Douthat State Park provides more than just equestrian camping near Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. Located in Virginia's Bath County at elevations between 1,400-2,400 feet, the park offers camping options within a 4,500-acre landscape. The temperatures typically average 15-20 degrees cooler than surrounding valleys during summer months, making it a comfortable destination for both horse owners and conventional campers.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Douthat offers extensive biking opportunities through varied terrain. "We did a decent amount of biking here, the main road is nice for road biking, we rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear. Beautiful country roads. And the trails are great for mountain biking. Bring your legs, lots of climbing!" notes Robyn S. from Douthat State Park Campground.
Lake swimming: The 50-acre lake at Douthat provides refreshing swimming options during summer months. "Generally this is a nice campground...not too big and pretty quiet. The lake is nice, and there is nice hiking along the shore," shares Thomas R. about his experience at Douthat State Park.
Water activities at Lake Moomaw: Just 30 miles from Natural Bridge Station, Lake Moomaw offers additional water recreation. "Warm water, fresh air, no service," says Blake B. about Bolar Mountain Recreation Area, adding that "This place is amazing. I could stay here every weekend and not get tired of it."
What campers like
Dark sky viewing: James River State Park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park. According to Bridget H. at Red Oak Campground, "The park is part of the Dark Sky Parks Association and if you are into astronomy and stars this is the place to stay. The rangers here are very interactive and very helpful."
Quiet camping environments: Many campers appreciate the peaceful settings. "Stayed here for two nights in the middle of the week in the summer of 2019. I stayed in one of the lakeside sites. Generally this is a nice campground...not too big and pretty quiet," reports Thomas R. about his Douthat experience.
River access: The James River provides additional water opportunities beyond lake activities. Conni B. shares, "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."
What you should know
Site selection considerations: Campgrounds in the region offer varied site layouts. At Douthat, "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," explains Jeremy W.
Seasonal weather variations: The mountain location brings cooler temperatures year-round. "We stayed here 4 days and 3 nights in November. We use a teardrop camper so we appreciated the water and electric hookup (although we disconnected the water at night to prevent freezing)," notes Diane P. from Douthat.
Insect preparedness: Summer brings increased insect activity in the region. A camper advises, "My only advise would be to bring bug spray- especially in the summer. Those black flies were relentless!" when describing their stay at Douthat State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: James River State Park offers organized activities for children. "We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night. We hiked many miles while here and had a great weekend," reports Bridget H.
Multi-generational facilities: Look for parks with diverse accommodations. "We rented a cabin with fantastic sunset views. This park has great walking and equine trails, a fantastic visitor center, and a wonderful outdoor park/adventure zone for the kiddos," says Jamie B. about Red Oak Campground.
Water safety: Most equestrian campgrounds near Natural Bridge Station offer water recreation with safety considerations. Nicole R. from Bolar Mountain advises, "Bring water shoes, the rocks can be sharp. The campsite was spacious and shaded, they do offer doubles for larger groups."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: For RVers requiring full hookups near equestrian trails, Douthat offers comprehensive services. "Great sites, easily accessible and easy access to hook up to amenities," shares Kimberly S. about Bolar Mountain Recreation Area.
Big rig accessibility: Some campgrounds specifically accommodate larger RVs with equestrian needs. Jeremy W. notes about Douthat, "Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles."
Off-season considerations: For year-round RV camping with horses, some locations remain open through winter. At Don's Cab-Inns Campground, Stephen D. appreciates that it's "One of the few campgrounds open during the winter with facilities."
