East Fork Campground and Horse Stables in Durbin, West Virginia provides equestrian facilities with full hookups for RVs and tent camping areas. The campground features electric, water, and sewer connections alongside horse stabling options. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings, with access to drinking water, showers, and toilets. The campground is open from April 1 to November 1 and maintains a high rating from visitors who appreciate the peaceful riverside setting. Horse owners find the stables well-maintained and conveniently located for accessing nearby trails.
The campground's position near the north end of the Greenbrier River Trail creates excellent riding opportunities for equestrians. This rail-trail offers 80 miles of relatively flat terrain ideal for horseback riding through the Monongahela National Forest. Riders can access multiple primitive campsites along the trail for extended journeys. The West Fork Rail Trail provides additional riding options in the area. The campground's riverside location offers natural water access for horses after trail rides. Most visitors find the owners welcoming to equestrians and the facilities clean and well-maintained. The nearby town has limited services, so campers should arrive with necessary supplies for both themselves and their horses.
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"Very peaceful, surrounded by mountains. The campground had stables and catered to people with horses, but we felt very welcomed by the owners."
"We stayed for one night but most of the others staying there had horses and were staying a while."
"It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "
"Sites are well situated, and very private. Especially the walk up sites, they're the real gem. Every site has a picnic table and fire ring."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 - $32 / night
"This was my first stop on my cross country trip from Virginia to California and out of all the amazing places I’ve seen, this is by far my favorite spot!"
"The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through"
"General: There are four campgrounds in Douthat State Park - White Oak, Whispering Pines, Lakeside, and Beaver Dam (equestrian), each in a separate location. This review is for White Oak."
"The hiking and lake is amazing."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $37 / night
"I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets."
"This was our first camping trip to actually visit lake Moomaw in Warm Springs Virginia. We had been close before but never made it to the lake itself."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $85 / night
"Laurel fork campground is 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."
"Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground ( settled deep in the woods) , there were No Bugs to speak of! Tons of wildflowers and butterflies!"
"GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL MILEPOST 69.6 PRIMITIVE CAMPING AREA, Clover Lick, WV The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted C&O Railway that travels 80 miles from Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown,"
"Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite, Located between Clover Lick and Clawson, WV (south of Sharp's Tunnel) The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most"
"**
Kumbrabow State Forest offers lots of great trails, rustic cabins, and a primitive campground.""Beautiful campground located in the middle of nowhere. Quiet and peaceful with a fantastic stream going through the campground to either fish or play in."
from $16 - $60 / night
ScoutOvernight tent camping with my dog. Saw a raccoon in a tree. So private and peaceful. The water and wind at night made for a nice relaxing sleep. Plenty of trails to explore.
ScoutWe were there for a short time Arriving on Aug. 17th. Our trip plan was to see the steam engine trains.
Camp grounds was very clean and well kept. The sites were grass with gravel pads where the camper was placed. We plan to come back again and stay longer. There are a lot of places to visit and enjoy the area site seeing.
The manager was very accommodating. We had a problem with a water line. The manager came over and helped us find parts and repair the water line.
ScoutBeautiful and secluded. Primitive camping area for boondocking or tent camping. Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses.
TravelerGreat spots by the creek. Its nice to wake up by the water and relax with a cup of coffee. Good trails to walk also
RangerThe main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through the campable section, making the bulk of them far from ideal for those with campers or rooftop tents, especially given that it's a dirt road, that will be kicking up dirt onto that rooftop tent.
I am aware of at least three along the road that you can drive into, but I have never seen those few drive-in-able sites unoccupied on a weekend, and typically not on a weekday either.
The campsites themselves are wonderful in just about every other regard. Some of them are dispersed enough that you can see no other campsite from yours, and nearly all of them are much more dispersed then you would get at any typical state park's campground.
Almost all of the campsites also have their own views of and direct access to Gandy creek, which I have never seen not flowing generously year-round. Some of the campsites are in places where the water is pooled enough that you could go wading or swimming in. And all of it is good fishing.
The campsites vary significantly in size and shade, so you can get ones with more sun if you prefer, more shade if you prefer that.
All of the campsites are free and I'm pretty sure that the time limit is two weeks maximum, as it is for all the camping areas throughout the Monongahela National forest.
Are you into hiking? There are seemingly countless trails within walkable distance from campsites and certainly within 10 minutes' driving distance, many of them connecting up at the top so you can make a loop by crossing over from one to another and then back down to the dirt road. From what I have seen those trails are not the most well-maintained however. Which means that it can be nettlesome— literally— as in overrun with nettles— during certain seasons, particularly July and August, so you might want to take a machete with you so you can chop them out of the way as you hike upward.
ScoutI love Gandy Creek! I have camped at 4 different sites and have explored and reconned almost all of them! Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site. My favorite areas are on the creek. Lots of privacy, every site is unique and special in it's own way. There's minimal cell reception and by that I mean you'll be walking along and all the sudden your phone will start dinging because you hit a pocket where you get one bar of reception and the text messages pour in lol! Used to be a gravel packed road but they started some paving last year. I haven't been there in 10 months or so but plan to later this summer.
There are lots of trails, LOTS, all around that area. There's a really cool rock formation where the creek goes under the Whitmer Road Bridge (I forget the name of it). There is a pit toilet on either end of the camping area but you're not really close to one. I totally recommend being self-contained. Dispose of your waste properly, please. It's one of my favorite areas and even when it's hot it's a great place to camp because the elevation and the creek.
ScoutDouthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them (i.e. not Whispering Pines) are located near the lake. Each one had a campground host (volunteer) and wood for sale.
White Oak Campground is larger, wooded, and has a significant elevation change between different sites. Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles.
Beaver Dam Campground is relatively flat and similarly wooded while also providing equestrian facilities.
Lakeside Campground is smaller but the front row sites provide great lake views. Unfortunately swimming is only allowed in the Beach area which is not directly connected to this campground.
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.
The Lakeside Camp Store is nice and has a to-go counter for food. The facilities, overall, were well maintained and clean. Firewood is for sale for $6 per bundle.
TravelerPretty much what a campground should be. Absolutely 0 service. No place to get ice if you’re out. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.
RangerMy family and I liked this campground a lot. We had a camp site that was right against the river with full hookups. This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river and the seasonal campers spread out around. The camp store was nice with everything you need, and the staff and owners were friendly as well. We were there for a long weekend and all agreed we would go back.
East Fork Campground and Horse Stables sits at the northern end of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, an area characterized by forested mountains reaching elevations between 2,500-4,800 feet. The campground's position along the Greenbrier River provides access to an extensive trail network with seasonal fishing opportunities and wildlife viewing. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing from November through March, while summer days average 75-85°F with cooler evenings due to the elevation.
Mountain biking trails: Explore the West Fork Rail Trail accessible from the Durbin area. One camper noted, "We used it as a base for Cass Scenic Railroad, which is not far from Durbin" (Ryan P., Revelle's River Resort).
Scenic railway rides: The historic Durbin Rocket operates adjacent to East Fork Campground. "Adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive. They are doing a train robbery this week, robbers are riding horseback to steal a guarded shipment!" (Harold C.).
Trout fishing opportunities: The mountains near McDowell feature stocked streams throughout spring and fall. "The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall. My wife and I spent our honeymoon here 25 years ago and plan to return there this fall" (Tim M., Laurel Fork Campground).
Stargazing sessions: The area includes portions of the National Radio Quiet Zone with minimal light pollution. "You're in the middle of nowhere, so you do have a truly dark sky. Make sure you have what you need because it's a long way to a spot to resupply!" (Jean C.).
Remote wilderness experience: The horse campgrounds near McDowell, Virginia provide access to secluded forests. "This place feel and literally is in the middle of nowhere. It takes forever on dirt forest service roads to finally stumble upon this place, making its beauty that much more enchanting" (Christopher B.).
Mountain stream campsites: Sites positioned along waterways offer natural cooling and ambiance. "Our site was right on the creek and the sound was awesome for sleeping. Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground (settled deep in the woods), there were No Bugs to speak of!" (Dana M.).
Primitive camping along rail trails: The Greenbrier River Trail offers designated sites for hikers and cyclists. "All you need for a great time, nothing more and nothing less! Free camping (First come, first served), newer Adirondack style shelter, newer large/clean/stocked pit latrine" (Dave V., Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8).
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites provide opportunities to observe native animals. "The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most remote trail I have had the privilege of bikepacking. Wildlife and songbirds were abundant and as shocked to see you as you were them" (Dave V.).
Limited cell service: Many equestrian campgrounds near McDowell have minimal connectivity. "Download your maps before you come, because there's no cell service and you'll truly get away" (Jean C., Spruce Knob Lake Campground).
Remote locations require preparation: Access roads to several campgrounds are unpaved. "Access is by about 6 miles of dirt/rock road. There are many trails at all hiking levels" (Kenneth K.).
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the area close during winter months. "Very friendly. 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!" (Casey L.).
Weather considerations: Higher elevations experience cooler temperatures. "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" (Dave V.).
Stream play areas: Look for camping areas with shallow creek access. "The campground had stables and catered to people with horses, but we felt very welcomed by the owners. This campground in Durbin was great for exploring the north end of the Greenbrier River Trail" (Cindy B., East Fork Campground).
Kid-friendly hiking: Several trails offer manageable terrain for young hikers. "They have an awesome wooded hiking trail that goes around the entire lake approximately 1 mile long" (Adam W.).
Safety considerations: Keep children supervised near water features. "Bring water shoes, the rocks can be sharp. The campsite was spacious and shaded, they do offer doubles for larger groups" (Nicole R.).
Educational opportunities: Visit the nearby Green Bank Observatory. "Pocahontas County is home to the Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a federal complex whose giant single-dish telescope detects 'invisible energy waves' from space" (Cindy B.).
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete services. "The sites are full hook up. The owners Mark and Marsha are super nice and accommodating" (Matt V.).
Limited town services: Stock up before arrival as local communities have minimal resources. "The only slight negative is the town is closed down, so make sure you bring everything you need to eat and drink" (Richard, Bolar Mountain Recreation Area).
River access for RVs: Waterfront sites accommodate larger vehicles. "My family and I liked this campground a lot. We had a camp site that was right against the river with full hookups. This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river" (Kevin C.).
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. "Lengthy dirt road drive to get there, No cell coverage or Wi-Fi, 2 mile drive to bath house" (C.S., Kumbrabow State Forest).
Frequently Asked Questions
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