Best Tent Camping near Swanton, MD

Small, primitive campground with 12-sites.  There were a surprising number of trailers and small RVs when I visited, especially when you consider visitors have to drive about 10-miles on a graded dirt road to get there.

There are some walk-in tent sites for more privacy and you have the option of pure wilderness camping in the surrounding 17,400 acres of Dolly Sods as long as you use existing campfire rings, or use a backpack stove when you can't find one.

No cell phone service or Internet… No electricity, pit toilets, and a busted water pump, but there is a fresh-water spring. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern pole. 

The camp hosts are super mellow and also lead the volunteer bird-banding that takes place just across the road from the Red Creek Campground.  

The plant life and weather at Dolly Sods are similar to Northern Canada, so bring some extra layers. It was at least 15-degrees cooler than the valley when I reached the peak of the Allegheny Plateau. Add the wind and I had to put my sweatshirt after sweating in a T-shirt at Seneca Rocks that same day. 

Bring a backpack and good hiking boots so you're prepared to experience some of the most amazing scenery and wildlife you’ve ever seen! 

First-come, first-serve only and often full on weekends.

*Word of caution: Dolly Sods was used for military training during WWII, so there are artillery and mortar shells still being found in this wilderness. Don’t touch any shells you might find, note the location and report to authorities.

This is a remote riverside campground with great fishing opportunities for catch and release(check the requirements for license/stamps; I included a picture of a sign). One loop comes with water/electic hookups($7 more) the others are primitive. If you use solar, ironically, the sites around the loop/with electric, are your best bet as there is a large open field in the middle; a second loop contains more primitive sites and some walk-in sites with parking near the bathroom. Parking pads are large and generally level. There are vault toilets and some flush toilets. No cell service(Verizon). Sites are equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grate, and lantern post. The prices for firewood are among the highest I’ve seen at$10/bundle. Camp store has limited hours, but ice and firewood are available. 

You may have day visitors here to fish, swim, or picnic at one of the two pavilions. In addition to fishing, you may find it refreshing to swim/wade in the river, but I would definitely want water shoes to protect my feet. Interested in more adventure on the river? Head about 15 minutes down the road to St George where outfitters can set you up for both flatwater and whitewater activities on the Cheat River, depending on your preference, age, and water level.

Kooser State Park is a small campground nestled in the Laurel Highlands, close to Hidden Valley and Seven Springs ski resorts. The park has great amenities just a short walk from all sites. All sites have fire rings, with grills, however note they are double walled so do not expel a lot of heat outward. Great for cooking however. 

Most sites are not level, but very grassy. Firewood is available at the entrance for$5 bundle supporting a local club. A beautiful walk through the park leads you to the Kooser Lake, great for fishing. It is also close to the Laurel Hill State Park which is great for hiking and water activities. The park is close to the road so you will experience some road noise. 

The park is 15min from Somerset. No phone reception at this one! They welcome all furry friends!

If you're a fan of hiking and rock climbing at Seneca Rocks, Seneca Shadows is absolutely the best campground near this fantastic rock formation. 

It’s located in the Monongahela National Forest near the North Fork South Branch of the Potomac River with nearby peaks ranging from 1,000 feet to nearly 5,000 feet above sea level. Seneca Shadows campground offers a view of the famed Seneca Rocks and puts you within walking distance of the visitor’s center, hiking and climbing trails, plus the quaint town of Seneca Rocks where you buy gas, food and gifts. 

Make sure you visit Harper’s Old Country Store, a 4th generation family run business, operating since 1902. The visitor’s center has a nice collection of Native American artifacts and a cool video of the Army soldiers who trained here before WWII. 

Seneca Shadows Campground is a modern campground with paved parking, flush toilets, showers and an amphitheater. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Seneca Shadows is part of a growing trend where a private concessionaire is a running a public camp-ground. I’m not a huge fan since it often mean higher fees, but I must say that the campground was spotless and well-run by a delightful couple who obviously enjoyed their summer job. 

Seneca Shadows Campground has three loops to chose from: 

The A& B Loops are for tents or RVs with no electric service. 

The C-Loop has electricity. 

There's also a group camping area and a "tent-only" camping area with walk-in sites from a nearby parking lot.

Spruce Knob and Dolly Sods are nearby and both deserve a spot on your outdoor adventure“bucket list” in West Virginia.

PROS 

Able to reserve 129 days prior to arriving 

Melissa at check-in was very friendly and helpful 

Good overnight stop to visit Flight 93 Memorial 22 miles from campground 

Site #391 level 

Gravel site surrounded by grass 

Moveable wooden picnic table 

Large concrete fire ring 

Clean toilet-shower building that are heavily used 

Mostly quiet except for road noise 

Firewood for sale in Park

CONS 

No discount 

Site #391 no shade 

Park cable connection failed 

Sewer connection“up hill” 

Never found trash dumpster and wasn’t marked on campground map 

Very loud radio station blaring in the toilet/shower building that could be heard outside the building 

2 bars Verizon 

No WIFI

Campground Review:

You have heard the phrase, "you can't get there from here," and it is as close to truth about Big Bend Campground nestled in Smoke Hole Canyon of the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia. It takes some effort and much time to locate and arrive at Big Bend Campground, but with much effort comes much reward. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/big-bend-wv/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70235

We had just finished a week backcountry trip in nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness and Big Bend was the closest campground that had showers. It took two stops and inquiring of locals to find the way...and we ended up traveling the back mountain road. Note: Cell service in the mountains of WV is nearly nonexistent, so do your searching and print maps before you venture out Of all the states to be lost in, I enjoy it most in West Virginia. Locals are friendly and always willing to help.

Informative road signage was absent coming the back way, so I was relieved to finally come to a "T" in the road and actually see a Big Bend Campground sign that stated I was still four miles from my destination.

The road that leads to the campground is three miles of poorly maintained and pot-holed gravel. I was told neither the state nor the feds want to claim ownership and maintenance of the road. The South Branch Potomac River is visible to the right as you bounce along. You pass Jess Judy Group Campground about midway. With one mile remaining, you hit smooth blacktop that leads into the campground...and nowhere else. As you enter the campground, you will also see the South Branch Potomac River on your left.

As you climb into the campground, you arrive at another "T" intersection. At the stop sign, you look to the right and see a 45 grave family cemetary of the former land owners. Jesse Ketterman and his wife Susan (a Blackfoot Indian) raised and buried their family there since the early 1800's. Turning left toward the lower tent site loop, the host site is immediately on your right. The host, Glenn Cook, is congenial, informative, hardworking and has a great deal of love for this Campground, which is evident not only by the way he talks of it...but also seen in the impeccably clean grounds and spotless facilities.

Tent sites along the lower loop (1-12) are spacious and each has a massive picnic table, fire ring, metal pole for lanterns and elevated tent pad. Most tent pads were 12x12 raised timbers...and a smart 20-30' from the fire ring. Sites 1-7 are closest to the river trail being on the outside of the loop. Blacktop parking pads are about 15' long. Plenty of foliage separates the sites, but voices travel in this river canyon. The Campground River loop trail travels the outside perimeter of the campground and can be reached by a short 20' trail from each of the "riverside" sites. You cannot visibly see the river from these sites, but you can hear it.

The two upper campground loops offer longer parking pads for campers/RV's and more distance between neighboring sites. These also offer a natural visible barrier of foliage. Tent camping can still occur on these upper sites, but there are no designated tent pads. There is no electric hook-ups in the campground and no cell service. I visited nearly every site and can safely say, there are no bad sites in this campground.

Each loop has restroom facilities with flush toilets. There are also two ADA pit latrines, with one being beside a river trail in the lower tent loop. Between the two upper loops there is a shower house/restroom. There are four individual showers on one side and restrooms on the opposite side of the building...all with separate locking exterior doors. I will mention that the showers and restrooms in this campground are absolutely spotless. I thought they were brand new, so I asked. "Well, yes, they are new...they were built just 7 years ago." Cleanest facilities I've seen anywhere...ever. Each loop has two water spigots and trash dumpsters centrally located.

Big Bend Campground is located...well...on a big bend in the river. Shaped like a lollypop, it offers something that is clearly unique. Walking the perimeter trail, you have access to the river the entire loop. The perimeter trail also takes you by the remnants of a fireplace from what was once a Post Office along the river. Cool history...but what is distinct is the river nearly meets on either side of the entrance road. So campers grab their tubes, floats, kayaks, canoes or PFD's and walk to the river...put in...and float around the bend to nearly the same location across the roadway...pull out...walk across the roadway and down a trail and repeat. At this time of August, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to float around the bend. Limitless fun! .

To add to this enjoyment, at about the halfway mark in the bend...you will locate a rope hanging from a tree, river right. No its not a hangman's noose...its a rope swing. An entire day of creative fun can be had flinging oneself out into the river. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g08xmiwMVqo The river is crystal clear, the bottom can be seen at depths over 8 feet. Fishing is another popular activity at Big Bend. In the spring, countless fishermen stand shoulder to shoulder to bring in cagey trout. Most of the river is catch and release outside the campground. Inside the campground you can keep four a day. Just off site 6 there is a river beach area. The water is swimmable, but the current is strong. Bald eagles soared the thermals above the river cliffs as we played in the river and chased crawdads in the shallows.

Nights were refreshingly cool and black as ink, the days were sunny and hot. Fellow campers were friendly and thoughtful...a Washington DC family that we got to know at the rope swing, made it a point to find our site and gift us their firewood before they left for home.

I camped here midweek and only the tent sites were filled, but was told that its packed on weekends. If tenting, I highly recommend sites 5, 6, or 7. I stayed at both site 5 and 6 during my visit due to heavy reservations. Site 7 is secluded more and appeared to enjoy more privacy.

Product Review:

As a Review Ranger for TheDyrt.com, I am honored to review various outdoor products. At times I am provided the products free or heavily discounted, and such is the case with the Primus New Primetech 1.3L Stove Kit. https://primus.us/products/new-primetech-stove-set-1-3l

I am no stranger to Primus stoves. I own and use the tiny Primus Express Piezo electric backpacking stove, and purchased one for each of my four adult children years ago. These are lightweight, reliable stoves so I was excited to test and evaluate the New Primetech 1.3L Stove kit.

Pros:

⦁ Great for large meals

⦁ Burns super quiet

⦁ Sips fuel

⦁ Boils 1.3 liters fast

⦁ Ceramic coated pot nearly cleans itself

⦁ Considerably light for its size

⦁ Handheld piezo-electric starter

⦁ Convenient locking pot grabber

Cons:

⦁ Difficult to see flame when starting

⦁ Seemed fuel cannister finicky

⦁ Large profile for backpacking

Upon opening the box, the New Primetech 1.3L nesting stove and pot kit comes with a wide-based stove with integrated windscreen. The stove base has small non-marking rubber feet to add stability on slick or smooth surfaces. On the bottom of the stove base is also a snap clip to secure the braided stainless steel fuel line and regulator, which assists when nesting inside the including pots. You recieve two 1.3 liter cooking pots. Both pots and stove base are hard anodized and scratch resisitant. One pot has interior ceramic coating and integrated heat exchanger along the exterior bottom. The second pot is simply hard anodized and has no heat exchanger. Also included is a transparent Tritan (similar to lexan) lid, round aluminum ground protector, a piezo electric igniter and a quick release, locking pot gripper and ripstop nylon stuff sack.

The New Primetech 1.3L Stove Kit was relatively light (25.6 oz) for its size and contents.

When first using the stove, I learned that you must open the fuel regulator wire bale entirely to allow fuel to flow for ignition. Then you can adjust the flame once lit. The fuel regulator takes rotations to open entirely, unlike the Primus Express adjustment knob that only takes a crack.

Noise?...there is none. All the fuel stoves I utilize (and I have many) sound like a space shuttle lift off, so the Primus New Primetech 1.3L stove is quiet, so unless I see the blue flame, I can't tell if its on. Now people may accuse me of being hard of hearing, but I can't hear the burner.

These are the primary areas that Primus has managed to make the New Primetech stove sip fuel. At first, this was frustrating but I grew to appreciate its quietness and economy. The stove platform is very stable and doesn't rock when placing the pots atop its serrated support fins. The accompanying pots fit below the top lip of the stove platform so there are no worries about toppling or sliding off when stirring or adding to the pot. There are additional fold-out serrated support fins should you have an even larger pot, which raises the pot above the outside rim of the stove base.

The hard anodized 1.3 liter pot is typical and familiar. I make certain this is the pot I nest the stove base into when packing. The finish is durable, but I can foresee the stove base marring the interior finish over time. It is purely presumption on my part.

The ceramic coated 1.3 liter pot with the integrated heat exchange is nothing short of remarkable! If I could have only one pot, this would be it. The ceramic coating on the inside surface is so slippery, every form of pasta-cheese concoction I cooked in it basically dripped right out. Very little food residue remained. When I had paper towels, one swipe and the pot was clean. Cleaning is really a non-issue with this pot. For backcountry backpacking, this is the pot I would prefer but I fear the nesting stove base would ultimately damage the ceramic coating, thus ruin the non-stick surface. I like to keep things simple, so I've avoided the whole heat exchange craze...but it does work and I now see its value.

The "Tritan" pot lid (think Lexan) is pretty convenient. The red rubber lid handle is simple and with its "push-through" design, replacing a torn one will be easy. The lid, though tinted, is see-through, so no guessing the condition of the pot's contents. Integrated strainer holes allow fast draining of liquids. There is also a nice cutout to permit use of a pot gripper without removing the lid.

The separate piezo electric igniter shaped like a "T," offers firm grip and the push button easily depressed, sending the spark down a small tube to the fuel source. It's small enough to toss in the pack and long enough to keep your hands away from the flame. In a nutshell, its reliable and effective.

The Quick Release locking pot gripper works well, once you determine the amount of pressure to apply when pressing the release button. When in the locked position, it holds securely...and the rubber tips eliminate scratching the pot interior.

The aluminum ground protector would serve some benefit if placing directly on grass, other than that, it remains folded at the bottom of the stuff sack.

Fuel cannister attachment to the fuel regulator is simple and secure.

Field test: I took the Primus New Primetech 1.3L Stove kit with me on a backpacking trip in Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, which always has unpredictable, varyied weather conditions and then an additional 11 days at campgrounds for breakfast and dinner (lunches were cold and on the move). Using the Primus New Primetech 1.3L stove on a daily basis caused you to become familiar with its nuances quickly. It was odd not hearing the typical roar of the stove when cooking, so I constantly got on my hands and knees to see if the stove was still lit. Then I grew accustomed to the silence and preferred it. I was impressed with boil times and how it sips fuel. I used a 220g cannister for an entire week of meals and boiling water for clean up.

Two things I would like to see different:

1. Fewer turns on the fuel regulator bale to introduce and adjust flame. I prefer the short "throw" or twist of other stove fuel regulators I own.

2. Fewer "cut-out windows" in the stove base. I found in high gusting winds, the flame would blow out. So I had to shelter the stove with rocks as a natural wind screen.

Overall, I began to prefer the Primus New Primetech 1.3L Stove kit above my other stoves out of convenience, speed and fuel savings. It's a keeper and if searching for a stove kit, you would be pleased with this selection.

Red Creek Campground is positioned a decent drive down gravel National Forest roads, so it does not see the amount of traffic that easier, closer campgrounds get.      https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/natureviewing/recarea/?recid=7003&actid=63

With a season of Mid-April through the beginning of December, be assured that weather is always a factor. Family has been thwarted at Thanksgiving by unpassable snow without a 4x4. Rain is almost certain, as the varied elevation nearly creates its own weather patterns.  So my first recommendation is to always add rain gear and cold weather garments for insurance.

We ordinarily visit during the month of August and being a "fly by the seat of my pants" type of roaming tent camper...I have arrived to see Red Creek Campground full...as these sites are non-reservable. 

Keep in mind, Red Creek Campground is "primitive"...no modern facilities, no showers, no electric...and the only running water accessible, is a small spring pipe (that I highly recommend filtering before use even though it does not post that).

Sites on the outer portion of the loop are fairly concealed from one another by trees and undergrowth...the inner loop sites are a little more exposed.  Gravel parking at sites and each site offers a picnic table a fire ring and lantern post. All sites are a short distance to the two individual unisex pit lantrines in the center of the campground.

With no ambient light, the night skies are amazing...though cloud cover always seem to plague my visits at night. Though one evening we drove down toward Bear Rocks and laid in an open field to stargaze one evening to enjoy a wonderful light show from shooting stars. We were so quiet, several deer passed between us within arms reach...a little disconcerting but we survived.

Trails are abundant and some leave directly from the campground deeper into the Wilderness Area. Choose footwear wisely, as the trails are strewn with sharp rocks (on certain trails), various stream and river crossings, shoe-swallowing mud bogs along with the regular ol' dirt trail.  Bring a trail map, water...and/or a water filter...and raingear.

Nearby Bear Rocks is a fun scamper for "kids" of all ages and the views eastward share WV and Virginia mountain ranges.

We were thrilled to visit when "Bird Banding" is taking place and enjoyed searching for migrating birds caught in the netting on the east side of the road opposite the campground.

For a peaceful, relaxing camping experience that offers great hiking, and some of the most amazing flora and fauna...its a family favorite!

I only stayed one night, but plan to return for a longer stay as it was peaceful and scenic. The campground is free, open from late April through December, and campers may stay up to 21 days. However, there are no online reservations or staff in the area; I would want to have a back-up plan in case all sites are already taken.

Check-in and check-out are accomplished by filling out a 3 x 5 card at the entrance and placing it in the slot for your campsite. At the end of October, only 4 of the 15 campsites were occupied so I was able to select one spaced out from other campers for privacy.

The campsites are arranged on the outer perimeter of the loop drive, with a vaulted toilet outhouse and a pump water spigot located within the center island. (I did not use the water, but have read elsewhere that it may come out looking rusty, presumably from the mineral content). Campsites had enough space between them to feel private but close enough to feel that local bears would (hopefully) pass us by. Each campsite has a long parking area (not pull through), a cleared area for tents, a picnic table, and a fire ring and lantern pole. There is no electricity at the campground.

The road approaching the campground is not comfortably wide enough to pass oncoming cars (though I did not encounter any) so I would take it slow, especially around the many bends. My cellular reception cut out along one of the forest roads well before reaching the campground; I will have a compass and written directions in and out handy when I return.