1 campground with availability this weekend
East Fork Campground and Horse Stables in Durbin, West Virginia accommodates equestrians with full hookup sites and dedicated horse facilities. The campground operates from April through November and provides a peaceful setting surrounded by mountains for riders exploring the Monongahela National Forest. Sites include water, electric, and sewer connections with clean, well-maintained facilities. The campground caters specifically to people traveling with horses while welcoming all campers. Most sites feature full hookups with level, spacious areas that can accommodate both camping equipment and horse trailers. The campground's location on the river creates a tranquil atmosphere for both horses and riders after a day on the trails.
Direct access to the north end of the Greenbrier River Trail and the West Fork Rail Trail begins at East Fork Campground, offering extensive riding opportunities through scenic forest terrain. The campground's proximity to multiple trail systems makes it ideal for day rides or longer excursions. Riders can explore miles of trails through the Monongahela National Forest with routes suitable for various experience levels. The area surrounding the campground falls within the National Radio Quiet Zone, limiting cell phone and Wi-Fi use within 10 miles of the Green Bank Observatory. This creates an unusually peaceful environment for horse camping with minimal technological distractions. The campground's strategic location provides excellent access points for exploring the northern sections of popular trail systems while offering necessary amenities for both horses and their owners.
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"General: There are four campgrounds in Douthat State Park - White Oak, Whispering Pines, Lakeside, and Beaver Dam (equestrian), each in a separate location. This review is for White Oak."
"The hiking and lake is amazing."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $37 / night
"I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets."
"This was our first camping trip to actually visit lake Moomaw in Warm Springs Virginia. We had been close before but never made it to the lake itself."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $85 / night
"There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses. The cabins and lodges have 2, 3, and 6 bedrooms and look beautiful. There is even a canoe-in campground. "
"Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly."
from $37 - $98 / night
"It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "
"Sites are well situated, and very private. Especially the walk up sites, they're the real gem. Every site has a picnic table and fire ring."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 - $32 / night
"This was my first stop on my cross country trip from Virginia to California and out of all the amazing places I’ve seen, this is by far my favorite spot!"
"The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through"
"Very peaceful, surrounded by mountains. The campground had stables and catered to people with horses, but we felt very welcomed by the owners."
"We stayed for one night but most of the others staying there had horses and were staying a while."
"GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL MILEPOST 69.6 PRIMITIVE CAMPING AREA, Clover Lick, WV The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted C&O Railway that travels 80 miles from Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown,"
"Laurel fork campground is a nice place to go if you are looking to get away from the busy life. It’s not a very large camp ground or heavily populated. Finding a spot shouldn’t be a problem."
"Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground ( settled deep in the woods) , there were No Bugs to speak of! Tons of wildflowers and butterflies!"
"Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite, Located between Clover Lick and Clawson, WV (south of Sharp's Tunnel) The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most"
ScoutOvernight tent camping with my dog. Saw a raccoon in a tree. So private and peaceful. The water and wind at night made for a nice relaxing sleep. Plenty of trails to explore.
ScoutWe were there for a short time Arriving on Aug. 17th. Our trip plan was to see the steam engine trains.
Camp grounds was very clean and well kept. The sites were grass with gravel pads where the camper was placed. We plan to come back again and stay longer. There are a lot of places to visit and enjoy the area site seeing.
The manager was very accommodating. We had a problem with a water line. The manager came over and helped us find parts and repair the water line.
ScoutVery clean and quiet. Good services, including firewood availability. Drawback is that it’s 7.5 miles down a dead end road. Closet gas is at least 10 miles and groceries are a half hour away. Go prepared.
ScoutBeautiful and secluded. Primitive camping area for boondocking or tent camping. Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses.
RangerThis campground is one of our stops coming from VT or going back home - would love to spend more time then just passing through
TravelerGreat spots by the creek. Its nice to wake up by the water and relax with a cup of coffee. Good trails to walk also
RangerThe main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through the campable section, making the bulk of them far from ideal for those with campers or rooftop tents, especially given that it's a dirt road, that will be kicking up dirt onto that rooftop tent.
I am aware of at least three along the road that you can drive into, but I have never seen those few drive-in-able sites unoccupied on a weekend, and typically not on a weekday either.
The campsites themselves are wonderful in just about every other regard. Some of them are dispersed enough that you can see no other campsite from yours, and nearly all of them are much more dispersed then you would get at any typical state park's campground.
Almost all of the campsites also have their own views of and direct access to Gandy creek, which I have never seen not flowing generously year-round. Some of the campsites are in places where the water is pooled enough that you could go wading or swimming in. And all of it is good fishing.
The campsites vary significantly in size and shade, so you can get ones with more sun if you prefer, more shade if you prefer that.
All of the campsites are free and I'm pretty sure that the time limit is two weeks maximum, as it is for all the camping areas throughout the Monongahela National forest.
Are you into hiking? There are seemingly countless trails within walkable distance from campsites and certainly within 10 minutes' driving distance, many of them connecting up at the top so you can make a loop by crossing over from one to another and then back down to the dirt road. From what I have seen those trails are not the most well-maintained however. Which means that it can be nettlesome— literally— as in overrun with nettles— during certain seasons, particularly July and August, so you might want to take a machete with you so you can chop them out of the way as you hike upward.
ScoutI love Gandy Creek! I have camped at 4 different sites and have explored and reconned almost all of them! Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site. My favorite areas are on the creek. Lots of privacy, every site is unique and special in it's own way. There's minimal cell reception and by that I mean you'll be walking along and all the sudden your phone will start dinging because you hit a pocket where you get one bar of reception and the text messages pour in lol! Used to be a gravel packed road but they started some paving last year. I haven't been there in 10 months or so but plan to later this summer.
There are lots of trails, LOTS, all around that area. There's a really cool rock formation where the creek goes under the Whitmer Road Bridge (I forget the name of it). There is a pit toilet on either end of the camping area but you're not really close to one. I totally recommend being self-contained. Dispose of your waste properly, please. It's one of my favorite areas and even when it's hot it's a great place to camp because the elevation and the creek.
ScoutDouthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them (i.e. not Whispering Pines) are located near the lake. Each one had a campground host (volunteer) and wood for sale.
White Oak Campground is larger, wooded, and has a significant elevation change between different sites. Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles.
Beaver Dam Campground is relatively flat and similarly wooded while also providing equestrian facilities.
Lakeside Campground is smaller but the front row sites provide great lake views. Unfortunately swimming is only allowed in the Beach area which is not directly connected to this campground.
Whispering Pines is a few miles away along the entry road and has a different character. It’s a very flat and wide-open campground perfect for big RVs with much larger sites.
The Lakeside Camp Store is nice and has a to-go counter for food. The facilities, overall, were well maintained and clean. Firewood is for sale for $6 per bundle.
East Fork Campground in Durbin, West Virginia sits within the Monongahela National Forest at approximately 2,500 feet elevation. The region experiences moderate summers and cold winters with average July temperatures around 78°F and January temperatures near 20°F. Equestrian campers can access trail systems directly from the campground without trailering horses to separate trailheads.
Trout fishing access: Fish the cold mountain streams near Bolar Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Moomaw. "The water was beautiful, temperature perfect for swimming. There's a separate beach that you can drive to that is roped off for swimming purposes but we rather enjoyed walking to the water from our site and having what seemed like our own little swimming spot," notes Joanna G.
Mountain biking trails: Explore extensive trail systems throughout Monongahela National Forest. At Douthat State Park, "We did a decent amount of biking here, the main road is nice for road biking, we rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear. Beautiful country roads. And the trails are great for mountain biking. Bring your legs, lots of climbing!" shares Robyn S.
Scenic train rides: Visit the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive near East Fork Campground. "Nice campground adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive. They are doing a train robbery this week, robbers are riding horseback to steal a guarded shipment!" reports Harold C.
Remote locations: Many equestrian camping areas offer genuine seclusion. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, "Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site. My favorite areas are on the creek. Lots of privacy, every site is unique and special in its own way," explains Jennifer R.
Clean facilities: Even primitive campgrounds maintain high standards. "Bathrooms were the cleanest I've ever seen at any campground and were a very short, convenient walk from our site! The site itself was very clean and had an oversized, solid picnic table," according to Joanna G. at Bolar Mountain.
Natural water features: Rivers and lakes enhance the camping experience. "Our site was right on the creek and the sound was awesome for sleeping. Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground (settled deep in the woods), there were No Bugs to speak of!" shares Dana M. about Laurel Fork Campground.
Radio quiet zone restrictions: Cell service is limited near Green Bank Observatory. "There is minimal cell reception and by that I mean you'll be walking along and all the sudden your phone will start dinging because you hit a pocket where you get one bar of reception and the text messages pour in," explains Jennifer R. about Gandy Creek.
Weather preparation: Mountain elevations cause temperature variations. At Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8, "In June, you can anticipate random, short afternoon or evening cloudbursts...but they can be gully-washers. Nights were cool and most mornings I wore a long-sleeve Merino shirt," reports Dave V.
Remote access challenges: Many campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads. "Just getting to Laurel Fork Campground is a backwoods, seemingly endless gravel road journey. So something tells you…this is gonna be a good spot. Its out there…I mean, really out there. If you accept the challenge, prepare to be rewarded," writes Dave V.
Look for educational programs: Rangers often lead activities for children. At James River State Park, "This park has great walking and equine trails, a fantastic visitor center, and a wonderful outdoor park/adventure zone for the kiddos," recommends Jamie B.
Choose campgrounds with recreational amenities: Facilities with multiple options keep children entertained. "All types of sites and hookups plus cabins. Fishing, lake swimming, hiking, educational opportunities galore. Security is good but not overwhelming," shares Cathy L. about Douthat State Park.
Consider cabin options: Cabins provide comfort for families new to camping. "We rented a cabin with fantastic sunset views. This park has great walking and equine trails, a fantastic visitor center, and a wonderful outdoor park/adventure zone for the kiddos," notes Jamie B. about James River State Park.
Site selection for larger rigs: Not all campgrounds accommodate big rigs equally. "Douthat is really four separate campgrounds. Whispering Pines is a few miles away along the entry road and has a different character. It's a very flat and wide-open campground perfect for big RVs with much larger sites," explains Jeremy W.
Water and electric hookups: Full hookups aren't available at all campgrounds. "We stayed here for two nights in the middle of the week in the summer of 2019. I stayed in one of the lakeside sites. Downsides are that it is pretty pricey ($40?) and the sites by the lake are not especially private, actually the area is pretty much wide open," reports Thomas R. about Douthat State Park.
Dump station access: Verify dump station availability before arrival. "Most of the sites were full hook-ups and the facilities were very clean and well maintained," notes Cindy B. about East Fork Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Augusta Springs, VA is Benson's Run with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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