Best Dispersed Camping near Cleveland, VA
Multiple dispersed camping options exist in the Washington and Jefferson National Forest near Cleveland, Virginia. Hidden Valley WMA offers free camping with fire rings, bear bins, and porta-toilets near the water's edge, though a $4 Virginia Wildlife Access pass with camping authorization is required. According to one visitor, "Plenty of dead wood for fires. Trash cans available. Rocks for fire pits and no tables."
Little Tumbling Creek provides secluded primitive camping in a flat field area with several creek-side spots suitable for tents or vans. The Washington and Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites feature multiple camping areas along Bear Creek with opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing and paddling. Access to many sites requires high-clearance vehicles, particularly at Scales Trailhead Basecamp where "the road in is rocky and not short, probably 45 minutes from the road to the campground." Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Whitetop Mountain offer spectacular views and free roadside camping, though Whitetop sites experience extreme winds and weather conditions. Cell service is extremely limited throughout the region.