Berwind Lake Wildife Management Area

About:-

Berwind Lake WMA, in McDowell County, is one of the larger Wildlife Management Areas in West Virginia, containing approximately 18,000 acres of rugged mountain terrain common to the southern portion of the state.

The area was established in 1974 under a lease agreement between the Berwind Lake Company and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The lease was designed for the purpose of developing plans and conducting wildlife management activities beneficial to the wildlife resources of the area. Support for the lease agreement establishing the Wildlife Management Area came primarily through the efforts of the Berwind Conservation Club.

Elevations range from 1642 feet to 2628 feet and the majority of the area is heavily forested. Oak and hickory dominate the woodlands, which also have some beech and maple cover. A small percentage of the area consists of brushlands which were created by timber cutting, old log landings, skidder trails and abandoned strip mines. Most of the open land is located around Berwind Lake near the picnic areas and swimming pool.