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Jennings Randolph Lake
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 2006 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.
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Recreation Index
(please click on your area of interest)
Scheduled Openings of Recreation Areas
Recreation Areas
Howell Run Picnic Area
Howell Run Boat Launch
Robert W. Craig Campground
Reservation Information
Camper Assistance Sheet
Campground Site Map (PDF)
West Virginia Overlook
Maryland Boat Launch
Shaw Beach
Other Corps Operated Recreational Areas
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages-National
General Information
Local Weather Conditions and Forecasts
Current Lake Conditions
Current Tailwater Conditions
Fishing At The Lake
Photo Gallery (file is a PowerPoint Presentation - 34.7MB
Informational Project Maps
Recreation Fee Schedule
Water Safety Information
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Scheduled Openings of Recreation Areas
Recreation Area Opening Date Closing Date
Robert W. Craig Campground April 29, 2006 September 30, 2006
WV Boat Launch April 1, 2006 October 31, 2006
Howell Run Picnic Area April 24, 2006 October 31, 2006
MD Boat Launch April 1, 2006 October 31, 2006
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. On March 1, 1999, Jennings Randolph Lake began accepting reservations for sites in the Robert W. Craig Campground. Campers may call the National Recreation Reservation System, (NRRS), at 1-877-444-6777 or go online at www.reserveusa.com 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 4 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.reserveusa.com 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. Reservations for Labor Day 2006 will be taken starting January 2nd, 2006.
Robert W. Craig 2006 Campground Season
Robert W. Craig Campground Opens Saturday, April 29
Robert W. Craig Campground Closes Saturday, September 30
Electric sites $22.00/night
Non-electric sites $18.00/night
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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 There will be no pre-registration of campsites unless site has been reserved through Park-Net. Campsites assigned at the entrance station will be on a first come basis only. Camping is permitted only at numbered campsites. Each site is restricted to a maximum of 8 persons, including visitors. Two camping units are permitted at each site, with the second one being a tent. The length of a stay is limited to 14 days during any 30-day period. The digging or leveling of any campsite is prohibited. Camping equipment will be completely removed and the site cleaned before departure. Quiet hours are enforced from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. The person registering for the site is responsible for the actions of others at their campsite. Collecting fallen trees or branches for firewood is permitted in the campground area, but cutting standing dead timber, driving nails into trees, breaking limbs, or otherwise defacing live trees or shrubbery is prohibited.
No beer kegs allowed.
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.
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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.
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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 control projects. For additional information about each Baltimore District project, click on the link below.
Other Baltimore District Lake Projects
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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.
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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.
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
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.
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Jennings Randolph Lake Informational Maps
Reservoir Boundary and Hunting Area Map
Directional Map to Lake
Hiking Trails Map
Robert Craig Campground Site Map (PDF)
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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
Golden Age Passport
NOTE: Golden Age/Access holders are entitled to a 50 percent discount on all fees $10.00
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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.
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Your comments and suggestions are valuable to us and you may contact us by email at JenningRandolphLakeWEB@eis01.usace.army.mil, or by filling out a camper comment card or
by contacting our project office at (304) 355-2346.
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Phone: (304) 355-2346. Address: see web site City: Potomac Highlands~ State: WV Zip: 26717 Region: Potomac Highlands Url: http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/recreation/jenran/recinfo.htm Canaan Valley - Albright - Davis - - Mathias - Keyser - Thomas - Berkeley Springs - Potomac Highlands~ - Fayetteville - Harpers Ferry - West Virginia Regions - Roanoke - Moorefield - Beckley - Eastern Panhandle~ - Hico - Cass - Petersburg - Snowshoe - Elkins - Hatfield-McCoyMountains~ - Ansted - Franklin - Philippi - Fairmont - Buckhannon - NewRiverGreenbriarValley~ |
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