Best Dispersed Camping near West Augusta, VA

Searching for a dispersed camping spot near West Augusta? The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your Virginia camping adventure.

Best Dispersed Sites Near West Augusta, VA (22)

    Camper-submitted photo from Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area

    1. Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area

    11 Reviews
    6 Photos
    406 Saves
    West Augusta, Virginia

    Braley Pond Day Use Area is a very popular access to multiple trailheads including Ramsey's Draft Wilderness. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this universally accessible area perfect for family picnics, or plan to stay overnight in the adjacent dispersed camping site.

    No dispersed camping allowed in picnic area.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • ADA Access
    • Dispersed
    • Trash
    • Toilets
    Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

    2. Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    57 Photos
    408 Saves
    Brandywine, West Virginia

    This colossal lake is a sight to behold. The surrounding forested mountains appear to just drop into the lake, making for scenery reminiscent of majestic paintings by the late Bob Ross. The lake should be checked during migration and winter for waterfowl. At other times of the year, it could host great blue and green herons and, on occasion, a bald eagle or osprey may drop in to pick out a bass for dinner. The neighboring hillsides are heavily wooded and host many woodland birds. Pileated woodpeckers can be heard as their loud raucous call reverberates across the lake. American goldfinch twitter overhead and ruffed grouse and wild turkey stalk the roadsides. Careful exploration is sure to reward the butterfly enthusiast; tiger and spicebush swallowtail, question mark, silver-spotted skipper, and American painted lady have been spotted here. There is little reason to doubt why they frequent this site as Black Eyed Susan, milkweed, wild columbine, and Queen Anne’s lace abound. Note that because this lake serves as the main water supply for surrounding towns, swimming and gas motorboating are prohibited. Camping is restricted to areas further down Skidmore Fork Rd/Switzer Lake Rd with less accessible sites past the second river crossing. Be sure to secure any food overnight as black bears are known to frequent campsites in this area.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • ADA Access
    • Tents
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
    Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
    Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
    Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
    Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
    Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob

    3. Flagpole Knob

    7 Reviews
    38 Photos
    242 Saves
    Brandywine, West Virginia

    Forest Road 85 travels 3.6 miles to the summit of Flagpole Knob, wobbling along the top of the Alleghany Mountains following the border between Virginia and West Virginia. This high elevation access route brings the wildlife watcher into habitats not encountered elsewhere on the North River Loop of the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

    5. Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    1 Photo
    83 Saves
    Warm Springs, Virginia

    Hiking and fishing opportunities are abundant at Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area. Enjoy hiking trails that meander along the Jackson River, or break out that rod and reel as the trout stocked waters are popular amongst fly and traditional fishermen alike.

    • Tents
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Dispersed
    • Toilets
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Spy Rock
    Camper-submitted photo from Spy Rock
    Camper-submitted photo from Spy Rock
    Camper-submitted photo from Spy Rock
    Camper-submitted photo from Spy Rock
    Camper-submitted photo from Spy Rock
    Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
    Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
    • No image available

      8. Switzer Lake

      1 Review
      13 Saves
      Brandywine, West Virginia

      This colossal lake is a sight to behold. The surrounding forested mountains appear to just drop into the lake, making for scenery reminiscent of majestic paintings by the late Bob Ross. The lake should be checked during migration and winter for waterfowl. At other times of the year, it could host great blue and green herons and, on occasion, a bald eagle or osprey may drop in to pick out a bass for dinner. The neighboring hillsides are heavily wooded and host many woodland birds. Pileated woodpeckers can be heard as their loud raucous call reverberates across the lake. American goldfinch twitter overhead and ruffed grouse and wild turkey stalk the roadsides. Careful exploration is sure to reward the butterfly enthusiast; tiger and spicebush swallowtail, question mark, silver-spotted skipper, and American painted lady have been spotted here. There is little reason to doubt why they frequent this site as Black Eyed Susan, milkweed, wild columbine, and Queen Anne’s lace abound.

      Note that because this lake serves as the main water supply for surrounding towns, swimming and gas motorboating are prohibited. Camping is restricted to areas further down Skidmore Fork Rd/Switzer Lake Rd with less accessible sites past the second river crossing. Be sure to secure any food overnight as black bears are known to frequent campsites in this area.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Dispersed
      • Picnic Table
      • Alcohol
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
    Showing results 1-10 of 22 campgrounds

    Recent Dispersed Reviews in West Augusta

    86 Reviews of 22 West Augusta Campgrounds


    • KThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Oct. 29, 2024

      George Washington National Forest off 812

      Anniversary Trip!

      We had the absolute best time. It was so peaceful being by the creek and just relaxing. You are off the road of the national forest so cars come by but nobody bothers you and it stays quiet. Will definitely be back soon!

    • SJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Reservoir Road Dispersed Campsite
      Oct. 29, 2024

      Reservoir Road Dispersed Campsite

      Very long road to get there

      Went in August and it was very buggy, also had someone park pretty close which when I drive down a really long dirt road that is questionable for my van, i want it to be private and this was about 5 miles of dirt road to get to it.

    • SJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Oct. 26, 2024

      George Washington National Forest off 812

      Mostly quiet spot, need some clearance in some spots.

      Multiple road sites that fit my van with room to spare - 80% were full on a beautiful fall Friday evening around 6pm but still snagged one

    • Katrina L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Sep. 16, 2024

      George Washington National Forest off 812

      Labor day weekend

      August 31, 2024, Labor Day weekend camping trip. Spent a night here camping with my younger sister.  She could only do one night, as she lives up north and had to be back up by Monday to go back to work on Tuesday. We arrived around 10:30am, we got everything set up before we ventured out. Very nice spot we found, very quiet except for nature. Best sounds ever. We visited the Natural bridge, which was about 20 minutes or so from the camp site. It did some light rain from around 8p til sometime after midnight, but stayed comfy and dry.

    • WThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Sep. 5, 2024

      Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

      Beautiful views

      Very quiet, beautiful views, amazing drive from VA. Multiple campsites and they all have beautiful views. I have T-Mobile and had signal only by the first campsite for some reason. I had no signal for almost two hours heading towards VA.

    • WThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
      Sep. 5, 2024

      Flagpole Knob

      Enjoyed the drive and stay

      I drove to Switzer Lake first and from there stayed on the trail all the way to Flag Pole. The drive took a few hours but was a ton of fun. There are a few good spots up there and it gets fairly busy.

    • Kelly K.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Sep. 4, 2024

      George Washington National Forest off 812

      More Spots Available!

      We came for this site specifically but it was already occupied so we kept going down the road. Luckily there were 4-5 additional site & we got one for 3 nights. They are all lovely & creekside with fire pits & there is a hike at the end of the road that takes you to a gorgeous summit & links to AT!

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Flagpole Knob
      Jun. 26, 2024

      Flagpole Knob

      They Said....

      They said, no way, I chuckled. They Said , you need a high clearance vehicle, I cleared my throat. They said, you need 4 wheel drive, I SAID "ILL SEND YOU PICTURES!!!" what an Amazing view, don't use me as an example , you definitely should not drive your 2018 Ram ProMaster 2500 159 wb campervan up that road like I did. so now that that's clear how about some pics?.it's absolutely pouring down rain and hail. how about some security cam footage?

    • kylie B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
      Apr. 18, 2024

      Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

      Terrible road to get in

      I drive a low vehicle so it probably wasn’t the best idea to make my way in but i was exhausted and needed to rest a couple days . The road was the worst and really not worth the drive in . The sites were trashy , glass, bullet holes in trees and bullet shells . The sites were fairly decent size but you really have to drive way in to get to them . I won’t stay here again although it was really beautiful on the drive out . The lake is gorgeous .

    • Jim M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area
      Mar. 19, 2024

      Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

      Great "out of the way" spot

      Great camp site!! I pulled in while passing through the area, it was a short ride off the highway and the road in was nice. Quiet spot with a nice grassy level area. will definitely stay here again when I get back up this way.

    • DThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Camping Site off FR 812
      Mar. 14, 2024

      Dispersed Camping Site off FR 812

      Great Option

      Large open space with several flat areas for tents. There are several spots on this road, maybe 6 but this is the furthest off the road. There are hiking trails and easy access to the stream.

    • Emil D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
      Dec. 31, 2023

      Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

      Nice area the camp spots can use some work

      I have been camping here for the past 10 years. Beautiful area and pretty secluded dispersed campsites. Over the years, it seems that some people leave more trash here, but not always. Please do NOT camp next to the lake even if you see fire rings. If the rangers come (which they did twice in 10 years), they will be very upset with you and make you pack up.

      The road is a mix of gravel but also dirt so it can become muddy during rain. If you follow the road, there is a river crossing that will take you to additional camp spots. The road beyond the river can get more tricky for low clearance vehicles.

      There are bears here, so lock up your food in the car. We have encountered a bear at or around the campsite 3 times.

      The fishing is decent, and we have caught some trout there in the past. There is a boat ramp at the lake, but only electric motors and paddle boats are allowed.

      Just a heads up, there is no cellphone signal for any carrier from what I could tell.

    • Paige H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      Oct. 14, 2023

      Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

      Weekend stay

      We drove In Thursday evening intending to go to stonecoal but the road was blocked off so we headed out to mowers basin and were lucky enough to snag this beautiful view. The few people we did encounter were friendly.

    • NThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed
      Oct. 13, 2023

      Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed

      Hard to find.

      This campsite is another one we found on a list provided by Shenandoah’s park rangers and was listed as moderate hike and easy camping. I think, just like some other on the list, the easy camping might be a slight exaggeration. It was not particularly easy to find and we couldn’t find a super great spot. Good views on the hike.

    • LThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
      Sep. 18, 2023

      Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

      Beautiful area!

      I made a spontaneous trip this past weekend. Easy to find and a beautiful area. Some things to note- the lake front campsites fill up quickly and they are not drive in. Since I sleep in my Jeep, I needed a drive in spot. I drove past the lakefront sites and there are a few really nice spots right past the paved bridge on the dirt road, some next to the creek and some out further. I drove down a path that would not be accessible with a car, however there are spots closer to the dirt road that you don’t need a vehicle with high clearance. I’ll definitely be going back!

    • Wild Berries B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from George Washington National Forest off 812
      Sep. 9, 2023

      George Washington National Forest off 812

      Perfect for one night stay

      Went with our little teardrop trailer (13ft), no issues with the road and enough space at the spot for both car and the trailer. Quiet place with a creek and fire ring. Previous folks left us some firewood, thank you! No bear encounter.

    • Todd C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Gaudineer Knob camp sites
      Aug. 21, 2023

      Gaudineer Knob camp sites

      Moss covered pine forest of silence

      Just wow! First off, it's not a campsite, it's day use only, but I got there too late to go anywhere else. The forest floor is only moss. Like miles of moss and other than the trail that was it. No other trees either. Just Spruce?I think it was spruce but I'm not a treeologist. That combination created the world's most quiet environment ever. You wouldn't hear a marching band if they were feet behind you. It was super erie to camp in, but also the most peaceful and amazing spot I've been to in years. I loved it! I did the old growth loop down the road too. The whole place was magical.

    • Matt M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
      Jul. 27, 2023

      Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

      Beautiful, but...

      My site was great. It was an established site with a fire ring. It had a large clearing with a pretty flat spot for my tent. I accessed the site on my motorcycle. You wouldn't get a car/truck to the site. The trail is only about 30 yards. I am not sure I was in a camping allowed spot though. Some reviews say you have to go farther down the road. So there is that. I need to get more specific guidelines. Regardless, it was a great night if camping. I was pretty discouraged by the amount of trash. I grabbed as much as I could fit, but I didn't have extra bags or extra room, being the bike.

    • Karli P.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Little River Dispersed Campsites
      Jul. 22, 2023

      Little River Dispersed Campsites

      Secluded but Accessible

      My husband and I stayed her for one night with our dog! We arrived around 6pm on a Friday evening. A couple of the spots were taken but we found a lovely spot in the group campsite - there was no one else there! The group campsite had 5 spots spread around a smallish gravel loop.

      Just a heads up, the road to access these campsites is tucked in the back of a residential area. We missed it the first time by and had to turn around!

      If you are just passing through or staying a while, this is a great dispersed camping area!

    • DThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
      Jun. 21, 2023

      Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

      Great For No Hassle One-Night Camping

      I only stopped there one night on my way through to Delaware, but it was just what I needed. Great views too, it was quite windy though on the lake. Might be something to keep in mind. Most vehicles should be fine coming in off of 33. From what I hear from another camper, it is rough coming the other way with anything other than something that can scale rocks

    • Mystic S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed camping at Mower Basin
      May. 3, 2023

      Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

      Incredible views, large private sites, easily accessible hiking trails

      This has been the best spot I've found so far in terms of what it offers. It's easy to find, the roads are gravel and maintained enough for just about any vehicle to get back there, the views are truly incredible with great star gazing opportunities, and MOST IMPORTANTLY it is absolutely littered with marked hiking trails.

      Following the road all the way to the final site you will cross paths with no fewer than 5 distinct and different toughness hiking trails, there are likely more, but I was only there for a week and would usually just do one trail a day.

      I saw forestry trucks coming in and out during the day, day hikers, and the entire week that I was there I only saw 3 other cars coming in to camp. But the sites are so spread out/the foliage is so thick that you can't see or hear anyone.

      This is a spot that I will make a special trip to go back out to, just to enjoy those trails and views again. In the months that I've been slowly moving across the country, this is 1 of 2 sites that I will FOR SURE come back to. I'll probably invite friends from out of state to make a several hours drive to hangout there, it's that good.



    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near West Augusta, VA?

      According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near West Augusta, VA is Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area with a 5-star rating from 11 reviews.

    • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near West Augusta, VA?

      TheDyrt.com has all 22 dispersed camping locations near West Augusta, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.