If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near Clifton Forge, look no further. Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Clifton Forge just for you.
Hiking and fishing opportunities are abundant at Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area. Enjoy hiking trails that meander along the Jackson River, or break out that rod and reel as the trout stocked waters are popular amongst fly and traditional fishermen alike.
Braley Pond Day Use Area is a very popular access to multiple trailheads including Ramsey's Draft Wilderness. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this universally accessible area perfect for family picnics, or plan to stay overnight in the adjacent dispersed camping site.
No dispersed camping allowed in picnic area.
The best way to find out what areas are open to dispersed camping is to contact the nearest District Office to the area you wish to visit. Dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads. Many people drive out on Forest Service roads and look for a clearing or a spot with a view. Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site. Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage. Dispersed camping is allowed in a one-mile perimeter away from campgrounds and 200 feet from any stream. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway.
The best way to find out what areas are open to dispersed camping is to contact the nearest District Office to the area you wish to visit. Dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads. Many people drive out on Forest Service roads and look for a clearing or a spot with a view. Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site. Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage. Dispersed camping is allowed in a one-mile perimeter away from campgrounds and 200 feet from any stream. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway.
Traveler
We had the absolute best time. It was so peaceful being by the creek and just relaxing. You are off the road of the national forest so cars come by but nobody bothers you and it stays quiet. Will definitely be back soon!
Guide
Went in August and it was very buggy, also had someone park pretty close which when I drive down a really long dirt road that is questionable for my van, i want it to be private and this was about 5 miles of dirt road to get to it.
GuideMultiple road sites that fit my van with room to spare - 80% were full on a beautiful fall Friday evening around 6pm but still snagged one
ScoutAugust 31, 2024, Labor Day weekend camping trip. Spent a night here camping with my younger sister. She could only do one night, as she lives up north and had to be back up by Monday to go back to work on Tuesday. We arrived around 10:30am, we got everything set up before we ventured out. Very nice spot we found, very quiet except for nature. Best sounds ever. We visited the Natural bridge, which was about 20 minutes or so from the camp site. It did some light rain from around 8p til sometime after midnight, but stayed comfy and dry.
ScoutWe came for this site specifically but it was already occupied so we kept going down the road. Luckily there were 4-5 additional site & we got one for 3 nights. They are all lovely & creekside with fire pits & there is a hike at the end of the road that takes you to a gorgeous summit & links to AT!
ScoutNice camping spots on the pedlar river in Amherst county. Multiple spots along reservoir rd.
Ranger
As far as AT shelters go this is pretty basic, except for the lack of a good water source. However, it's a decent spot to stay the night especially if it's not crowded! There's a few other shelters and stealth sites in the area that are also great options though.
Guide
Great camp site!! I pulled in while passing through the area, it was a short ride off the highway and the road in was nice. Quiet spot with a nice grassy level area. will definitely stay here again when I get back up this way.
Scout
Large open space with several flat areas for tents. There are several spots on this road, maybe 6 but this is the furthest off the road. There are hiking trails and easy access to the stream.
GuideWent with our little teardrop trailer (13ft), no issues with the road and enough space at the spot for both car and the trailer. Quiet place with a creek and fire ring. Previous folks left us some firewood, thank you! No bear encounter.
Guide
Sites had plenty of space with fire rings built out of rocks. Loved exploring the area and pond. Pond had a lot of trash along the shoreline and vault toilet was rather full. Otherwise, a great place for a night of camping.
TravelerWe took our conversion van and had no problems parking and pulling through to turn around when we left. Plenty of places to park or set up a tent along the road or at the end near the bathrooms and information center. A few nice hikes, and plenty of privacy. We did have to clean up after the last campers in our spot though, but other than that it was well taken care of
TravelerWasn’t too hard to get there and park in our van. Peaceful for the most part (a few campers were there). No signal, so make sure you have a map or know which way you came.
GuideI stopped here for a night while traveling across the country. It is a hilly drive down back roads off of 81. You loose cell service a couple miles from the site. The site itself is nice, perfect for car camping. Fire ring and river are right there, no toilets. I didn’t see anyone else near this site when I stayed.
GuideI have stayed here twice, once in the spring and once in the winter. Both times, the main camping area was empty. There is a large clearing off of Hidden Valley Rd (38.14822,-79.76883) just past Poor Farm Camp A Rd. that can easily accommodate multiple vehicles with 3 or 4 fire pits. In the spring, it is covered in wild hares.
If you follow the road further, about a quarter of a mile, is another spot for about two or three vehicles. On the map, Hidden Valley Rd says it goes through, but the road is closed.
GuideI was originally looking for a different camp site earlier on the road when I stumbled upon this one. It is a very rocky path, about 50 feet long, to get into the campground, but then it is smooth and well laid out. There is a giant fire circle in the middle and enough room to fit about 10 vehicles/groups if people don't mind being next to each other.
No cell service(T-Mobile), but if I drove towards the main road, Route 501, I could get some service.
TravelerNice and peaceful. First time camping there and had a nice time. Nice trials.
Ranger
I camped here 3 times, the hike up is brutal but the top is absolutely worth it. This most recent time camping we discovered that apparently TECHNICALLY camping isn’t allowed anymore, but the fire pit and tent areas still seem in use and I really doubt someone would hike up there to tell you to leave. The trailhead is tricky to find if you don’t already know where it is, and there’s no service until you get up to the top. It’s literally just the top of a mountain, nothing but what you carry up with you.
GuideUnexpectedly found this site after planning on doing some primitive camping off the road. There's 2 sites that I saw on the road with pits.
There's access to the App Trail on the road so you might see some hikers but it was real quiet otherwise. Pretty nice scenery (you're smack in the middle of the forest) so if you want to get out and away from people this is a great site.
ScoutI was the only one here on a Saturday night. Very quiet and it was great to have the place to myself. I took advantage of the trails in the morning. It was pretty muddy even though it was in the low 30s so wear applicable footwear. The stars were amazing! There was plenty of wood scattered about to use as firewood.
Only stayed one night due to complications with my cooking stove, but I'll be back.
GuideThis place is amazing for primitive camping. Good trails to hike and overland
ScoutFirst come first served, no host, no plumbing, no electricity, no cell or data signal. No fees, no check-in. Great place to leave behind civilization. Pond is stocked with trout in season, check DGIF site for dates.
TravelerStayed here during the week and we were alone. Picnic/ pit toilet area separate from the camping area. Two things to note: this area is fairly low, and the road snd sites can easily be soaked, if not underwater after really heavy rains; there is no cell signal here (at least with Verizon as of 3/2020). Perfect for hammock camping. No fire rings just rocks others have arranged, plenty of hiking trails around as well.
RangerSlept at this camping spot passing through on the AT. Site just below the summit. Plenty of soft and level ground to set up your tent. Wish I was able to see the view at sunrise but it was cloudy all morning.
LegendI stayed at this AT shelter when I was doing a section hike with some friends. It's not bad as far as shelters on the AT go. There is not a water source too close to the shelter. The closest one is about 3 miles North. The sites aren't bad though, pretty flat. There is also a wooden shelter maintained by the AT, but those aren't my favorite to sleep in. Seemed nice as far as they go though.
I was hiking a little section that includes Mcafee Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the AT. This spot is really awesome. It can also just be done as a day hike, so I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a 8ish mile hike. Another cool thing about this area is that there's some fairly nice bouldering to be found near the top. Some of the routes are a little under maintained and mossy, but there are some fun ones. Lugging a crash pad all the way to the top isn't the most fun, but worth it if you want to get some cool bouldering in.
LegendSo I wouldn't even necessarily call this place a campground, more like a spot to camp. Spy Rock is this awesome hike about an hour away from Charlottesville, Va. It is a great hike with a small rock scramble at the top for an extra bit of fun. Not only that, but the top has almost 360 degree views of the Shenandoah Valley.
Basically, at the top before you do the rock scramble, there is a little clearing meant for camping. Sure you have to cart all of your crap to the top with you, but TOTALLY worth it once you catch that sunrise from the top of the mountain. Plus the clearing is an awesome spot to camp. Flat, open, space for a fire. What more could you ask for?
This is one of my favorite hikes in the Shenandoah Valley.
Also, as long as you're close, might as well hit up Charlottesville. I went to college at the university of virginia, so I know the area well. There is no better city than cville. Amazing food, concerts, great hiking, sports, history, and beautiful scenery. If you're looking for something to do in the area, go visit Monticello (TJ's house), go to a winery, see UVA's campus and take a historical tour. There are so many options. Not to mention the Sky Line Drive which is only a short drive away.
Do this hike, stay on the mountain, and go visit cville. I promise you won't regret it.
ScoutI brought my boys out to camp this past weekend, and this place was perfect for our first dispersed campsite experience. The day use area is close enough to use the bathroom (just an open pit toilet, nothing fancy). The pond is stocked with trout, so small groups of fisherpeople came and went. In spite of it being a weekend, we were one of two occupied sites. There are fire rings, firewood, and enough room to pull in, pitch a large tent, (ours was a 10-person) and hang hammocks. There are also trails along the pond’s edge. we didn’t explore too in depth, so there may be more hiking available. Though you can’t swim in the lake, we did wade the stream, which was cold and clear and beautiful. We’ll be back!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Clifton Forge, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Clifton Forge, VA is George Washington National Forest off 812 with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Clifton Forge, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Clifton Forge, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
