We're here to help you find where to go horse camping in John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir. Finding a place to stay in Virginia while traveling with your horse has never been easier. Find Virginia equestrian campgrounds with ease on The Dyrt.
$20 - $30 / night
This recreation area is part of Dewey Lake
Strategic Location for peaceful camping with lots of nearby options. Camping is very primitive and rustic as new amenities come online in planned future. The best time of booking is the weekend at present.
We have:
Wooded/Grassy hills with plenty of tree cover and open space to spread out . A uniquely positioned community fire pit is available with an impressive view. It is very rustic and primitive, but well kept, quiet, secluded, with developing surroundings.
There is direct access to Jefferson National Forest and miles of hiking, biking and horseback trails. Equestrians encouraged, but is Bring your own horse and Tie Line.
Nearby sites include Bark Camp Lake, Guest River Gorge, Bear Rock, Little Stony Falls, Chief Benge Trail, Devils Bath Tub, and High Knob. We are also located along several driving and scenic routes to include: Backroads of the Cumberland's, Appalachian Backroads, Virginia Wildlife and Birding Trail, and Thomas Jefferson Scenic Byway (Rt. 72). In addition, within a short drive there is an ATV trailhead in the local town. The Clinch River is not far at all as well.
There is a small quaint downtown less than 5 miles with grocery, gas, supplies, and a few places to eat.
Mission:
The original idea for CR Adventure Outpost came many years ago. We grew up visiting "Grandma & Grandpa" in Wise County and developed a deep love for the area, the outdoors, and all it had to offer. There came a point, , when we realized that the amount of outdoor activities and authentic cultural experiences could indeed support visitors. It could also support many business opportunities once everyone became aware of what was all around them. At that point, a process began of research and planning on ideas some thought were pointless. People deeply want to get back to nature and withdrawal from a fast paced materialistic society, at least long enough to realize what is really important in life. There is a huge need and vast opportunity to take advantage of the many beautiful landscapes in Southwest Virginia.
$20 - $35 / night
$16 / night
Ranger
Very scenic place!! We spent 6 nights here, hiked & biked a lot. Off season, so some of the amenities were closed (pool looks awesome). The campground itself isn't really all that great, prepare for some levelling. We lucked out in the B loop, as a small trail (Grassy Overlook trail) took us to see the northern lights one evening. I highly suggest stopping here for a few nights, an under rated area.
Guide
Chief Logan has a lot of interesting things to see, including an outdoor animal exhibit, a lodge, a pool, a theatre, and a museum all close together.
Our site was full hook up and very level. There was creek nearby and walking paths all over. We went over to the lodge and was able to swim in the pool and hot tub as part of the price of our campsite. There was solar event with super rare aurora light show for this part of the world while we were there.
Scout
Roads in campground are rough in places. Electrical boxes are in rough shape at some sites. 30 amp kept tripping the breaker. WiFi does not work. Several sites have full hookup but sewer hookups need to be repaired and water hookups are far away.
GuideStayed 4 nights in section D. Our site was ok. There were a lot better sites to stay though. Staff was helpful and friendly. We had full hookups. Lots of shade.
GuideBeautiful, quiet spot. The staff was very easy to work with and very friendly. The wildlife exhibit is a fun detour ($2/person). We saw a water slide, putt-putt, and enjoyed the restaurant at the lodge. They have tours for the local elk there too. The town itself is cute and we enjoyed a date night at the local steakhouse. Great spot, perfect getaway!
Traveler
Had a great camping weekend with a buddy at Cliffhanger Ranch. The cabin we stayed in is very cozy and good size for two people. We were able to have a few nice fires at the top of the hill with great views. What makes this place great is that the entrance is directly across from the Jefferson National Forrest. There we were able to kayak at Bark Camp Lake which was not busy at all and hike at Little Stoney Falls. Plenty to do and see in this area. Would highly recommend!
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Staying at The Cliffhanger Ranch places you in a quiet area surrounded by forests and a small downtown nearby, perfect for adventuring around a new area. Check them out and share of your favorite parts of the trip on the Dyrt!
GuideThe campground was nice, the staff friendly. Apparently there is a lot of bear activity, although we did not encounter one. The sunsets are to die for!
RangerWe were there on Thursday thru Saturday. Thursday was so nice and quiet and then the weekend crew came in on Friday and it filled up fast. Unfortunately our neighbors were very noisy!!! We stayed in loop A, the other loops had many campers set up for the recent flood victims. Loop A was our favorite and it was close to the lake!
GuideStayed a couple of nights and we had a blast. Hiking right near the campground and lake is not far away at all.
ScoutOur campsite was supposed to be 38’ long but my 28’ camper was all that could fit, barely. Water spigot is far away from the site so I had to go purchase another water hose. Zero cell reception and no wifi. No television reception either. Almost everyone’s site was not flat and took a lot of work to get campers close to level, (watched people pull out after an hour trying to level). No extra parking for vehicles, just drive up into whatever muddy area is around your site. “No outside alcohol” signs everywhere.
LegendWe camped here for 3 nights with our dogs. Our site was in the B loop and had no water or electricity. It was surrounded by a lot of trees, so it had shade. It was a short walk to the bathhouse which was very clean with nice showers.
The campground has 4 different loops. I personally liked the B loop the best because everything was very close to it like hiking trails, laundry facility, basketball court, and a little camp store which has ice and firewood available.
The state park also has a lodge, cabins, and a beautiful lake. There is a restaurant in the park. We tried it for lunch and it was good. The landscape in the park was just beautiful. The overlooks, especially the tower overlook, are gorgeous. There are several hiking trails. Be aware that the loop is extremely strenuous and takes 4 to 5 ours. I really liked that the trails are not heavily trafficked.
We would definitely camp here again. All the park staff, hosts and volunteers were super nice and very helpful.
LegendBeen caravaning with "Sister" campers this week, and Breaks was our final stop over. This is just an amazing park, full of history, great trails, friendly staff (with the exception of the manager at the Lodge!!) The climb up the mountain to get here is worth it. We were in campground A, the bath house was very nice h well cleaned. The sites are well marked with wide spaces. For pulling through or backing in. Trails are well marked at trail head & with colored blazes. Info boards are at most over looks so you know what you are looking at. Wildlife is not fearful of us, or the dogs.... lol!! We will definitely come back
ScoutThis is an amazing park.
It was clean, we had beautiful views, people were great.
This is a peaceful place! We can’t wait to go back.
ScoutWe stayed at this “resort” park and were very disappointed.
Campsite was super dirty, food left behind on the ground everywhere, beans, egg shells, etc., were dumped in the creek.
Showers and restrooms were disgusting.
This park needs some TLC.
Hopefully people can respect nature and learn were to dispose their garbage.
GuideCampsites trashed. Campground trashed. Dump station overflowed and closed. Toilets broken, plugged or poop all over toilets and floor. People parking 4-30' campers in one site, on the grass. One person left in the evening, got stuck and had 1' deep ruts. Had to leave to get another truck. It didn't help that there was also 5"-8"+/- rain over the 3 days. In 8 years never experience such a mess.
GuideIn our trip from Arkansas to the east coast we reserved two nights here based on reviews. I’m sure COVID-19 had a lot to do with the park being in shut down mode but we found the park to be so bad we left after one night. Sites we were assigned were very difficult to get in, extremely unlevel and the sites were unkept and showed a lack of maintenance. We were there on 9/22/20 and the flying knat’s and bugs wouldn’t let you out of the door. My water hookup required a set of pliers to operate and the 30amp plug was installed upside down making it impossible to plug in due to the box being jacked up. Had to use the 50 amp plug/converter. We won’t be back. Hope things change for the better.
RangerThe Breaks are considered the “Grand Canyon of the south”. Great mountaintop views, hiking, geocaching, kayaking, paddle boats, a zip line, and seasonal white water rafting all available. A few miles from the campground you’ll even find river access with a sandy beach for summer fun. A wonderful getaway when you want to be away from it all. Several campground sections to choose from with primitive sites to full hookup with electric, water, and sewer. Dump stations are available also. There are laundry facilities and bathhouses (didn’t use either so not sure on condition), playgrounds, picnic shelters, cabins, and inns. Each campsite had a fire ring and picnic table. Spots are definitely not level, so bring a variety of blocks—you’ll need them. No outside lights at the sites so when it’s dark it’s d-a-r-k. Beautiful campground.
TravelerBeautiful place. There is a pool (open 11-6, cost $6), mini golf($3), paved courts($4/hr), and more. It’s pricier than what I am used to in Tn, but it has primitive or hookup sites with bath/shower houses.
TravelerThe campground itself is maintained better than any other state run campground I’ve ever been to.
The things one must take into consideration is that you need to bring ANYTHING you might need for groceries and there is limited cell coverage for ATT.
TravelerThis park is listed as a resort so I took my pandemic bound family here in a mini vacation. Perhaps it was back in 1967.
The camping spaces were not very deep but that was ok because we are in the mountains. What’s odd is that you share a water spigot with a neighbor so you have to have a long hose to go across your whole section. There was only one hole for grey and black water, which I’ve never seen.
The other section of the grounds seemed more family and that everyone reserved spaces across multiple sections for reunions and parties.
The restrooms and showers were good although I still wear a mask at all parks and inside areas and others do not. You get no cell service in the campgrounds and no reception. Also, the trails are not quite right for the Jenny Wiley Trail that starts from the campgrounds. You have to go immediately up when you take the trail from there vs the natural worn path.
As for the rest of the park, it’s left in 1968. The lodge is nice but the food is all frozen and fried. Camping guests are not permitted to use the pool even though the reservation site sort of implies that you can. The marina was very busy and you could call and reserve boats but we had no service so we just went in person. We did reserve a small boat and went swimming off of it but do regret it after a UTI and seeing all the trash and debris in the lake. I’ve never seen so much garbage in a lake in my life. It was actually sad and broke my heart.
Had I read one of these reviews earlier, we would not have stayed at this park. Lesson learned!
TravelerI spent a Friday night there in late June 2020. Most of the campers were in RVs. I found a site at the end of a cul-de-sac away from the other campers. It appeared that the campers observed the quiet hours rules. Sites are close together so there’s not a lot of privacy. Modern amenities, showers, flush toilets. There’s a large lake at the park that accommodates speed boats and jet skis so I didn’t put my kayak in.
LegendThis park has some nice campsites, which can make your camping experience an awesome time, but that’s not why you should go there. Like a lot of state parks, it’s got the usual wooded picnic table, fire ring, the electrical hook-up thing if you need it (or BYOS - bring your own solar), even nice bathrooms with showers and everything. What it offers in terms of a get away from it all makes it the go to destination for everyone who’s just about had enough of everything average.
First of all, where the heck is it? About 200 miles from anywhere you’ve ever heard of, unless you’re lucky enough to have been born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or you’ve just nursed along a love of two-lane winding roads, it rewards the traveler who says“let’s take a road trip.” The closest town is Haysi, Virginia, which offers a selection of small regional grocery stores, gas stations and a few restaurants...but not much more.
The park sits atop an ancient canyon cut through time by the Russell Fork River some 1000 feet below. The trails wonder through sandstone formations laid down some 250 million years ago when the area was covered by a shallow inland sea. The views as well as the geological significance instills awe in the best sense.
The park offers a short scenic drive loop with a dozen or so stops all offering some look into the amazing scope of natural science. But in case that doesn’t inspire your 10-year-old, the mountain bike trails near to the campground will sure take some energy out of them. And in case they want to just go to the outdoor pool, or sit in the well-appointed cabin or guestroom, these are also available at this park offering a widely diverse accommodations for nearly anyone willing to make the drive to get there. The Russell Fork is also a world class river offering everything from class 2-3 fun to serious Appalachian creekin’ paddling. But don’t tell anyone about this place, because I don’t want anyone else to find out about it.
Guide
If you looking to get away and you like the company of close campers this place may be for you . It is a small camping area that has everything you need to stay a while. It's right off the back waters of Dewy lake . So great to kayaking or any small boats.
GuideNestled in the Mountains of Eastern Ky, this is a nice little getaway. The fishing on Dewy Lake is awesome. The water is muddy a lot. But if you like catfishing, this is your Lake .
RangerNice Campground, once you get here. The roads to this amazing State Park are two lane and twisting. We have a 38' 5er and a CrewCab Dually tow vehicle. We didn't have a lot of issues getting here but it is quite mountainous with a lot of climbs to get here. The Park is well appointed and the campsites are nice for a state park. Be careful when choosing a site as some are challenging to get into with larger units. We had a pull through which was big enough for our rig. Sites are gravel and spacious. Fire ring/grill combo provided at each site. Bathhouses were clean and well stocked. Be sure to bring all necessary supplies BEFORE you get here, nearest stores are a 20 minute drive away on crooked mountain roads. Will we return? Maybe for a special event but not for a general getaway
LegendI stayed at Chief Logan for 3-days and 2-nights and didn’t get to do or see everything I wanted to experience at this wonderful WV State Park, so it’s worth an extended stay.
Chief Logan has 26 level RV camping spots with water and electricity at all sites and a sewer connection at about half of them. The park also has a large open field for group camping or enough space for about 40 to 50 individual tents for those who prefer a more primitive experience. No water or electricity at the primitive campground, but you’re within walking distance of the main bathhouse which was nice and clean during my stay. Here's a link for an interactive map of the Chief Logan campground where there's cell phone service for both AT&T and Verizon customers.
When you check-in at the park headquarters, make sure you visit the adjoining museum which gives you some background on the local coal industry and the hardy settlers who clashed with the American Indians when this area was still used as their hunting grounds. The gift shop has a variety of souvenirs with their#1 best sellers tied to alleged sightings of “Big Foot,” not Chief Logan… Lol…
Chief Logan State Park has lots of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. I hiked the Coal Mine Trail with remnants of the coal industry decaying in the forest, then continued on the Wilderness Trail which gives you a nice view of the surrounding mountains. I was super impressed by the maintenance staff when I reported offensive graffiti on the Guyandotte Beauty Trail and a crew hiked into the woods and painted over it before I even had time to show my photos to Superintendent Bruce Collinsworth.
There are a variety of shelters and playgrounds scattered throughout the nearly 4,000 acre forest so you can spread out and enjoy the park without feeling like you’re fighting any crowds.
I didn’t get to try the Chief Logan swimming pool, but it looked amazing with a giant slide, high dive and kiddie pool. There's also a stocked fishing pond in this park.
There’s a small wildlife center where you can see bears, bobcats and raptors in enclosures for a$2.00 donation. The caretaker helped me get some nice photos of the bears by putting some honey and peanut butter on the fence around their enclosure. You won’t have to pay a dime to see deer. I spotted dozens of does, bucks and fawns during my stay, so keep your eyes peeled because they don’t seem terribly cautious around people or cars.
I should add that nearly 100 elk have recently been reintroduced in and around Chief Logan State Park. I didn’t see any elk during my visit, but I plan a return trip in the fall when naturalist Lauren Cole offers tours during the mating season.
I can’t write a Chief Logan State Park review without mentioning the outdoor theater. Actors had just wrapped a sold-out run of “Deadly Divide” about the bloody history of the Hatfields and McCoys and were practicing for the “Lion King, Jr.” Chief Logan also has an entertainment venue called“Pickin’ In The Park,” where you can hear some local bluegrass music on the weekends.
Chief Logan also has a really nice lodge and some new deluxe cabins about 2-miles from the main portion of this state park. The lodge has a restaurant and conference rooms, plus there’s a modern recreational center nearby which includes a heated indoor swimming pool, weight room, tennis courts, and elevated walking track. Admission to the rec center is free for lodge guests, but campers can also use the facility for$10/day or$32/month for a family of four… Deal!
So why is such a grandiose state park located in the middle of Lincoln County, WV, where the decline of the coal industry has left many in poverty? Former WV Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is from Lincoln County, so he made sure big bucks where channeled into his home turf, including a nerve jangling connector road that links the main portion of Chief Logan State Park to the lodge and rec center. This road, named “Tomblin Drive,” in his honor, is so steep and curvy it’s closed during the winter months.
Additional things/do to see nearby: The Coal Heritage Trail, Blair Mountain, Hatfield and McCoy ATV Trails, and the City of Logan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir is Breaks Interstate Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir, with real photos and reviews from campers.
