Horse camping near Big Island, Virginia centers on James River State Park, which offers dedicated equestrian campsites with direct trail access, gravel parking for horse trailers, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site. Campers have access to water sources for horses and well-maintained pit toilets nearby. The campground is situated in a wooded area with a creek running adjacent to the sites, providing natural water access for horses. The campsites are well-spaced, offering adequate room between neighboring campers and their animals. The gravel parking areas accommodate horse trailers while keeping vehicles separate from the camping area.
The trail system at James River State Park connects riders to miles of horse-friendly paths throughout the park's diverse terrain. Riders can access multiple trails directly from the campground without having to trailer their horses to separate trailheads. The park maintains both wooded trails and paths through open fields, offering varied riding experiences. Some trails lead to river access points where horses can cool off during warmer months. The primitive equestrian camping area combines accessibility with a natural setting that primitive horse camping enthusiasts appreciate. The park's status as an International Dark Sky Park means riders returning from evening trail rides experience exceptional stargazing opportunities. Trails are clearly marked with horse-friendly designations, preventing conflicts with hikers and mountain bikers who use separate trail systems.
"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
"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
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
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.
LegendThis campground is one of our stops coming from VT or going back home - would love to spend more time then just passing through
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.
TravelerPretty much what a campground should be. Absolutely 0 service. No place to get ice if you’re out. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.
ScoutNice campground in line with expectations for most Virginia state parks. Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work
ScoutSwimming in this beautiful and very swimmable and safe lake is limited to a kiddie area - useless if you're looking for exercise. Count on a ranger yelling if you go elsewhere despite the absence of "no-swimming" signs. (Lots of signs about not feeding the wildlife). Tennessee state parks, for example, allow swimming in huge lakes swamped with jet-skis and speed boats. Lake Norris, Harrison Bay... What's wrong with "swim at your own risk?" No cellular signal which can be a plus. Old fashioned pay phone available for the generation that knows how to operate those.
LegendWe were in site #5. It was not level yet nothing in the mountains is level. The electric showed 30 & 50 amp yet the 30 amp was disconnected and that's what we need. We had to use the 50 amp hook up. The electric bo is on the wrong side of the site, most in this loop are on the wrong side. We filled with water this loop you have to fill with water.
The site was nice sized and shaded.
There isn't any cell service yet near the camp loop 2 the loop below ours behind spot #10 as you walk to the lake at a specific spot you can get service.
The lake is beautiful. Our neighbor was catching nice fish out in his boat. Many different kinds of fish and very nice sized brown trout.
There is a swim beach which you can launch a kayak or canoe from the beach.
The Marina is closed yet there is a boat launch near the marina.
They really need to update the campground area's was told it was all closed for a few years too bad they didn't update the campgrounds.
There isn't much around so bring your supplies with you. There is a small general store that sells somethings and gas but it's not a real grocery. They did sell excellent Virginia peanuts there.
favorite campsites are:
Campground 1
sites 9 and 2 were my favorite. Sites 2, 3, 9 & 10 the electric boxes are on the correct side.
Campground 2 sites 44 and 45 are nice with water & electric.
Sites 47, 50, 53, 54, 51 and 55 have no hook ups yet they are waterfront sites.
Campground 3 there is a boat & trailer storage area.
Best sites are 69 and 70 with water & electric.
No hook ups 64, 88 and 89 are waterfront.
They had a problem with the water in our loop so the bath house was closed and they had port o potties in front of the bath house. The day use area is big and was not crowded at all. There were many people camping in our loop it was very quiet.
GuideThis is a real gem in the woods . I have no idea why it is listed as closed when it is open and very nice. Call them to book a site as the apps will not let u
James River State Park offers dedicated equestrian camping facilities near Big Island, Virginia. The park encompasses over 3,000 acres along the James River, sitting at approximately 820 feet elevation with terrain varying from wooded highlands to river bottomlands. The equestrian area features a separate campground with stalls specifically designed for horse owners, allowing direct trail access during spring through fall seasons.
Stargazing opportunities: James River State Park holds International Dark Sky Park certification, providing exceptional night sky viewing. "This is a wonderful spot for viewing the stars because of the lack of light pollution. James River State Park has been named an International Dark Sky Park," notes Daryl L. about Red Oak Campground.
Kayaking and river activities: Access the James River directly from several points within the park. "The best part of both trips was the River. Absolutely clean, crystal clear water and never crowded. Both of my trips were during the summer and over a weekend and we seldom came across others," shares Conni B. about their experience at Red Oak Campground.
Mountain biking trails: Several campgrounds near Big Island offer dedicated biking paths through varied terrain. "Fun trails to go ride around on your bike all day," mentions Jonny D. about his stay at Douthat State Park.
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the well-designed layout in the equestrian areas. "The sites are generously sized and flat," reports Conni B. from Red Oak Campground, while Nicole R. from Bolar Mountain Recreation Area adds "The campsite was spacious and shaded, they do offer doubles for larger groups."
Water access: Many sites offer direct water access beyond the equestrian areas. "Our site was across the road from the lake but there was a trail that lead to the water. The water was beautiful, temperature perfect for swimming," shares Joanna G. about Bolar Mountain Recreation Area.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in this region maintain high standards for restrooms and common areas. "Bathrooms were the cleanest I've ever seen at any campground and were a very short, convenient walk from our site!" according to Joanna G. who visited Bolar Mountain.
Reservation options: While many sites can be reserved online, others operate on first-come, first-served basis. "We reserved a primitive site online via recreation.gov (despite the fact that many sites are unreservable and are instead first come, first serve)," explains Joanna G. from Bolar Mountain Recreation Area.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds in the region. "Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work," advises Micah B. from Red Oak Campground.
Water access types: Different campgrounds offer varying water access points. At James River State Park Campground, "A Creek ran nearby the campground and there were options for trails," according to VIRGINIA G., while other locations feature lake or river frontage.
Educational programs: Rangers often conduct family-friendly activities throughout the season. "We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night," shares Bridget H. from Don's Cab-Inns Campground.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several parks offer dedicated play areas and youth activities. "The park has a playground, marshland, and it is right on the James River with multiple river access points. The rangers here are very interactive and very helpful," notes Bridget H. about Don's Cab-Inns.
Family site selection: Choose sites that balance privacy with convenience. "We camped here with our new born daughter and son, with that being said the campground was very quiet and accommodated our family very well! We enjoyed that large bathhouses and the large tentpad spots!" recommends Kaylee S. about her stay at Red Oak Campground.
Site leveling considerations: Pay attention to elevation changes when selecting sites. "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," warns Jeremy W. from Douthat State Park.
Hookup availability: Electric and water access varies by campground and loop. "All types of sites and hookups plus cabins," mentions Cathy L. about Douthat State Park, while Terry F. from Don's Cab-Inns Campground notes "All new facilities and only $25 a night. electric on the site, water and dump station located nearby."
Seasonal considerations: Not all facilities remain open year-round. "One of the few campgrounds open during the winter with facilities," mentions Stephen D. about Don's Cab-Inns Campground, making it a valuable option for off-season horse camping near Big Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Big Island, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Big Island, VA is Red Oak Campground — James River State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Big Island, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Big Island, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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