Established Camping
Big Bend
About
USDA Forest Service
Monongahela National Forest
Overview
Big Bend is a family-oriented campground along a bend on the South Branch Potomac River in Smoke Hole Canyon. With its convenient position on the river, the campground creates a recreation hub for fishing, tubing, kayaking and swimming. About 1.3 million people visit the Monongahela National Forest each year. The forest is a drivable distance from metropolises like Washington, D.C., and Pittsburg, yet still offers a remote and scenic camping getaway.
Recreation
The Big Bend Loop Trail is a one-mile nature trail that circles the campground. The majority of the trail follows along the river bend. Thirty miles of maintained trails can be found nearby, and mountain biking is permitted on most trails.
Facilities
Big Bend offers 46 sites; 18 sites are non-reservable. Twelve sites on the river loop have tent pads. All sites have a lantern holder, picnic table and fire ring. Drinking water is available. There are two pit toilets, one shower house, and flush toilet restrooms in each loop. There is also a dump and fill station.
Natural Features
Big Bend Campground is in the northern portion of the Monongahela National Forest, boasting beautiful old growth trees that become vibrant with color in fall. The river runs north through the Smoke Hole Canyon, which bears a name of uncertain origin. One theory is Native Americans used the caves of the gorge for smoking meat, which created "smoke holes." Another is that misty fog often lies along the river and ascends in what looks like smoke from a hole.
Nearby Attractions
The Highland Scenic Highway provides an unforgettable drive through narrow, steep valleys and rolling, tree-topped mountains. Estimated time to drive on this byway is two to four hours, and highlights include Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, Summit Lake and Falls of Hills Creek.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
A lovely site in a stunning location
Friendly hosts and campers, well laid out pitches; Big Bend was a welcome break from the more primitive sites we sought out on our trip. Don't be fooled by the various trails leading to the river; it's worth walking left a bit, to find the beach, and don't miss the circular walk right around the river cliffs and back over the top - stunning!
- (5) View All
Rustic
Not the easiest place to haul a trailer into, but worth it.
- (5) View All
Fantastic time
Stayed in the upper loop. Amazing stars, good space at the sites and enough growth between sites that you aren’t on top of each other.
The river and floating are fabulous. Views are gorgeous. No cell service so you can totally disconnect.
4 stars really because there is not ice available at the camp and you have to drive 45 minutes to get it. Which meant we also bought a new cooler so that we could have multiple days of ice. And there is no real hiking from the camp. You need to drive to trails.
But will definitely come back
- (4) View All
Location
Big Bend is located in West Virginia
Directions
Follow 28/55 from Petersburg, West Virginia, for 8 miles. Turn left onto Smoke Hole Road, Route 28/11, and travel for 13 miles to County Route 2. Turn left onto the Smoke Hole Road, County Route 2, and follow for approximately 3 miles to Big Bend Campground.
Address
MONONGAHELA
WV
Coordinates
38.8956944 N
79.2456944 W