Fort Valley Ranch provides 45 campground sites near Shenandoah National Park, offering options for tent camping, RVs, and cabin rentals. The ranch specializes in equestrian facilities with trailer parking and direct access to riding trails in the George Washington National Forest. Full hookups include 30-amp and 50-amp electrical service with water and sewer connections. Central bathrooms with showers serve the campground. Most sites include standard picnic tables and fire rings. Dogs are allowed under the campground's pet-friendly policy. The surrounding trails offer varied difficulty levels from beginner flat terrain to more challenging routes with elevation changes.
What to do
Trail riding: Fort Valley Ranch connects directly to miles of riding trails through George Washington National Forest. At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, campers can observe "Free range horses (they're penned-in) come back at dusk and head out at dawn -- fun to watch from the campground, especially for kiddos" according to Matt.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer stocked fishing areas. Trout Pond Recreation Area features "The beach is nice and lots of fishing, hiking, playgrounds for the kids. Whether a day trip or camping this is a nice spot," notes Wendi C.
Hiking: The region offers trails for all skill levels, from short nature walks to challenging mountain climbs. At Graves Mountain, "For kids, there is a duck pond, chicken coop, shallow brook, disable farm tractor, and some other stuff to play with/on/in across the street near the lodge."
Swimming: Water activities remain popular during summer months. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, Fred F. reports "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer spacious sites with natural screening. At Big Meadows Campground, "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site, B112, was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy," says Veronica S.
Wildlife viewing: The Shenandoah region hosts diverse wildlife visible from camps. At Big Meadows, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location offers minimal light pollution. According to Carol B., Big Meadows offers "Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water. Elevation above 3000 feet and plenty of deer! It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F."
Natural water features: Many sites offer creek or riverside camping options. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, Tommy S. found "a hidden waterfall across the creek. If you listen, you can hear the loud falls over the normal creek sounds."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds in the region have minimal connectivity. At Laurel Fork Campground, Dave V. notes "You will not have any wifi or phone service (as we found in most of WV)...which was a blessing...love the unplugged freedom!"
Weather considerations: Mountain elevations can bring unexpected conditions. "It takes forever on dirt forest service roads to finally stumble upon this place, making its beauty that much more enchanting," reports Christopher B. about Laurel Fork.
Primitive facilities: Many campgrounds offer basic amenities only. Tim M. describes Laurel Fork as "Very remote. Two small circles of sites the only amenity is pit toilets. The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall."
Road conditions: Access to remote sites may require careful driving. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, Laure D. warns "The drive to the campground (Thorny Bottom Rd. CR 16) was a bit windy but doable. Better to go to Wardensville, WV and down 16 rather than try to cross the mountain near East of Trout Pond."
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with kid-friendly features: Select sites with access to shallow water, playgrounds, or nature programs. At The Cove Campground, Shanna B. reports "they have a small beach, picnic tables everywhere, a volleyball ball sand court, a dock, you can fish in the lake, rent non motorboats."
Plan for temperature fluctuations: Mountain elevations can bring cool nights even in summer. At Big Meadows, Veronica S. observed "And finally, the fireflies are spectacular. At dusk, the ground shimmers, and then after they disperse, you will still see them flit by the tent throughout the night."
Check campground layout: Some facilities have long walks to bathrooms or water. Nancy L. noted at The Cove Campground, "We camped in sites with hookups near office and entrance and the toilets are really far. The showers are even farther-like a 15-20 minute walk with bad signage directing to."
Consider water safety: Lakes and streams may have unique characteristics. At Trout Pond, Fred F. noted "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish."
Tips from RVers
Verify site length: Equestrian camping near Broadway often means accommodating both RVs and horse trailers. At Fort Valley Ranch, Jason G. found "Our site (site 3) was an easy level pull-through site, making the setup/breakdown very quick and painless. All the RV sites were impressively level, with only minimal leveling needed."
Check road access: Mountain roads can challenge larger rigs. At Fort Valley Ranch, Jason G. reports "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us."
Plan for limited hookups: Some campgrounds offer minimal RV services. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, chris J. advises "There are some pretty steep inclines to even get to the campgrounds. Unless you have a powerful vehicle pulling your camper, it would help to release your water supply and fill up when you get to the campground."
Consider seasonal availability: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. At Laurel Fork, Adam W. describes it as "a nice place to go if you are looking to get away from the busy life. It's not a very large camp ground or heavily populated. Finding a spot shouldn't be a problem."
