East Fork Campground and Horse Stables provides equestrian camping facilities near Mount Solon, Virginia with direct trail access to the Monongahela National Forest. The campground features traditional campsites alongside horse-specific amenities designed for riders traveling with their animals. Horse trailer parking accommodates various sizes, with dedicated areas separate from regular camping vehicles. The campground supports both tent and RV camping options, making it suitable for different camping preferences while maintaining facilities for horses. Campground users often find the stables well-maintained and accessible for both overnight guests and day riders using the forest trail system. The campground operates seasonally from April 1 to November 1.
The surrounding area offers extensive riding opportunities connecting to forest service roads and backcountry trails. Riders can access miles of bridle paths directly from the campground without needing to transport horses to separate trailheads. Water access points for horses are available at designated locations throughout the trail system. The proximity to Spruce Knob and other natural features provides varied terrain and riding experiences ranging from gentle forest paths to more challenging mountain trails. Horse owners should note that while water hookups are available at campsites, bringing supplemental water for horses during peak summer months is recommended. Trail conditions remain accessible even during moderate rainfall, with most routes featuring natural drainage and stable footing for horses throughout the riding season.
"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $75 / night
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"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
"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."
"Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner. Could get muddy if you're there after rain"
"Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."
from $12 / 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!"
"There is Rockcliff lake and small beach area, an overlook (Lina Constable Overlook) to hike to right off the camp loop but it’s 1 mile steep incline at times but worth every step. Gorgeous!"
"The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained. Lots of hiking trails and a very easy one that loops around the Rockcliff Lake."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $105 / night
"I go there to climb and both sites are close to the rocks. I have camped there just about every month of the year. Be forwarded this entire area has no cell service due to the Green radio telescopes."
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.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
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.
ScoutGood facilities for a NP campground
RangerThis is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
GuideGreat summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
TravelerBeautiful spot. The campsite is across the street from the lodge. G-Maps and Apple will take you to the lodge however. Loved the Freeform and “make your own” spot vibe
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
GuideI chose Big Meadows to stay at because my traveling companion is definitely a bit bougie and was anxious about camping in the mountains of a NP. Due to this site having showers, toilets, a laundromat, camp store(s) and even a lodge/taproom, they felt more comfortable. We stayed at site D142, right near the entrance by the registration office and showers. I didn’t expect the site to be so nice and quiet and still feel quite private despite the location! We checked out the loops and besides the tent sites, I actually preferred our site. We stayed the week before Memorial Day weekend and I was pleased with how quiet it was. Quiet hours were strictly adhered without rangers having to ask, other campers were respectful toward each other and we had no issues. The NP staff were awesome and the concession employees for the showers, camp store, and the Wayside grill were genuinely friendly and obviously cared about their jobs, which I sincerely appreciate. Wayside grill with attached camp store was fun and had some great gift items as well as some pretty solid quality hiking and camping items. The grill even had a beyond burger which I greatly appreciated! The lodge was funky but not my cup of tea, the taproom was ok, although the employees were really nice.
It did rain half the time we were there with extremely heavy fog so we only did a few hikes but they were still a lot of fun. We didn’t see any bear either! The number one animal we had invade our campsite on the regular were birds. Two catbirds regularly tried to involve themselves in everything, including landing on a pot of oatmeal I was actively cooking and standing next to! We followed leave no trace of course but any chance the birds got, from catbirds, robins, brown thrashers, towhee, and even a redstart, they would try to investigate.
There is clean drinking water listed on the campsite maps, there are utility sinks for grey water (don’t use the bathroom sink!), bathrooms were always clean and bathrooms and showers are open 24/7 and are well lit. I didn’t buy the firewood so I’m unsure how much it is but the little camp store was open from 9-6 (right by the bathroom) for firewood, ice, and other various supplies.
Only downsides to the site are 1) showers are not cheap ($5 for 10 mins) and don’t stay warm for long so you’re showering in chilly water. Some stalls last a bit longer than others. 2) The biggest issue though was surprisingly the bear boxes. They are quite large and fit a lot of stuff which is great. However, you are expected to keep your cooler in them. I have a bear proof cooler (IGBC) so I’ve never had to experience this situation before. The bear box being made of metal, heated everything up in it which caused rapid melting of ice. Despite pre-chilling it and my ice usually lasting for days and days, we had to refill it daily. The camp store thankfully sold ice (10 lb bags for $5) but it was frustrating that there was no other option for bear proof items. I didn’t fight the rangers regarding it because it’s their rules, it’s for the safety of the bears and people, and the rangers and park staff have enough stuff to deal with.
All in all, I’ve never really glamped before so it was quite a luxurious trip even with the rain and fog for half the trip. I’ll most definitely be back and would even stay at the same site or a tent only site with no driveway.
Equestrian camping near Mount Solon, Virginia provides access to the Monongahela National Forest trail system with elevations ranging from 2,000 to over 4,800 feet. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during day and 55-65°F at night. Trails remain accessible through most seasons, with spring bringing muddy conditions and fall offering prime riding weather with reduced insect activity.
Explore Spruce Knob Summit: Take a day trip from your campsite to West Virginia's highest point at 4,863 feet. "We parked at the summit, descended down and came back up. It was one of the most gorgeous trails I've ever experienced and highly, highly recommend it for a quick weekend backpack," writes Emily S. about Spruce Knob Lake Campground.
Fish stocked waterways: The regional streams and lakes receive regular trout stocking throughout the season. "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," notes Tim M. about Laurel Fork Campground.
Ride the Durbin Rocket: Experience a historical steam locomotive ride adjacent to camping areas. "Nice 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!" shares Harold C. about East Fork Campground and Horse Stables.
Secluded creek-side camping: Find private spots along waterways for natural white noise and fishing access. "Very nice campground with water and electric right on the river for $32, clean bathrooms and showers, and very nice owners," writes Richard about East Fork Campground and Horse Stables.
Dark skies for stargazing: The area's minimal light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. "Download your maps before you come, because there's no cell service and you'll truly get away. In mid April the capmground had plenty of space, but nearby Spruce Knob Lake was encircled by fishers seeking trout from the latest release. You're in the middle of nowhere, so you do have a truly dark sky," notes Jean C. about Spruce Knob Lake Campground.
Dispersed camping options: For those seeking more primitive experiences, the forest offers designated dispersed camping areas. "We picked a spot about halfway into the dispersed camping area, creek side along the Gandy creek. We were closer to the road than we wanted to be but because the past few days had been beautiful spring weather, the area was packed," shares Melanie S. about Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping.
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas have limited or no cellular connectivity. "It's very remote, but your at the top of a mountain so it's gorgeous. Pit toilet, no sinks or sanitizer. Limited running water. They do sell wood from the camp host. Do not expect cell service, we didn't have any for about 45 min driving there," warns Brittany M. about Spruce Knob Lake Campground.
Weather preparation essential: Mountain elevations cause rapid weather changes. "We did this hike in March and there was a thin layer of snow on the ground when we started that quickly accumulated while we hiked and then overnight as we slept. Quick heads up to be prepared if you're going to do this because I definitely got pretty cold," cautions Emily S. about hiking near Spruce Knob.
Flood risk assessment: Low-lying campsites near streams may experience flooding during heavy rains. "I stopped at Yokum's Store to get my camping permit and drove to the Lower Campgrounds by the river. I couldn't figure out why I was the only one picking a choice spot by the river. The first night was great. I should have checked the weather. The skies opened up, a large limb fell on my tent and the water level began rising," recounts Kelly G. about Yokums Vacationland.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region offers excellent animal sighting chances for children. "The amount of wildlife we saw throughout the day was incredible while biking the trail. Mostly deer, rabbit, chipmunks and Eastern Box Turtles sharing the trail...but we did see a few turkey, fox and bobcat," reports Dave V. about Greenbrier River Trail.
Accessible fishing spots: Several locations offer kid-friendly fishing areas. "Spruce Knob Lake is one of my favorite places to visit in the area. It's a great place to take a day trip to for fishing or site seeing. They have an awesome wooded hiking trail that goes around the entire lake approximately 1 mile long," suggests Adam W. about Spruce Knob Lake.
Farm activities: Some campgrounds include agricultural experiences. "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. Free range horses come back at dusk and head out at dawn -- fun to watch from the campground, especially for kiddos," notes Matt about Graves Mountain Farm Campground.
Limited hookup information: Confirm specific hookup details before arrival. "It states online that it's only 15amp electric at 14 of their sites. Mid-August was a gamble as to weather. It was gorgeous weather! We found that sites 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are FHU (not sure what amp electric though)," shares Laure D. about Trout Pond Recreation Area.
Road gradient considerations: Mountain access roads may have challenging inclines. "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," advises Chris J. about Trout Pond Recreation Area.
Site size variability: Expect significant differences in site dimensions across campgrounds. "We were in site 12 which was small for our RV (22 ft total pulled by our F-150) but we worked it out. Site 11 and 13 both look nice and a bit more length to them and have electric (15 amp)," explains Laure D. about managing RV parking at Trout Pond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mount Solon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mount Solon, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 130 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mount Solon, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Mount Solon, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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