East Fork Campground sits along the banks of the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County, West Virginia at 2,300 feet elevation. The surrounding Monongahela National Forest includes over 919,000 acres of protected wilderness across the Allegheny Mountains. The region offers several equestrian camping options where horses can access extensive trail networks without needing to be trailered between rides. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing with summer days rarely exceeding 85°F.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Douthat State Park provides excellent mountain biking opportunities. "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!" shares Robyn S.
Fly fishing: Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers trout fishing in stocked waters. "Beautiful especially in the fall. Lake is stocked with trout spring and fall. It is an easy drive to many of the local trout streams such as the Gandy, the Glady and Shavers Fork," notes Tim M.
Horseback riding: Trails around Greenbrier River Trail MP 69.6 connect to multiple horse-friendly routes. Dave V. explains, "The Greenbrier River Trail is a mutli-use trail, so there is potential to see bicyclists, walkers, hikers, horseback and in the winter, XC skiers."
What campers like
River access: Campsites along water provide peaceful settings and recreational opportunities. At Bolar Mountain Recreation Area, Nicole R. found that "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."
Dark skies: The region's minimal light pollution creates ideal stargazing conditions. At Spruce Knob Lake, Jean C. comments, "Download your maps before you come, because there's no cell service and you'll truly get away. You're in the middle of nowhere, so you do have a truly dark sky."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, Sandra B. notes, "These sites take a while to get to but they are awesome. Each site is secluded and creek front. We stayed at the last site with the cliff over hang and it was magical."
What you should know
Limited cell service: The region falls within the National Radio Quiet Zone. At Laurel Fork Campground, Tim M. shares, "Very remote. Two small circles of sites the only amenity is pit toilets. The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall."
Road conditions: Access to remote sites requires careful driving. Christopher B. explains about Laurel Fork Campground, "This place feel and literally is in the middle of nowhere. It takes forever on dirt forest service roads to finally stumble upon this place, making its beauty that much more enchanting."
Weather preparedness: Mountain elevations mean weather can change quickly. Dave V. notes about Greenbrier River Trail, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming spots: Look for designated swimming areas with amenities. At Douthat State Park, John R. found "plenty of picnic areas and great fishing as well! In season the lake and creek are stocked with plenty of Rainbow trout. You can keep them for dinner if you like!"
Bathhouse proximity: Choose sites near facilities for easier family camping. At Kumbrabow State Forest, C.S. notes, "Cons: Lengthy dirt road drive to get there, No cell coverage or Wi-Fi, 2 mile drive to bath house."
Kid-friendly water access: Shallow creek areas provide safe play spots. Megan B. shares about Kumbrabow, "Beautiful campground located in the middle of nowhere. Quiet and peaceful with a fantastic stream going through the campground to either fish or play in."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Choose campgrounds with appropriately sized spaces. At Douthat State Park, Jeremy W. explains, "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."
Hookup options: Revelle's River Resort provides full amenities for RVers. Kevin C. shares, "We had a camp site that was right against the river with full hookups. This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river."
Access considerations: Evaluate road conditions before committing to remote sites. Sandra B. cautions about Gandy Creek, "We took our car but the roads were a bit rough and I wouldn't recommend anything too low to the ground."
Legend
