Best Cabin Camping near Bowden, WV
Several state parks and private campgrounds near Bowden, West Virginia provide rustic cabins with varying amenities. Revelle's River Resort in Bowden offers cabin rentals with access to drinking water, showers, and toilets. Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground features primitive shelter cabins measuring 10x12 feet with lofted designs and hasps for padlocks. Kumbrabow State Forest, located about an hour from Bowden, maintains CCC-built rustic cabins without electricity or running water, but equipped with gas lights, gas refrigerators, fully-furnished kitchens, wood fireplaces, and outdoor grills. "The cabins don't have water or electricity, but offer gas lights, gas refrigerator, fully-equipped kitchen, wood fireplace, and outside grill and firepit," notes Jennifer B., who visited Kumbrabow State Forest.
Cabin types range from basic one-room structures to more comfortable multi-room accommodations. Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort provides log cabins near the river with no pets allowed, though some visitors report the pet policy isn't strictly enforced. Barnum Whitewater Area offers small cabins for $35 per night and larger cabins for $56 per night, all with electricity. Tygart Lake State Park features "gorgeously remodeled cabins" according to recent visitors. Most cabin facilities operate seasonally, with many closing during winter months. Advance reservations are essential, particularly for unique accommodations like Seneca State Forest's Thorny Mountain Fire Tower, which requires booking months ahead despite its $75 nightly rate.
Most forest cabins provide basic furniture and cooking facilities but require guests to bring their own bedding, towels, and food supplies. Cabins at Kumbrabow include kitchen equipment but no running water, requiring visitors to collect water from central locations. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most cabin locations, creating a true disconnect from technology. On-site camp stores at some locations offer firewood, ice, and basic provisions, though selection is limited. Swallow Falls State Park cabins include mini-refrigerators and comfortable beds with mattress pads, but guests should verify exact amenities when booking as furnishing levels vary significantly between locations. Visitors planning extended stays should bring all necessary supplies, as grocery stores can be distant from these remote cabin locations.
