the largest stands of virgin hemlock in West Virginia. The 133-acre park is a designated National Natural Landmark. It also has 170 species of trees, ferns and wildflowers.
Wikipedia says the trees reach up to 90 feet in height and 16 feet in circumference. Rhine Creek runs through the park, and the forest is mostly eastern hemlock.
Cathedral State Park: questions visitors ask
Is Cathedral State Park open, and are the old-growth hemlock trails accessible?
The official West Virginia State Parks page lists the park as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it listed no alerts when checked on October 15, 2026. The sources do not confirm trail access on any given day, so check the park conditions on the official page or call 304-735-3771 before you go.
Is there an entrance fee for Cathedral State Park?
The official West Virginia State Parks page does not list an entrance fee for Cathedral State Park. Confirm any charge with the park at 304-735-3771 before you go.
What facilities does Cathedral State Park have?
A Preston County Parks and Recreation listing says the state park has 3 miles of trails, a playground, plenty of picnic space and a weather shelter. The listing refers visitors to the official state parks website for more information.
What threatens the hemlock trees in Cathedral State Park?
Wikipedia says the park is under significant threat from the hemlock woolly adelgid, an insect that has been detected within 20 miles of the park. The same article says lightning felled the state's largest hemlock in 2004, and that Hurricane Sandy snowfall caused extensive damage in October 2012.
When was Cathedral State Park established?
Wikipedia says the state bought the land in 1942, and the park's infobox lists 1942 as the year it was established. The National Park Service designated the park a National Natural Landmark in 1965, according to the same article.
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