1 campground with availability next weekend
Fairy Stone State Park Campground allows horses through its specialized equestrian campsites located within a scenic area of southwestern Virginia. Trail riders can access multiple interconnected riding paths directly from the campground, with dedicated trailer parking available for day-use visitors and overnight campers. The park maintains clean facilities for equine guests, though no permanent horse corrals are available on site. Campers must bring portable corrals or use high-lines for their horses. The camping area sits close enough to the main trails that riders can easily return to check on their animals throughout the day. Sites remain available year-round with spotless facilities maintained even during winter months.
The Greenbrier River Trail offers primitive equestrian camping experiences approximately 70 miles from Salem. This 77-mile former railroad corridor provides multiple camping options with water access points along the route for horses. Trail conditions vary seasonally with some muddy sections after heavy rainfall, particularly in heavily wooded areas where the trail was cut from the mountainside. Riders appreciate the well-maintained surface suitable for horse travel and the multiple primitive camping areas situated along the route. Several areas feature Adirondack-style shelters, raised tent pads, picnic tables, and metal fire rings. Hand pump well water is available at designated sites, though functionality may vary seasonally. Horse owners should carry water purification equipment as a backup when planning extended rides on this trail system.
"The Yurt we stayed in was a little weird because the Fire Pit and Picnic table is behind and almost under the yurt, down a decently step slope and the yurt sits on stilts on the back side."
"This weekend was a great adventure in SW Virginia. We stayed in a Yurt. It has no electricity or water but the bath house was close."
Available next weekend
from $27 - $345 / night
"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 next 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 next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $85 / night
"Traveling West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail from it's Northern Terminus at Cass Railroad, Stumptown to it's Southern Terminus in North Caldwell has created a thirst that can only be slaked by multiple"
from $30 - $60 / night
ScoutThis is a nice little place with level sites and easy shower/restroom access. I thought it was a little pricey and we had to drive to the lake, but it's a nice place to paddle board or kayak because they don't allow motor boats. They have a nice beach that our kid liked. You also have to the fairy stone hunting ground - we didn't find any. But there's a cool hiking trail with a couple of abandoned mine entrances.
ScoutBeautiful campground, all sites are paved with designated tent pads,h20,and power 20/30/50 amp. There is plenty to do at park fairy stone hunts, paddling, hiking, beach etc.
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.
ScoutCute place off the freeway with water access and a playground, 6 mile hiking trail to waterfall and not far from town. There is a train station nearby and the trains are loud. They come by every now and then night and day, they do live music some nights and church gatherings where a man basically yells all night long. Lots of freeway noise so the nightly fee is kinda stupid considering you won't get any sleep if you stay here. The river is super planted so I wouldn't swim here either sadly.. and the showers have NO water presser yet you gotta pay for a bathroom key otherwise there's porta-potties by the dumpster.
ScoutSwimming in this beautiful and very swimmable and safe lake is limited to a kiddie area - useless if you're looking for exercise. Count on a ranger yelling if you go elsewhere despite the absence of "no-swimming" signs. (Lots of signs about not feeding the wildlife). Tennessee state parks, for example, allow swimming in huge lakes swamped with jet-skis and speed boats. Lake Norris, Harrison Bay... What's wrong with "swim at your own risk?" No cellular signal which can be a plus. Old fashioned pay phone available for the generation that knows how to operate those.
LegendWe were in site #5. It was not level yet nothing in the mountains is level. The electric showed 30 & 50 amp yet the 30 amp was disconnected and that's what we need. We had to use the 50 amp hook up. The electric bo is on the wrong side of the site, most in this loop are on the wrong side. We filled with water this loop you have to fill with water.
The site was nice sized and shaded.
There isn't any cell service yet near the camp loop 2 the loop below ours behind spot #10 as you walk to the lake at a specific spot you can get service.
The lake is beautiful. Our neighbor was catching nice fish out in his boat. Many different kinds of fish and very nice sized brown trout.
There is a swim beach which you can launch a kayak or canoe from the beach.
The Marina is closed yet there is a boat launch near the marina.
They really need to update the campground area's was told it was all closed for a few years too bad they didn't update the campgrounds.
There isn't much around so bring your supplies with you. There is a small general store that sells somethings and gas but it's not a real grocery. They did sell excellent Virginia peanuts there.
favorite campsites are:
Campground 1
sites 9 and 2 were my favorite. Sites 2, 3, 9 & 10 the electric boxes are on the correct side.
Campground 2 sites 44 and 45 are nice with water & electric.
Sites 47, 50, 53, 54, 51 and 55 have no hook ups yet they are waterfront sites.
Campground 3 there is a boat & trailer storage area.
Best sites are 69 and 70 with water & electric.
No hook ups 64, 88 and 89 are waterfront.
They had a problem with the water in our loop so the bath house was closed and they had port o potties in front of the bath house. The day use area is big and was not crowded at all. There were many people camping in our loop it was very quiet.
LegendGeneral: 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. White Oak has 31 sites and It was full when we were there on a Tuesday in mid-October.
Site Quality: All sites (except 17 and possibly 18) appeared level and were very generous in size with long driveways. Many trees separate the sites. A picnic table, lantern hook, and fire ring complete the site. Sites 22-29 are tucked further away from the others and the bathhouse.
Bathhouse: Clean and modern. Showers were available but I did not use them so I cannot comment on how well they worked.
Activities/Amenities: A dishwashing sink, fish cleaning area, and many hiking trails throughout the park, including one (to Blue Suck Falls) that has access directly from the campground. We hiked this but the waterfall was just a trickle when we were there!
We met friends here, so it was nice to have adjoining sites. Bear warnings were posted throughout the campground, but we didn’t see any!
GuideThe park is so beautiful. The sites are a little rough but easy to level your rig. The park has great trails around it, they can be pretty challenging when it comes to elevation gain. The lake is wonderful. They were updating cabins when we were there last, they look great. The showers were clean and the bathroom was the same. The host was a nice gentleman. No Verizon service or WiFi. We go here to get away.
Equestrian camping near Salem, Virginia offers access to extensive trail systems within the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 feet, this region experiences mild spring and fall temperatures with summer highs rarely exceeding 85°F. Winter camping remains available at several locations with reduced crowds and seasonal wildlife viewing opportunities.
Trail riding at Explore Park: Located off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Don's Cab-Inns Campground, riders can access mountain trails within minutes of setting up camp. "All new facilities and only $25 a night. electric on the site, water and dump station located nearby... mountain biking. quiet location," notes Terry F.
Hunt for fairy stones: These unique staurolite crystal formations make for a memorable activity at Fairy Stone State Park Campground. "We loved all the ranger programs, especially finding all the fairy stones," shares Bonnie T. The park offers guided hunts during summer months.
Water activities at Lake Moomaw: The 2,530-acre lake at Bolar Mountain Recreation Area provides multiple access points for horses to drink. "We had the pleasure of having a campsite with lake view and access both times. Campground 2 site 53, has a nice private beach area where you can go fishing or swim," writes Nicole R.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained amenities. "The bathrooms were impeccable and close to the cabins," reports Bridget H. about Don's Cab-Inns. Similar praise comes for Douthat State Park Campground: "The bathrooms were incredibly clean and heated. Showers were terrific as well," says Diane P.
Swimming options: Many sites offer water access points that horses can utilize. "The lake is nice, and there is nice hiking along the shore," mentions Thomas R. about Douthat State Park. During summer months, designated swimming areas operate with lifeguards present.
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse animal populations. "We saw lots of deer roaming around," notes Katie M. about Fairy Stone. Bird watching opportunities peak during spring migration with over 100 species documented in the area.
Trail conditions vary seasonally: Wet weather can impact riding conditions, particularly at Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 9.5. "Blow-down did slow us down a few times... Trail conditions got soft and muddy after the previous night's deluge through the more heavily wooded areas, once the trail was exposed to constant sun, it dried quickly," reports Dave V.
Limited cell service: Many campsites have poor or no connectivity. "No Verizon service or WiFi. We go here to get away," states Keith F. about Fairy Stone State Park. Bringing printed maps and directions is recommended.
Weather preparation: The mountain climate can change quickly. "In late June 2020, weather along The Greenbrier River Trail was cooler, with late afternoon/early evening rain showers," notes Dave V. Pack layers regardless of season.
Educational opportunities: Bolar Mountain Recreation Area offers child-friendly programming. "There's hiking, fishing and a beach. The marina has a store if you forgot something," shares Nicole R. Rangers conduct junior naturalist programs during summer weekends.
Kid-friendly water features: Multiple locations offer swimming areas designed for children. "The lake is perfect for little ones and even grownup kids," Ryan Z. mentions about Fairy Stone. Most designated swimming areas maintain a gradual entry point suitable for younger visitors.
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play structures. "They had a great playground for the kids nearby," Katie M. notes about Fairy Stone State Park. These areas provide entertainment when not on horseback trails.
Site selection for large rigs: Choose locations that accommodate horse trailers with living quarters. "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," advises Jeremy W. about Douthat State Park.
Water access points: RVers with horses should consider proximity to water sources. "Each campground has a host and they have firewood for sale, so bring cash," suggests Nicole R. about Bolar Mountain. These hosts can direct you to suitable watering areas for horses.
Year-round availability: Some locations remain open during winter months. "One of the few campgrounds open during the winter with facilities," Stephen D. mentions about Don's Cab-Inns. Winter camping offers solitude and different trail experiences compared to peak season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Salem, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Salem, VA is Fairy Stone State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Salem, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Salem, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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