Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

Bear Tree Recreation Area

Sarge's Pay Lake and Campground is located 300 yards off the Creeper Trail in Green Cove, Virginia. Sarge's offers primitive camping with a stocked trout pay lake. Groups that frequent Sarge's are the Scouts of America, Trail Life, motorcycle groups of the Iron Mountain Trail, church groups, and the Girl scouts of America.

For fishing, Sarge's offers catch and keep at $6.00 for each fish caught. I will clean your catch for a nominal fee or you are welcome to use my cleaning station. I also offer catch and release with artificial lures only. The price is two fish for $5.00. At Sarge's, a fishing license is not required, and I supply the equipment and the baits for catch and release only. All of my trout are over 12 inches long with some well over 20 inches. The campground and pay lake are open by appointment only.

The campground is open in March (weather depending) through November. Due to the size of the campground, reservations are needed especially for the weekends. Free WIFI, firewood, drinking water. Cost is $20.00 per standard two person tent per night. A public bath house is not available, but Port-A-Potties are on site.  Eno stands are available. 

Sarge's Pay Lake and Campground

Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground

Beartree offers a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere and a variety of recreational activities. Located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the campground boasts a sprawling layout with both group and individual campsites. A small creek flows through the campground, offering a refreshing spot to wade and fish.   

Beartree Lake is also located within the recreation area, providing an ideal spot for swimming and fishing.

Recreation

The campground offers two fishing piers, and smallmouth bass, sunfish, rainbow and brown trout are all possible catches.  

The Beartree Lake Trail, which circles the lake, is excellent for hiking. Half of the trail is paved for an easier walk.   

The 14-acre lake hosts an annual fishing derby for kids in October.&nbsp;

Facilities

Tent and RV campers are welcome. Drinking water and a water fill-up station are provided. A dump station is located on the left side of the road before the contact station as you enter the campground. Each site has a grill and picnic table, and most are secluded from other sites. The group picnic shelter accommodates 50 guests and most group sites fit 24 guests.

Natural Features

The campground is located in diverse vegetation, and Beartree Lake is surrounded by dense trees that meet the shoreline.   

The Mount Rogers Scenic Byway passes near the campground, highlighting the impressive valleys, mountains, forests and rural countrysides of western Virginia.

Nearby Attractions

The Appalachian Trail, which extends more than 2,175 miles throughout the Appalachian Mountains and across 14 states, is accessible nearby.

ADA Access: N



Beartree

Open in July 2013, the 15-site RV park, located along the scenic Laurel Creek in Damascus Virginia is open year-round. The RV park provides a great spot from which to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and the many attractions of Damascus which is also the gateway to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and is a destination for families wanting to experience the out-of-doors in a relaxing setting. In addition, many campers enjoy the convenience of Laurel Creek RV Park as a base of operations in order to take time out and explore this amazing tri-state area!



Laurel Creek RV Park

Creaper Trail Campground is the best place to camp while riding the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail.  We are a small mountainous campground in the Appalachian Highlands with great hiking and outdoor recreation opportunities.  We have RV sites, primitive tent sites and group sites.

Creeper Trail Campground 

The campground has 10 single campsites, including two double sites within Backbone Rock Campground. The campground has flush toilets. Each site contains a table, fire ring and lantern holder.

 The pavilions at Backbone Rock Recreation Area are popular locations for family reunions, weddings and other types of group gatherings. The two pavilions are in distinctly separate areas. Pavilion #1 is larger and adjacent to a large field, Beaverdam Creek and large parking area. Pavilion #2 is in a more secluded setting down old stone steps and along Beaverdam Creek.

 Natural Features:

 Backbone Rock Recreation Area is located along Beaverdam Creek in northern Johnson County. Backbone Rock gets its name from a spur ridge on Holston Mountain that ends abruptly at a bend in Beaverdam Creek. A tunnel was drilled through the rock in 1901 to allow railroad access between Shady Valley and Damascus, VA. Motorists pass through what is locally known as "The shortest tunnel in the world" as they travel along TN 133.

 Recreation:

 There is a trail that will take you to the top of Backbone Rock, following a stone-step wooded path. The trail crosses the rock and leads to Beaverdam Creek or Backbone Rock Falls. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail adjoins Backbone Rock Trail. Beaverdam Creek is known for its excellent fishing.

 Facilities:

 There is a CCC-era pavilion at each site with picnic tables and grills. The larger pavilion, Pavilion #1, includes a stone fireplace and four large picnic tables with additional tables and grills nearby. Vault toilets are located within the parking area. Pavilion #2 also has an original stone fireplace, four tables and nearby grills and additional tables. Parking and a vault toilet are located across the street from the picnic area.

 Nearby Attractions:

 Damascus, Virginia is five miles north of Backbone Rock for any in-town needs.



Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions and Campground

George Washington & Jefferson/Grindstone

Greenway Creek Golf and RV Park

At the intersection of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia state lines, sits this national forest which offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek. Opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling are abundant.  The Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail are just minutes away, as well as some easy whitewater paddling fun on the White Top Laurel Creek.

  

Most of campsites are large, very shaded, along a beautiful treelined road, and surrounded by mountains. There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared. The only major problem is that folks tend to leave a ton of trash around, so we often spend about 20-30 minutes cleaning these sites upon arrival. Please Leave No Trace! 

  

Our site had a good fire ring, and was on the edge of a creek that we could filter water from with ease. We stayed at this camp for 3 weeks during the pandemic shutdown and it was a perfect place to ride out this crazy storm and decompress from some anxiety. 

  

The closest town is Damascus, VA, about 12 miles away. The town is small, but draws thousands of tourists each year who are either hiking the Appalachian Trail or cycling the famous Virginia Creeper bike path. It is equipped with a decent sized grocery store, gas, and couple of restaurants, and a cute downtown area. There is absolutely no cell service at this camp, you have to go into town or hike a local mountain to get service up high.

Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

About This Campground

Features

For Campers

Access

Reviews

2021 Explorer Giveaway

Creekside Camping

Location

Coordinates

Nearby Campgrounds

Bear Tree Recreation Area

Sarge's Pay Lake and Campground

Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground

Beartree

Laurel Creek RV Park

Creeper Trail Campground

Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions and Campground

George Washington & Jefferson/Grindstone

Greenway Creek Golf and RV Park

About This Campground

Features

For Campers

For Campers

Access

Report Content

Report Content

Location

Coordinates

Nearby Campgrounds

Bear Tree Recreation Area

Sarge's Pay Lake and Campground

Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground

Beartree

Laurel Creek RV Park

Creeper Trail Campground

Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions and Campground

George Washington & Jefferson/Grindstone

Greenway Creek Golf and RV Park