Dispersed camping in the George Washington National Forest provides tent campers near Star Tannery, Virginia with access to both primitive campsites and established campgrounds. The region's elevation ranges from approximately 800 to 3,000 feet with oak-hickory forests dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures often reach the 80s during day, dropping to the 50s at night, while spring camping can face unexpected rain showers that create challenging conditions on dirt access roads.
What to do
Hike to ridge views: The Veach Gap trail offers a moderate 4-mile hike to ridgeline camping with panoramic vistas. According to one camper at Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site, "You will want to drive in and park at the Veach Gap Trailhead which is listed on Google Maps, then follow the trail and make the left when it comes to the intersection... Pack up all the water you will need for the day/evening/morning." The trail gains about 1,200 feet in elevation.
Fish or swim in the river: Waterfront tent sites along the South Fork Shenandoah River offer direct water access. A camper at South Fork Shenandoah River noted, "The site at the end of the road is beautiful... there are sites you can walk to all the way down the river... We swam and fished."
Enjoy off-road adventures: Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap OHV System provides trails for off-road enthusiasts camping near Star Tannery. One visitor mentioned it's a "Great place to camp at if your car can handle it, if you like to offroad this place is for you or if you like hiking this is also for you."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Campers consistently mention the generous size of campsites at Wolf Gap Recreation Area. A reviewer noted the campground has "a total of 9 campsites. Most sites have a paved parking platform and then a second tier for the camp site. All sites are quite large and include picnic tables, fire rings and large tent platforms."
Easy access to water sources: Little Crease Shelter offers tent camping with convenient water collection points. A camper described, "Water can be collected from the stream nearby" and mentioned the shelter is "far enough in that it's secluded, but the hike's short enough and easy enough to make it a little more luxurious than a regular backpacking trip."
Bear boxes at select sites: Some sites provide bear-resistant storage for food and supplies. At Sky Meadows State Park Campground, a visitor appreciated that "having a bear box at my campsite to store my food/trash/toiletries was so much easier than hanging a bear bag."
What you should know
Road conditions vary widely: Many forest access roads become challenging during or after rain. A visitor to Hawk Campground observed, "The road in is a single lane dirt road with parts of it partially washed away. I would not want to drive on this in the rain. There are minimal turning points so if someone is coming in while you're coming out or vice versa, someone would have to reverse."
Cell service is limited: Phone reception is spotty throughout the region. A camper at Little Fort Campground warned, "this page says that Verizon has limited service but I have a Verizon prepaid plan and I had no service at all starting from about 20 minutes away from the site, so I wouldn't count on having any reception."
Weekend noise levels: Some riverside camping areas can become noisy on weekends. One camper at South Fork Shenandoah River cautioned, "dont disregard the warnings about noise like i did, constant speakers all the time until 4am. i think its out of jurisdiction for park rangers so they wont do anything either."
Tips for camping with families
Try an easy backpacking experience: Sky Meadows State Park offers a gentle introduction to backcountry camping with a reasonable hike-in distance. A visitor shared, "It's about a mile hike in to the campground, which sits in the woods in the park... Sites are large enough for three one person tents."
Look for sites with established facilities: Little Fort Campground provides a balance of wilderness and basic amenities for tent camping with kids. A camper described it as "Great established free campground! We got the last spot around 7pm. Site had a fire pit, table, parking spot, and tent platform... Bathrooms and beer proof trash was provided."
Plan for wildlife encounters: Wildlife viewing opportunities abound but require preparation. At Sky Meadows, a visitor reported, "We had a family of deer pay us a visit each morning" and another mentioned, "At night I saw white-tailed deer and heard owls and cattle!"
Tips from RVers
Know your vehicle limits: Many forest roads present challenges for larger recreational vehicles. At Squirrel Hollow Road Camping, a camper noted, "Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer."
Be self-contained: Dispersed tent camping near Star Tannery, Virginia typically requires bringing everything you need. A reviewer described Squirrel Hollow as "True boondocking, haul it in, pack it out" and mentioned, "Looks like a popular weekend camp spot for locals."
Consider seasonal timing: Off-season visits can provide more solitude. One camper observed, "We camped during the week and had nobody else camping on weekdays," suggesting weekday camping outside peak seasons offers the most peaceful tent camping experience in the Star Tannery area.
