Recreation Information
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The US Army Corps of Engineers provides over 30 percent of the recreational opportunities on federal lands. The Corps is the largest provider of water-based recreation in the nation with over 25 million individuals visiting a Corps project at least once each year.
Jennings Randolph Lake offers something for everyone, be it hiking, fishing, camping, boating, or nature walks. If you have not visited us for a while, you will be surprised and pleased with our continued commitment to improvement and our responsiveness to our visitors' comments.
This page is provided to give our visitors as much up-to-date information about us as possible in order to make your visit more enjoyable.
To help you find the information you are looking for faster, we have divided the information into four separate categories:
- Scheduled
Openings of Recreation Areas includes a 2009 season schedule
of each recreational area opening date.
- Recreation
Areas contains a brief description of each of our recreation
areas as well as general information specific to each facility.
- General
Information contains information such as local weather
conditions and forecasts, lake and tail water conditions, recent
lake stockings, a photo gallery and informational project maps.
- Water Safety Information provided by the Corps of Engineers. If it concerns water safety, you will find it here. Also contained in this section are helpful links to some other exciting water safety sites.
Recreation
Index
(please click on your area of interest)
Discount Passes for Recreation Fees
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages-National
Local Weather Conditions and Forecasts
Maps - Informational and Hiking Trail
Other Corps Operated Recreational Areas
Photo Gallery (file is a PowerPoint Presentation - 34.7MB)
Howell Run Picnic Area Robert W. Craig Campground Camper Assistance Sheet
Scheduled Openings of Recreation Areas
Text Directions to the Lake - provides specific driving instructions from various locations and directions to Jennings Randolph Lake.
Waffle Rock - The Waffle Rock is a big attraction to the thousands of visitors at Jennings Randolph Lake each year.
Scheduled Openings of Recreation Areas
| Recreation Area | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Craig Campground | Friday, May 1, 2009 |
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 |
| Howell Run Boat Launch | Wednesday, April 1, 2009 |
Thursday, October 1, 2009 |
| Howell Run Picnic Area | Monday, May 11, 2009 |
Monday, October 5, 2009 |
| Shaw Beach | Monday, May 18, 2009 |
Monday, September 7, 2009 |
| Maryland Boat Launch | As weather permits |
As weather permits |
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NOTE: The Maryland Boat Launch is on Mt. Zion Road off Maryland state route 135 on Backbone Mountain. The launch includes a thirty-foot wide, 600-foot long concrete boat ramp with a floating pier system. The large paved parking area can accommodate fifty cars and trailers and a comfort facility is available for the boater's convenience. Motorboats, sailboats, and other watercraft frequent the lake with water skiing and fishing being the most popular pastime. Both the comfort station and the launch ramp are lighted at night. The Maryland service charge will be $5.00 for launching a boat. |
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Recreation Areas
Facilities Available at Jennings Randolph Lake
Howell Run Picnic Area
The picnic area is nestled into the rugged hillside and provides the
picnicker with a beautiful view of the lake. In addition, a one mile down
and back lakeside trail provides the visitor a means to walk off that
large picnic lunch.The Howell Run Picnic Area has 26 picnic tables, 13
grills, two covered pavilions, a comfort facility with flush toilets,
potable water, playground equipment, volleyball court, and two horseshoe
pits for our visitors' enjoyment. The two covered pavilions each accommodate
approximately 50 guests and are equipped with large, group-size grills.
The shelters are available for reservations for $50.00/day or can be used
on a first-come, first-saved basis. Contact a member of the ranger staff
for reservations or call the administration office at (304) 355-2346 during
the hours of 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Howell Run Boat Launch
The Howell Run Boat Launch (located off WV State Route 46) consists of
a wide two-lane concrete ramp, with a floating dock for temporary loading
and unloading of boats. The large paved parking area insures plenty of
parking spaces and a comfort facility is available for the boater's convenience.
Motorboats, sailboats, and other watercraft frequent the lake with water
skiing and fishing being the most popular pastime. A vault toilet comfort
station is available at the launch facility. Both the comfort station
and the launch ramp are lighted at night. A $3.00 day use fee is charged
for launching trailered boats; however, annual passes are available for
$30.00. The annual pass will be valid for 12 months from the date of sale.
(Duplicate passes will no longer be sold.) There is no launching fee for
registered campers and Golden Age/Golden Access cardholders are entitled
to a 50 percent discount towards the boat launch fee.
Robert W. Craig Campground
Our campground is hosted by four full time park attendants that are dedicated to make your stay with us at the Robert W. Craig Campground as enjoyable as possible. This family oriented campground is spaciously located on the hills above the lake. The campground has 82 campsites, of which 70 have electrical services. The facility has hot showers, water hydrants every third or fourth site, and flush toilets at the washhouse and in the back loop comfort station.The campground also features a playground for children, campground store, horseshoe pits, and an amphitheater for evening programs presented by the ranger staff on Saturday nights. A large group picnic shelter with electricity, potable water, a full basketball court and horseshoe pits is also available.The ranger staff as well as the campground hosts will be happy to register any fish caught for our "Catch of the Month" contest.In addition, the "High Timber" and "Sunset" trails are provided for your hiking enjoyment. The "High Timber Trail" is a 3/4 mile tree identification trail while the Sunset Trail offers the hiker a panoramic view of the back of the dam and breathtaking sunsets.
Maryland Boat Launch
The Maryland Boat Launch is on Mt. Zion Road off Maryland state route 135 on Backbone Mountain. The launch includes a thirty-foot wide, 600-foot long concrete boat ramp with a floating pier system. The large paved parking area can accommodate fifty cars and trailers and a comfort facility is available for the boater's convenience. Motorboats, sailboats, and other watercraft frequent the lake with water skiing and fishing being the most popular pastime. Both the comfort station and the launch ramp are lighted at night. The Maryland service charge will be $5.00 for launching a boat.
Shaw Beach
The Shaw Beach offers a place to cool off on a hot summer day, sand on your feet, a sunny grassy area for relaxing with your favorite book or enjoy the view of the lake. The facility includes a forty-car parking lot, two hundred-foot swim beach, restroom/changing building, playground equipment, water fountains, foot wash station, information bulletin board, and picnic tables.The Corps does not provide lifeguards but does provide safety throw rings each day the beach is open. Beach rules and regulations are posted on the bulletin board. The area is generally open from the week before Memorial Day through the week after Labor Day.
Reservation Information
The
Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service have entered into a ten
year contract with Reserve America, a company that manages campsite reservations
for the states of New York and California under their National Recreation
Reservation System. Campers may call the National Recreation Reservation
System, (NRRS), at 1-877-444-6777 or go online at www.Recreation.gov
to reserve sites. Campers will be able to make reservations as much as
240 days in advance for up to 14 consecutive nights or a maximum of 30
days in one year at the same campsite. A person may make as many as four
reservations at time. Although many sites are available for reservations,
some sites will still be on a first come-first served basis.Full payment
is due in advance and may be by credit card, money order or certified
check. Personal checks are not accepted. There is no additional charge
to the camper to make a reservation vs. registering on a first come -
first served basis. There is a charge for additional actions such as changing
dates, campsites or cancellations.Visit the www.Recreation.gov
to get general information about NRRS or to reserve your campsite among
the 58,000+ in inventory.Make your Fourth of July reservations now and
guarantee the site you want.
Robert W. Craig 2009 Campground Season
Robert W. Craig Campground Opens Friday, May 1, 2009
Robert W. Craig Campground Closes Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Electric sites $22.00/night
Non-electric sites $18.00/night
Campers Assistance Sheet
THE INFORMATION ON THIS SHEET IS FURNISHED TO ASSIST YOU IN MAKING YOUR STAY AT JENNINGS RANDOLPH LAKE AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.
| TELEPHONE | A public pay phone is located at the washhouse. |
|---|---|
| CAMP FEES | Robert W. Craig Memorial Campground - $22.00/per night for electric and $18.00/per night non-electric. Registration fees are not refundable except in the most extreme circumstances. |
| REGISTRATION | Check with Park Attendant for specific procedures. Persons must be 18 years of age or older to register for campsites. Check in time is 2:00 PM. Check out time is 12:00 PM daily. If you plan to extend your stay, you must re-register by 10:00 AM by contacting the Park Attendant. Camping equipment or other property cannot be left unattended at a campsite for the purpose of holding the site for future occupancy. Such property will be impounded and the owner charged for storage. Visitors to your site are required to contact the Park Attendant and request a Visitor Pass before proceeding to the campsite. |
| CAMPING REGULATIONS |
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| PARKING | Vehicles will be parked only on the camping pad or in designated parking lots. Only two vehicles are permitted per site. Parking along roadways, between sites, and at unoccupied campsites is prohibited. Additional camper and visitor parking is available near the entrance station, at the washhouse, and at the entrances to High Timber Trail. |
| PETS | Pets are permitted anywhere in the campground, however, they must be physically restrained at all times by either being in a pet cage or on a leash no more than six feet long. Properly dispose of your pets waste while camping and before leaving. |
| FIRES | Fires are restricted to the fire rings provided at each site. All
fires must be extinguished before leaving. Do not put lighted charcoal grills on picnic tables. Use of chainsaws in the developed recreation area is prohibited. |
A COMPLETE COPY OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PUBLIC USE OF THIS PROJECT ARE POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD AT THE WASHHOUSE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RULES, PLEASE CONSULT PARK PERSONNEL.
The Maryland Overlook
The Maryland Overlook has one of the most scenic views in Western Maryland. The overlook features a half-mile long Songbird trail complete with waterfall and pond. The Maryland Overlook is the trail head for the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes River Access Trail. The trail is a 1.75 mile linear trail that extends from the Maryland Overlook to the bank of the North Branch of the Potomac River. The trail meanders across open fields through deciduous woodlands and ends on the river’s edge. A spur off this trail is the Shoreline Access Trail. It is ½ mile trail from the Maryland Overlook parking area to the shores of Jennings Randolph Lake. The Maryland overlook is accessible from Maryland state route 135 by either Walnut Bottom Road or Chestnut Grove Road.
West Virginia Overlook
The
West Virginia Overlook provides a panoramic view of the dam, outlet works,
and lake. This overlook is also home for the "Waffle Rock," a rare geologic
structure that is a portion of the sandstone bedrock that was folded and
fractured during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains over 300 million
years ago. The waffle formation itself results from iron oxide that leached
into the fractured sandstone filling the void between the grains of sand,
cementing them together extra strongly. The resulting dark red sandstone
along the joints was more resistant to erosion and weathering than the
surrounding rock and stands as the grids of the waffle. The West Virginia
Overlook is open year round, weather permitting.
Other Recreation Areas in the Baltimore District
The Army Corps of Engineers offers recreation opportunities such as picnic areas, campgrounds, swimming, fishing, boating, playgrounds for children, hunting, and hiking trails at many of their flood damage reduction projects. For additional information about each Baltimore District project, click on the link below.
Other Baltimore District Lake Projects
General Information
The Water Resources Development Act of 1988 added downstream recreation, including whitewater rafting, as an authorized project purpose for Jennings Randolph Lake. Since 1989 we have made annual whitewater releases in the April-May timeframe if conditions permit. This past spring 1400+ rafters enjoyed the scheduled releases.The Mineral County Parks & Recreation Commission signed a lease in March 1990 to develop, operate and maintain the whitewater/fishing access downstream of the dam near Barnum, W. Va. The Commission is the point of contact for requests for whitewater releases by private groups and outfitters. Please call (304) 788-5732 for more information.
2009 Scheduled Releases:
The whitewater release dates are:
April 11-12;
April 25-26;
May 9-10;
May 23-24
The releases will only be made if there is sufficient water for other project purposes. A final decision will be made one to two weeks prior to the scheduled release. Fall release dates will be approved later.
Spring whitewater releases from Jennings Randolph Lake are sponsored by the Mineral County Parks and Recreation Commission. You can call them at (304) 788-5732 for further information.
A new status information line has been installed at the lake that will allow you to get up-to-date information on the lake conditions, local weather forecast and other pertinent lake related information. The number to call is 304-355-2890.
Fishing at Jennings Randolph Lake
Another State Record Fish Caught
Once again a state record fish has been caught in either Jennings Randolph Lake or it's tail waters bringing the state records caught to four. The most recent catch was made on August 3, 2001 by Gary Kuhn in Barnum, WV. The record breaking brown trout weighed in at 18 lbs. 3 oz. , was 33 inches long with a girth of 19 inches surpassing the previous record of 13 lb. 7.5 oz. also caught in Barnum, WV.The tail waters of Jennings Randolph Lake now boast three Maryland state record trout: A 7 lb. 9 oz. cutthroat trout caught by Dave Martin on 5/27/00; A 6 lb. 1.75 oz. brook trout caught by Mike Florita on 4/10/98; and the most recent 18 lb. 3 oz. brown trout caught by Gary Kuhn on 08/03/01;. In addition, a record 14 lb. 4 oz. walleye caught in Jennings Randolph Lake by John McCarley on 5/16/98.
During the past four years, a total of 2,500,000 walleye fry have been released into Jennings Randolph Lake by WV Fisheries and 13,000 rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout by MD DNR. Prior stockings of largemouth and smallmouth bass have proved successful and are reproducing well. Fishing is quickly becoming one of the most popular attractions at the lake.
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| Walleye caught by John McCarley on 5/16/98. 14 lbs. 4 oz. caught in Jennings Randolph Lake |
Brown Trout caught by Gary Kuhn on 08/03/01. 18 lbs. 3 oz. Barnum, WV |
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| Mike Florita with his record Brook Trout caught on 4/10/99. 6 lbs. 1.75 oz. Barnum, WV |
Cutthroat Trout caught on 5/20/00 by David Martin in Barnum, WV. 7 lbs. 9 oz. |
Informational and Hiking Trail Maps
Reservoir Boundary and Hunting Area Map
Campground Hiking Trails (PDF)
Robert Craig Campground Site Map (PDF)
Senator Paul S. Sarbanes River Access Trail (PDF)
Recreation Fee Schedule
| Recreation Area | Fee |
|---|---|
| Howell Run Boat Launch | $3.00/launch |
| Annual Launch Pass NOTE: The annual pass will be valid for 12 months from the date of sale - duplicate passes will no longer be sold. |
$30.00 |
| Howell Run Picnic Shelter | $50.00 |
| Campground Group Shelter | $50.00 |
| West Virginia Overlook | N/A |
| Maryland Overlook | N/A |
| Special Event Permit | $50.00 |
| Campground (non electric sites) | $18.00 |
| Campground (electric sites) | $22.00 |
Water Safety Information
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the leading provider of water-based
recreation nationwide. Providing over 30 percent of the recreational opportunities
on Federal lands, with only 2 percent of the public lands under their
responsibility, the Corps attracts nearly half a billion individuals to
one of their public areas at least once each year! Our visitors have come
to know and rely on Corps recreational facilities as some of the best
available today.Because we take our responsibility as the leading water-based
recreation provider seriously, we are dedicated to also provide a safe
environment for your recreational experience. Accordingly, we provide the
public with a water safety site that we at Jennings Randolph Lake encourage
everyone to visit. The website address is http://watersafety.usace.army.mil.
Changes in Age and Disability Discount Passes for Recreation Fees
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies will no longer issue Golden Age and Golden Access Passports as of January 1, 2007. With the passage by Congress of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, Public Law 108-447, these passports have been replaced with the new America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass: an Interagency Senior Pass for age-related discounts and an Interagency Access Pass for disability-related discounts.
Although the Corps will not sell or issue the new passes, we will accept
only the new Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes or previously
issued Golden Age or Access Passports as proof of eligibility for age-
and disability-related discounts. For additional information check this
link. http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/passes.cfm
Get up-to-date information
on the lake conditions, local weather forecast and other
pertinent lake related information by calling 304-355-2890
Your
comments and suggestions are valuable to us and you may contact us by
email at JenningRandolphLakeWEB@usace.army.mil,
or by filling out a camper comment card
or by contacting our project office at (304) 355-2346.
Thank you for visiting our site.
Please come back... and bring a friend!
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