The George Washington & Jefferson National Forests region spans over 1.8 million acres across the Appalachian Mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 5,729 feet at Mount Rogers, Virginia's highest point. Horse-friendly camping options near these forests offer direct access to extensive trail systems, with many equestrian sites providing larger pads and specialized facilities for riders and their mounts.
What to do
Scenic train excursions: East Fork Campground and Horse Stables sits adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive, where travelers can experience unique railway adventures. "They are doing a train robbery this week, robbers are riding horseback to steal a guarded shipment!" noted Harold C., highlighting the special events that complement the camping experience.
Dark sky stargazing: James River State Park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, making it ideal for astronomy enthusiasts. According to Bridget H., "The park is part of the Dark Sky Parks Association and if you are into astronomy and stars this is the place to stay. They have miles of trails, a playground, marshland, and it is right on the James River with multiple river access points."
Multi-day bikepacking: The Greenbrier River Trail offers an 80-mile converted railway path ideal for bikepacking adventures. Dave V. reports, "The Greenbrier River Trail is a delightful bikepacking excursion. Very doable for all ages. I'd recommend road bicycles with tires no narrower than 700x32 or mountain bikes." The trail features a gentle 1% downgrade from north to south.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Douthat State Park Campground maintains high standards for its facilities. Diane P. mentioned, "The bathrooms were incredibly clean and heated. Showers were terrific as well. Staff were kind and knowledgeable. A stream runs beside the campground and the lake, though small, is nice to paddle around in a kayak."
Water activities: Bolar Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Moomaw provides swimming opportunities directly from some campsites. Nicole R. shared, "Campground 2 site 53, has a nice private beach area where you can go fishing or swim. Bring water shoes, the rocks can be sharp. The campsite was spacious and shaded, they do offer doubles for larger groups."
Wildlife viewing: Primitive sites along the Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 offer excellent wildlife observation opportunities. "Wildlife and songbirds were abundant and as shocked to see you as you were them. Oftentimes, the deer would run the trail ahead of you for 200 yards before cutting off onto their sidetrail," Dave V. observed during his bikepacking trip.
What you should know
Bear safety preparations: This is bear country, particularly along the Greenbrier River Trail. "This is bear country so I would recommend utilizing a bear bag or bear canister for your food and toiletries. I used a BearVault BV500 that I strapped to the Salsa EXP Anything Cradle attached to my handlebars," advised Dave V. from his experience at Mile Post 49.3.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds in the region have limited or no connectivity. At Red Oak Campground, Micah B. noted, "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."
Seasonal weather considerations: The region can experience sudden weather changes even in summer. Dave V. shared, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Lake activities provide excellent entertainment for children. John R. recommends, "It's $8 a day for a fishing pass and you can rent John boats or kayaks here as well. In season the lake and creek are stocked with plenty of Rainbow trout. You can keep them for dinner if you like! Just follow all DNR laws on size and amount!"
Educational ranger programs: James River State Park offers interactive activities led by park rangers. Bridget H. shared, "The rangers here are very interactive and very helpful. We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night."
Cabin options for mixed comfort levels: For families with varying camping comfort preferences, cabins offer a middle ground. Jeremiah E. explained, "We've been here twice. Once for our anniversary and we stayed in one of the cabins with our dog, and once tent camping. The cabin was reasonably priced and comfortable. They are all grouped together and could be fun for a family reunion or some larger gathering with friends."
Tips for RVers
Access considerations: When traveling to Douthat State Park with larger rigs, note the varying accessibility between campground sections. Jeremy W. cautions, "Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles."
Equestrian camping with RVs: Bolar Mountain Recreation Area welcomes RVers including those traveling with horses. Mandi R. shares, "My husband and I came for a day just to check it out. We actually stayed in the rv part, but the host was a really sweet older gentleman and he wanted to make sure we got the best view."
Seasonal operation awareness: Many equestrian campgrounds near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests operate seasonally. East Fork Campground runs from April 1 to November 1, while others may close earlier. Casey L. notes, "We were just traveling through on our way south and called to see if we could stay for a night. The campground was being shut down for the season but the owners accommodated us anyway!"
