Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Bastian. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. These scenic and easy-to-reach Bastian campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
Camp Creek WV State Park and Forest is known for beautiful waterfalls and great camping. With nearly 6,000 acres of lush forest, 35 miles of trails and seven miles of seasonally stocked trout streams, there is something for every hiker, biker, horseback rider and angler to explore and enjoy. Located in Mercer County, two miles off Exit 20 on I-77, Camp Creek is ideal for family vacations and stop-overs during a long drive through the beautiful mountains of southern West Virginia.
Fox Creek Horse Camp is a premiere destination for riding enthusiasts who are looking for the rare opportunity to ride from their campsite onto hundreds of miles of trails in the spectacular Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Located at almost 4,000 feet, it serves as a welcome retreat for summer camping and horseback riding.
While hiking and horseback riding are the primary attractions near the campground, there are also ample native trout streams, the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, local festivals and music, the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail.
The campground is adjacent to Fox Creek, a small rocky trout stream with large boulders and rhododendron and northern hardwoods along the banks. The campsites are located in open fields on either side of the creek.
The Mount Rogers High country offers opportunities for day trips and overnight pack trips. This open setting offers expansive views, summer rhododendron flowering, blueberry picking, and spectacular fall colors. The Mount Rogers National Recreation Headquarters is located about 20 minutes from the campground and offers maps, directions, and a variety of bookstore items.
$5 / night
Old Virginia Group Horse Camp provides group equestrian camping just minutes from a large network of horse trails in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Old Virginia is a secluded, picturesque campground that can accommodate up to 25 guests and 25 horses. The picturesque views of the mountains and the trickling sounds of the stream create a relaxing, serene vibe for visitors at the primitive camping site.
Old Virginia offers easy access to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, which connects to the Iron Mountain Trail. From the Iron Mountain Trail, riders can also access the Virginia Creeper Trail to the west or the New River Trail to the east. The Virginia Creeper Trail boasts 33.4 miles of scenery with about 100 trestles and bridges.
The campground sits in the Fairwood Valley along a stream that flows into Fox Creek. The valley is part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in western Virginia. The forests span 1.8 million acres of rugged Appalachians through Virginia and parts of West Virginia and Kentucky.
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area high country trails, Virginia Creeper Trail, Grayson Highlands State Park, Hungry Mother State Park
$50 / night
Collins Cove is a first-come, first-served, primitive campground. Each of the 10 camping units have a wooden picnic table, fire ring, and hitching rails. This grassy campground is shaded with hardwoods, hemlocks, and pines and offers direct access to horse trails. Centrally located garbage bins and a vault toilet are available. A creek is located adjacent to the campground as a source of water for horses, but potable water is not available. Horse owners need to have a current negative Coggins test certificate for any horse they take to a public place for recreation use in Virginia.
Collins Cove is in the watershed of Cripple Creek that offers fishing and wading. The camp provides access to several trails: (4614) Ewing Mountain, (4504) Mike___s Gap, (4615) Moore, (4601) Raven Cliff and (337) Highlands Horse Trail.
Collins Cove is in the watershed of Cripple Creek that offers fishing and wading. The camp provides access to several trails: (4614) Ewing Mountain, (4504) Mike___s Gap, (4615) Moore, (4601) Raven Cliff and (337) Highlands Horse Trail.
The Collins Cove area is shaded with hardwoods, hemlocks, and pines. The elevation is approximately 2,000 feet. Summer days are warm with temperatures in the upper 70___s to low 90___s, and evenings cool down typically into the 60___s.____
For facility specific information, please call (276) 783-5196.
$5 / night
Double C Horse and Rider Campground is perfect for those traveling with horses to go trail riding. This separate campground offers two to four horse occupancy sites. Two horses per site is recommended. Note: Coordinates listed on The Dyrt are to the park entrance. Please call 833-WV-PARKS to obtain detailed directions.
The nonelectric units are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Hussy Mountain is a primitive campground offering three group camping loops. Each has parking for 4 or 5 vehicles with trailers, wooden picnic tables, fire rings, hitching rails, garbage containers, and direct access to horse trails. Potable water is available. Vaught toilets are available in each of the camping loops. East Fork Dry Run Creek is located adjacent to the campground as a source of water for horses. Horse owners need to have a current negative Coggins test certificate for any horse they take to a public place for recreation use in Virginia.
Hussy Mountain is in the east fork of the Dry Run Valley. The area is well-shaded with hardwoods, hemlocks, and pines. Dry Run provides fishing, wading, watering horses. The camp provides access to several trails: East Fork Divide Trail (4617), Dry Run Gap Trail (4613), and Highlands Horse Trail (337).
Hussy Mountain Horse Campground is in the east fork of the Dry Run Valley. The area is well-shaded with hardwoods, hemlocks, and pines. The elevation is approximately 3,000 feet. Summer days are warm with temperatures in the upper 70s to low 90s, and evenings cool down typically into the 60s. The campground is shaded with hardwoods and pines.
For facility specific information, please call (276) 783-5196.
$7 / night
Scout
Stopped here for a quick overnight and this beautiful campground had us wishing we could stay longer.
Legend
Passed thru found it. Looks remarkable and remote. 5.00 or less with pass
GuideCampground is well maintained. Many trees along edge of the campground but not very many in the center, so the sites on the outer loop have more shade if that’s what you’re looking for. Showers were the best of any campground I’ve seen- water gets as hot as you’d like, with great water pressure and plenty of hooks and towel racks. Laundry room available in bathhouse. Little camp store is located within the campground loop. No service for Verizon users… Sites have wifi but I could only get it to work 20% of the time.
TravelerThe campground is beautiful and quiet in the camp creek state park. It is an easy 20 minute drive to Winter Place if you want to go skiing during the winter. There is not good service, but the campground has fairly good WiFi.
TravelerWe were in site number eight, it backed up to the creek and was quite private with the exception of the trail on the other side of the creek. The hiking is difficult in some areas but spectacularly beautiful. The campground staff was very friendly, and in the amenities were clean and kept up.
GuideWe state at the tent campsites for 4 days. Very clean and well kept. I will say the outhouses were a bit rough, but most are—a lot of hiking and sightseeing. I could not be there during prime trout season, so I didn't get any fishing in. I would recommend this state park.
Legend
This equestrian campground in a beautiful state forest allows for other campers to make reservations no more than 30 days in advance; priority is for campers with horses. This state park has wild horses of its own, but has numerous multi-use and equestrian trails and connects with additional trails in the area for up to 66 miles of riding. Chestnut Hollow is distinct from the Hickory Ridge campground.
The campsites are back-in along a single spur with turn-around at the end. There are bathrooms with showers and a sink for laundry. Fees are $20-23/night, slightly higher for out of state campers. There are open and closed stall options for an additional fee. These were clean and in good repair. Although the official season runs May - October, it is open for primitive camping March, April, and November.
Site are long, gravel, relatively level with water/electric.
LegendWith a wide network of multi-use trails in this area, Fox Creek Horse Camp provides a nice base for exploring on horseback. Sites have a gravel/grass pads, picnic table, and fire ring. Portable toilets available. Bring your own water. No hookups provided. Hitching posts at sites. Manure collection available. At $5/night, it's hard to beat the price.
Campers are frequently referred to Grindstone campground for potable water and showers, but as of 2021, the dump station and bath houses/water are off; if you need services plan to travel about 15 minutes to Hurricane Campground instead.
Legend
This is a group equestrian camp that can be reserved via Recreation.gov for$50/night for up to 25 people. There is no potable water available, so plan to bring your own. There is a stream at the site where the horses may drink. There's enough space for a number of trailers, including large ones, and up to 25 horses. There's a fair amount of grassy area and it's lined with rhododendron. Dumpster provided. No cell service.
There are a number of horse trails that connect, starting with the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail nearby, so you don't need to trailer your horses to get to the trailhead
LegendCamp Creek State Park was easy to find as our RV GPS and Waze brought us right to the Campground(CG). Check-in was quick at the little office right inside this small CG. We then proceed to back-in site 21 with FHUs, which was an easy back in. The site was nice and wide with plenty of space on each side. On the park map it was designated ADA(as was site 22) but we had booked online not seeing any restrictions. We did note after hooking into water that their water pressure was not very good at about 25 psi. The CG has WiFi but admittedly at the office its spotty at best. We got about 3 or 4 OTA channels, with one being a prime channel. We didn’t try satellite but could probably have gotten a signal. We also got 2 bars each on Verizon and AT&T. There are actually two campgrounds in this little state park, Mash Fork where we were and Blue Jay on the other side of the park that is tent camping. Both check in at the Mash Fork office. Site 21 was a nice site that had shade in the afternoon, which would be nice in warmer weather but when we were there first week of April, we had snow and freezing temps. The campsites that ran along the creek were water& 30 AMP and could only take an RV up to 35’. FHU sites were on the opposite side and middle of CG. Probably the best big rig campsite with FHUs with plenty of yard space and some creek view is 26. Both CGs have a large creek running adjacent to the CG. Trout fishing was very popular though I didn’t catch any. They do restock this time of year. There are quite a few trails to hike to include the Mash Fork Falls trail that goes to the Mash Fork Falls then around the mountain to the other side of the park. Its a difficult level hike up the side of the mountain, but once you get up its not too bad if you’re in somewhat decent shape. You don't have to take the difficult trail to see the Mash Fork Falls, there is a flat road next to the Mash Fork Campground that goes right down to the falls. They sell firewood and ice at the Mash Fork office and there’s laundry on the backside of the bath house with 2 washers($1.00) and 3 dryers($1.50). Nearest major amenities(Walmart etc.) are at exit 9 off I-77 South in Princeton, WV. As a point of reference, Camp Creek is exit 20. We enjoyed our stay and would go back again.
TravelerFriendly staff, clean sites, hikes to Falls are easy to get to and enjoy. Park enforces quiet time hours which is great for those who go to bed early and rise early. Bathroom could be updated but clean and well stocked.
RangerWe stayed here for one night on our way back north. We got the last site available and it was pretty decent. Site 10 across from the bathhouse. The site was very level, as were most sites. Many have full hookups and several are right along the creek. The waterfalls are a short walk from the campground. Firewood is available and they deliver it to your site. The bundles are quite generous in size. We will definitely stop here again.
TravelerThis campground was very nice and very clean. The staff was awesome. Spots were nice. Campground was small but quaint. The falls are easily accessible and were beautiful even without an abundance of water. Very relaxing stay...
RangerGreat park. Nice playgrounds clean lots 30 and 50 amp service as well as boondock sites. Waterfalls are easily accessible. Did notice people leaving trash and clothing around them. Garbage cans are all over but people just don't care.
LegendCamp Creek State Park is well-managed and beautifully-maintained with an active foundation that raises money for cool stuff like the conversation fire pit with swings, located in the Mash Fork Campground, which is only 2-miles off the I-77 at exit 20 in Mercer County, WV.
Mash Fork is one of four campgrounds at Camp Creek State Park which all offer picnic tables, grills and fire rings. Mash Fork has RV and tent sites: 9 sites with electricity, 8 sites with electricity and water, or 9 sites with electricity, water and sewer. The bathhouses are super nice, there's free WiFi, and they sell exceptionally generous bundles of firewood which the camp host will personally deliver to your site.
There's a small store in the Mash Fork Campground with camping supplies and some souvenirs. Make sure you check the cooler for local free-range chicken eggs… Yum!
If you're looking for more rustic tent camping, head to the Blue Jay Campground. If you're a horse owner, the Double C Horse and Rider Camp has 2, 4, or 6 horse occupancy sites all within the 6,000 acre Camp Creek State Park and Forest.
Camp Creek State Park has two beautiful waterfalls. You can drive to both, but Mash Creek Falls is a short walk from the Mash Fork campground, so make sure you check it out. Campbell Creek Falls has a deep pool at the bottom where you can swim. Camp Creek is stocked with trout in the spring, so expect to see lots of fishermen along the banks.
If you have time, you can check out 33-miles of trails which are loaded with wildflowers in the spring.
*A little local trivia: Mash Fork gives you a hint about the area's moonshining past… wink, wink!
TravelerThis park is quiet, secluded and has plenty of trails to hike! The site I use exclusively has a river running behind it and the sounds lull you to sleep any time of day!
There is a general store that has just about anything you'd need in a pinch to get by. ABSOLUTELY LOVE this park.
ScoutWe had a nice site near a stream and close to the bathrooms however, even though the campground is open year round, the bathrooms are not. We were told there was one open bathroom however it was not made clear this was 1-2 miles away which was not exactly convenient. Rustic camping is fine when we have planned for it. Early in the morning (around 7) workers arrived to work on the closed bathrooms for the opening in a few weeks. The website information is not accurate so definitely call (we were told when we called that the website is several years out of date). It seems like it would be great during regular season.
TravelerJust off I-77, but the interstate is barely audible from this great no-frills campground.
GuideLot s of wildlife! We camped at an equestrian campgrounds, chestnut ridge perhaps? Saw a Family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day! Great facilities and located very close to Wilbur ridge where the wild ponies are! The AT is very close and waterfall hikes can be accessed from camp.also lots of great bouldering in the area
TravelerCouldnt have asked for a better birthday gift. The ponies were awesome and the hike was even better. We stayed on the campgrounds at night and we were able to watch a beautiful sunrise while making breakfast. Definitely have plans to go back in the near future.
LegendI've been here in each season, my favorites being fall and winter. There's a cool large festival in the fall with tons of local vendors and the best apple butter any where. In the winter, it is definitely COLD but absolutely stunning with snow falling. There are 96 campsites available, some with hookups and some without.
The Appalachian Trail can be easily accessed here and there are several backcountry camping options along the trail. Sites in the main park area have gravel pads, picnic tables, fire rings and some have posts for lanterns as well.
As other photos suggest, there are wild ponies here (notice the adjective wild) that are not intimidated by people. Do everyone a favor and keep your distance, please. I experienced a negative interaction with the ponies here that resulted in several backpacks being chewed to bits. The photos of the ponies posted in this review were taken with a zoom lens. This is their home and they should be respected and treated just as you would a bear.
TravelerThis place is by far the windiest place I've ever camped in. We couldn't get a proper fire started due to the wind! It was blowing up all over the trails at some points! But it's all worth it. The views are amazing! The ponies are great, they're come right up to you and check you out. There isn't many places to get water so come prepared with enough. The windchill was a serious issue for some in our group so bring lots of layers and gloves. I'll be going back, hopefully when it's a little warmer!
PS tons of pony poop everywhere. I would imagine it would be a real bummer if you step in it. Avoid at all costs.
ScoutWild ponies, endless blueberries, spectacular view of wildflowers make this on of my go to spots to introduce someone to backpacking.
GuideThis was a convienent campground right off the highway, easy to get to, small but has a few full hookup sites. The site we stayed at had a small babbling brook right behind it and also a trail head that climbed up and back down right into the campground. Very nice trail for the dogs and I to get some exercise on. There are also more trails on the other side of the road and a waterfall fairly close by!
Virginia offers a fantastic experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with a variety of campgrounds that cater specifically to equestrian needs and adventures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bastian, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bastian, VA is Mash Fork Campground — Camp Creek State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bastian, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Bastian, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
