Douthat State Park offers horseback riding opportunities beyond its equestrian facilities at Beaver Dam Campground. The park's 4,500-acre property in Bath County sits at elevations between 1,400 and 2,400 feet. Trails throughout the park connect to several scenic overlooks with mountain views and provide access to a 50-acre lake.
What to do
Fishing access: Douthat State Park Campground provides fishing opportunities at the lake. "The lake is nice, and there is nice hiking along the shore," notes Thomas R., who adds the park is "not too big and pretty quiet."
Mountain biking: The park features trails for riders of various skill levels. "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!" reports Robyn S.
Train experiences: At East Fork Campground and Horse Stables, visitors can watch the historic Durbin Rocket steam locomotive. "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.
What campers like
Campsite privacy: The campgrounds offer varying levels of seclusion. "The sites are large but there really aren't trees between sites although we were on a corner and so had some sense of privacy," explains Diane P. about her November stay at Douthat State Park.
Stargazing opportunities: Red Oak Campground at James River State Park provides excellent conditions for astronomy. "The park is part of the Dark Sky Parks Association and if you are into astronomy and stars this is the place to stay," writes Bridget H., noting it's been designated an International Dark Sky Park.
Recreational water access: Bolar Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Moomaw offers swim spots both at designated beaches and near campsites. "Campground 2 site 53, has a nice private beach area where you can go fishing or swim. Bring water shoes, the rocks can be sharp," advises Nicole R.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. At Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, Dave V. points out, "This is West Virginia, so even in populated areas cell service can be spotty...but on the trail, I would not count on it."
Wildlife encounters: The region has abundant wildlife including bears. "We rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear," reports Robyn S. about Douthat State Park. At Greenbrier River Trail, "A Father/Daughter duo trailing us observed a juvenile bear not far off the trail mid-day."
Weather considerations: The region experiences variable weather patterns. "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," shares a camper at Greenbrier River Trail.
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Horse campgrounds near Newport, Virginia offer learning experiences for children. Douthat State Park provides "fishing, lake swimming, hiking, educational opportunities galore," according to Cathy L., who describes it as "a favorite of ours for years!"
Kid-friendly facilities: James River State Park Campground offers facilities designed for children. "The park has miles of trails, a playground, marshland, and it is right on the James River with multiple river access points," explains Bridget H., adding that "the rangers here are very interactive and very helpful."
Activity planning: Schedule ranger-led programs when available. "We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night," shares a camper about their weekend at Red Oak Campground.
Tips from RVers
Campsite selection: Choose sites based on your specific needs. At Bolar Mountain Recreation Area, "Our camp hosts were friendly and very helpful. The views were amazing and beautiful," notes Kim R., while Mandi R. adds, "the host was a really sweet older gentleman and he wanted to make sure we got the best view."
Hookup availability: Equestrian campgrounds vary in RV accommodations. At Greenbrier River Trail MP 69.6, facilities are primitive with no hookups, but include "Newer Adirondock Style Shelter, Newer Large/Clean/Stocked Pit Latrine, Raised Tent pad (pea gravel), Cold well water - Hand pump, Metal Fire Ring," according to Dave V.
Seasonal preparation: Weather varies significantly by season. "We use a teardrop camper so we appreciated the water and electric hookup (although we disconnected the water at night to prevent freezing)," shares Diane P. about her November visit to Douthat State Park.
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