Green Ridge State Forest

My family and I have gone camping all over Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, but had never visited Green Ridge before this weekend.  My son's and I decided to do some cold weather tent camping and to explore the Pawpaw tunnel while doing some hiking.  Greenridge Forest didn't disappoint.  I've added it onto my go to spots for Maryland but not one that I'll bring my wife to (true primitive camping).

The Pros:  

The forest is beautiful, the campsites are large and very spaced out, firewood is bountiful, the area feels very remote.  From our campsite, we could not see or hear the next closest campsite, in fact, I'm not exactly sure where it even was.  All of the sites are primitive sites with only a fire circle and a picknick table.  Many of the back sites require high clearance,  4 wheel drive vehicles to get to. (These can be a cons too). 

The Cons:

The area is beautiful,  but it is a working forest so don't expect a ton of old growth trees and some areas will have been freshly logged.   All of the campsites are primitive sites, and some require high clearance and 4 wheel drive in order to get to the site.    You can't make a reservation in advance, you have to take a chance that there will be a site available.   There are no latrines, bathrooms or showers anywhere to be found and the closest store is 30 minutes away. 

My boys and I all loved it there even though it was only 14 degrees at night.  We will definingly return.

The people are nice and friendly . If you love to camp and view nature this is the place to be there are plenty of beautiful scenery and you can hear the beautiful sounds of nature . There also not a whole lot of traffic and most of the campsites are spread out . There's also a couple places you can go cool off on a hot day. They have tons of camps to choose from I haven't seen alot of them but my favorites that I have seen are 1,3 and 26 they all range from medium to large.

First come first server. I got in late Friday night and only the overflow camps were available, but don't let that dissuade you from coming. I got site 93 and it was a awesome camping spot. It's located in Bonds Landing, has room to park your car and walk to camp or drive your vehicle to the camp. Behind site 93 and a couple of others have a river that's not far from the camp site. It is 43 minute drive from the Ranger station.

Got there Friday evening and there were still many sites to choose from. Went with 46 on a recommendation by a fellow visitor at the headquarters and it was a good choice. It was about a 20+ minute drive from the headquarters to the campsite. The roads were winding gravel roads but not issue for my Crosstrek. I probably saw two or three other vehicles the entire weekend and my site was well off the road.

The view from campsite 65 is outstanding. Although, not much shade during the summer months.

Steep hill to campsite, but made it up in my Tesla without issue.

We stayed at 66, the road was tough but we made it. Close to the C&O trail, saw bikers pass through often.

Will definitely return, hopefully in the fall.

Sites were nice and spread out. Great trails in the area. This site was right at the road but it’s not like cars are coming by all the time.

This was the second time I stayed in Green Ridge, but first time at this site. We had checked out site 64-78, but nothing was calling to us. So we decided to go check out 65 and 66 and boy were we happy we did! Site 65 has a steep drive (my car had a little trouble but it made it!) but the views are breathtaking. You get the mountains surrounding the Potomac River. We watched the moon rise and sunrise from our site. Not a lot of trees to set up tarps if it rains. Also ground is a little rocky.

There’s a nice trail leading up the mountain behind this site. We hiked until we hit the dirt road, then walked back along the road to the left. Note that the road is also very rugged to get to this spot.

If you keep on down the road past this spot you get site 66 (nothing too special) , but you can cut along a couple trails to get to the shore of the Potomac.

I will definitely be interested in coming back to this specific site!

Green Ridge State Forest’s dispersed campsites offer great privacy. All are roadside, but plenty are tucked away so you feel alone in the woods. You can occupy a site as long as you register at the parks main office. $10/night.

Site 15 is right by the road, but only a few cars passed while we were there. It’s very spacious and surrounded by wooded hillsides. Picnic table, and fire pit were present. There’s bathrooms by the office but it’s about a 20 minute drive from this spot, so digging a cat hole is a good option. Important to do that over 100 ft from campsite and take any trash with you when you leave.

Great dispersed sites. 14 is the better of the 1-20ish some sites there (in my opinion) and the swimming hole is a short drive down the hill. 14 is invisible from the road, 13 is just barely visible from the road, and 13 or 14 isn’t available I would try to get site 6 if you like privacy.

Green Ridge is a great place to get into deep boonies and get away from other people. Be aware, many of the roads(trails?)are very rough and not very suited to large pull behinds or full RVs. Most of the sites are better to haul your tent and gear in with something 4WD. Camp sites are generally very widely spaced and have a massive amount of room. Most come with a fire ring/picnic table but otherwise you're just in a clearing in the mountains, just the way we like it! Our closest camp neighbor was nearly 1/2 mile up the road, which is more or less typical for the southern half of the system. We just finished up a stay at lot #70 and it was incredible, and was even more secluded by a winding 100 yard access lane from the main "road". Lastly, don't be fooled by the provided map of the forest with site layout, there is a matter of scale that isn't apparent. Sites look like they're very close together but they certainly are not!

We arrived from the south entrance and the roads were awful! I understand it can be part of getting to those prime boondocking spots, but I was nervous in our 30 ft motor home. I definitely recommend for tent camping. All the sites had plenty of space with a fire ring and picnic tables. Lots of trees to provide shade since it’s summer. We only stayed one night and would come again in a different vehicle. Our site was about .2 miles from an overlook of the mountains and streams. There’s a nearby campground and a place that rents kayaks and canoes.

Me and the wife had a great trip there in late October nice and quiet outdoor gun range was fun we stayed at site 17 it was very nice

We stayed at campsite #1 off of 15 mile creek Road. Only a mile or so from I68. Great cell and internet reception with AT&T. We have a 25’ travel trailer and most places we scouted we probably couldn’t take it. Site 2 looks not too bad but a little less level. Site 6 also seemed like a nice spot for a Rv. Don’t recommend taking a large travel trailer on 15 mile creek Rd south of I68. Lots of S turns and pretty steep for my skills. Loved it!

This is a great but very crowded camping area. Clearly a favorite of many DC area campers. We arrived on a Friday around 6 and found every campsite full. We ended up at an overflow site. Get there early if at all possible! And if it’s mostly full, look for breaks in the brush where other cats have pulled off. There are usually fire pits to be found near them. Campsites are well-distanced from each other. We did not hear others while we were there.

Additionally, this is not a great campground for cars that are low to the ground— the roads are gravelly, potholed, and very slow to navigate in a passenger vehicle with low clearance.

The area is gorgeous! Beautiful mountains and nature. Lots of critters and plants to check out.

Bring your own water— none available as far as I could tell. There was a creek a few hundred feet from our site, but it was too steep to get to for bathing or washing dishes (we tried).

Sites vary in distance from the road. Our overflow site was far enough that we could see the cars but not so close that them going by woke us. We could also hear nose from the interstate, but it fades into the background after a couple hours. We estimated we were 1/4 mile from the interstate as the crow flies.

There are fun activities nearby as well. We saw the tunnel at Paw Paw and went to Cumberland. You can apparently rent kayaks from a man nearby, but he prefers to take groups. Drop by his store the day before to see if you can get in on the action.

The forest is beautiful & every site is very nicely set up & well distanced from each other. I say this just from what we saw driving by. We drove around for at least 2 hours looking for a spot, finally gave up & made our own. The system definitely needs major improvements. Just incredibly & unnecessarily frustrating.

My boyfriend and I planned a roadtrip on a whim & we happened upon Green Ridge State Forest. We were not sure what to expect and if we would even find a solid spot, but clearly our last minute planning served us well. The best spots are found at the end of the long road (I recommend traveling 4x4) and offer complete seclusion in nature. This site not only boasts a large space, but a picnic table and fire pit!

Every campsite at Green Ridge SF is worth getting. Some are more hallowed than others, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Green Ridge lies to the western most area of Allegany County. The woods here are teaming with deer, bear, turkey, and hunters (in season of course.) There are no amenities unless you bring it yourself. None of the sites are appropriate for RV’s . Maybe a small camper, but one must remember a good portion of the campsites are reached by notoriously thin and rough roads. For solitude and the price(very cheap) it’s worth bringing a bucket to do your business in, the sites along 15mile creek are the ones that usually go first. There is a small camping loop at the end of Kasekamp road that just reopened due to road washout in 2018. There are a few gem sites that offer nearly complete solitude- your nearest neighbor is at least two miles away. There are no markets nearby and only a couple of small diners- all in the Little Orleans/ Artemas regions. Remember this is bear country and they are around this year in force.

Went back for a second weekend in a row because we just love this place so much! A little bit crazy trying to find a spot with the first come first serve way they're set up and the ranger station is closed because of Covid, but it all worked out!

Totally primitive camping only, first come first serve for getting a site, but it's absolutely gorgeous and a true camping experience!

Green Ridge is the place to go if you’re looking for a rugged, isolated forest. It has 100 primitive drive-up campsites (fire ring and picnic table, no facilities), and countless more “overflow” sites with a fire ring if it happens to be full when you arrive. For me this is the place to go for car camping—bear in mind that some of the back roads are pretty rough so you’ll ideally want a car with decent clearance. There is also backcountry camping with a few shelters on the trails. Camping is $10 per night–if you show up when the ranger station is open the nice folks there will give you a site. They’re pretty knowledgeable and can help you find something that will best suit what you’re looking for. I think there’s self registration if you arrive after hours.

COVID update: in May, and from what I’ve heard since, the ranger station is closed and it’s first come first served throughout the forest. More or less a free for all from my experience in May—you will definitely need a good map with the numbered campsites and suggest downloading offline navigation to your phone.

Photos—campsite #53; overflow site near site #19; backcountry shelter on pine lick trail.

I’ve camped at many different spots throughout Green Ridge. Most of them are wonderful spots, with beautiful views, history, or nature nearby. All of them are pretty secluded and have fire pit, and picnic tables.

One time I did have a campsite that was very close to two of the forest roads, and between 10-1 am on a Saturday had a lot of cars driving around. But more times than not it’s very secluded and peaceful.

I do think the system of renting and paying for campsites could be improved via the use of technology. I would love to be able to rent and pay for campsites online, and see which ones were already occupied etc. instead of having to drive out to the headquarters, then to the campsite. Just a minor thing that would be a nice feature.

On Verizon, you can find phone service in a few of the campsites, also there are a lot of sites that are good for hammocks

I’ve attached photos of campsite #6.

This is a neat little spot to get away for the weekend. Very desolate camping spots, remote and large enough for groups. Highly recommend!

This place is the definition of secluded. Almost all 100 campsites in the forest are 1/2 mile apart and they are pretty massive. Bare bones explains the park, because the sites only include a picnic table and fire pit. It’s just you and nature out there. No camp stores, bathrooms, or visitor areas. You can register during or after hours at the camp headquarters and pay $10 per night for the site of your choice. It’s a pretty excellent area as far as terrain too. Lots of deep valleys and lookout points. The area also features areas on rivers and canals. This campground has something for every nature lover.

I stayed in a primitive campsite and loved it. Campsites are far apart and have the standard fire pit and picnic table. No bathrooms.

I’ve always liked camping, then I tried primitive camping here and realized how much more I like it. This is a great campground for the weekend stays.

Green Ridge State Forest camping is a bare bones affair. There are no showers, bathrooms, or campstores. What it does have is solitude. There are nearly 100 campsites within the forest boundaries and with the exception of the Kasekamp sites (that cater more to river floating and the nearby C&O Canal) most of them have no neighbor within half a mile. The sites with the most to offer as far as self contemplation are #’s 23, 100, and a couple along fifteen mile creek. The pads are wide and can accommodate multiple tents. There are three group sites within the forest. Backcountry camping is also allowed. Each established site has a picnic table and fire ring. Nearby are the towns of Flintstone, Little Orleans, and Hancock where supplies can be bought. Be aware that every site is approached by roads that are gravel ( if your lucky) or dirt, which is more likely. Light pollution is median- most of the lights are from nearby I-68. A night sky will still be beckoning with more stars that one can count. Price is cheap. I rented a site for an entire week for less than 75 dollars. As far as what to do, the forest has huge trail miles, great fishing at the Potomac River and both 15 mile and Flintstone creeks, hunting in season, good fall colors, geocaching, and access to mountain biking as well. Minimal ATV use since the ORV trail closed. This is good deer and black bear country as well. Get dirty and rough it here. You absolutely won’t regret it.

If you like tent camping with no amenities, this is the place. Most of the sites are far away from every other site. There is a picnic bench and a fire ring at each site. That is it. There is no power, water, and the only public toilet is at the ranger station.

It's beautiful, there are 100 sites to choose from and you can be loud if you want because more than likely you won't be near the other sites.

You can't bring you own wood, but you might be able to find some, or you are allowed to use the already downed/dead trees.

Green Ridge is where one comes to camp for the isolation. Very few sites are within walking distance of each other. The exception is a group of sites near the Potomac Riverand the C&O Canal. Every site is accessible by car- some may need a bit more clearance, like the few that lie within the more central area of the forest. Those keen on isolation need to get site 23 along Treasure Road or site 100 near the Kasekamp area. Backcountry camping is also allowed, just get the permit from the Headquarters first. Several trails line in the Forest. One nearly connects with the Mid State Trail in PA. A good size chunk of the Greater Eastern Trail also goes through the Forest. There are campsites to fit every need: gonna fish? Many sites border Fifteen Mile Creek, Town Creek, Flintstone Creek and the Potomac. There are at least two Adorondack type shelters along the major trails. Many of the campsites accommodate hunting, of which there is much opportunity. There is limited ATV access, mostly along the established roads, as the ORV trail was closed years ago. There are sites closer to civilization as well, making them good for younger campers. No site has bathrooms or showers- you’re on your own there. No showers either. Supplies are nearby in Little Orleans, Flintstone, even Cumberland isn’t far away. It is cheap and relaxing.

This state park has everything from loop camping where you're only several feet from future friends, to secluded wooded camping, to waterfront camping, to RV posts- take your pick! Green Ridge does not accept reservations, so take a look at the map ahead of time and be sure to check in at the office before heading to a site to be sure it's available.

We've snagged several secluded spots where your nearest neighbor is about 3/4 mile away, but our all- time favorite is site #66 (pictured). All sites are near excellent hiking, and there's a small town nearby that offers rental canoes and boasts a biker bar with ridiculously good breakfast sandwiches!