Dispersed camping spots near Durbin, West Virginia offer primitive outdoor experiences between 2,000-4,000 feet elevation within Monongahela National Forest. The area's mountainous terrain creates variable temperatures with summer nights often dropping 20 degrees cooler than daytime readings. Access roads to camping locations frequently require higher clearance vehicles, particularly after rainfall when forest service roads develop washouts and deep ruts.
What to do
Backcountry hiking opportunities: Mower Basin features multiple well-marked trails with varying difficulty levels. "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," notes one visitor at Dispersed camping at Mower Basin.
Mountain biking on single tracks: The trail network around dispersed sites accommodates various riding styles. "I also love this place as it has a small network of single track trails for anyone with a bike, or in my case, Electric unicycle. The trails were well maintained and offered a wonderful variety of wooded and open space riding," according to a Mower Basin camper.
Paddling and fishing: Waterways near campsites provide fishing opportunities without large crowds. At Little River Dispersed Campsites, "When you park and walk down to the river, if you turn right, there's a beach area about 50 yards down that offers a great spot to take a dip!"
Stargazing from high elevations: The absence of light pollution creates ideal night sky viewing. "The moon was bright but you could still see hundreds of stars," reports a camper at Mower Basin, while Island Campground visitors note "it gets darker than dark and the stars go on forever."
What campers like
Complete isolation: The spacing between sites creates privacy even when campgrounds have multiple occupants. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, "Each site is secluded and creek front. We stayed at the last site with the cliff over hang and it was magical," writes one reviewer. Another adds, "The sites are so spread out on the road that each is very private, though you see an occasional car drive by."
Unique forest environments: The high-elevation spruce forests create distinctive camping experiences. At Gaudineer Knob camp sites, "The forest floor is only moss. Like miles of moss and other than the trail that was it. No other trees either. Just Spruce. That combination created the world's most quiet environment ever. You wouldn't hear a marching band if they were feet behind you."
Waterfront camping: Most dispersed sites feature riverside locations. "We strolled up the mountain in our 39ft skoolie. It snowed and we had a really good time!" shares one Mower Basin visitor. Similarly, at Little River Dispersed Campsites, campers praise the "Beautiful spots by the river. Wildflowers and ferns and grassy spots right by the river. Some spots even have picnic tables and fire pits. Nice and quiet."
Wilderness wildlife encounters: Animal sightings enhance the camping experience. "In setting up camp I found two piles of bear scat. One pile was clearly fresher than the other, but still two piles!" reports a Mower Basin visitor, highlighting the true wilderness experience.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Communications technology functions minimally throughout the region. At Mower Basin, one visitor provides specifics: "Nearest Cell tower is here 38.688719,-79.979097" while another notes "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."
Limited amenities: Dispersed camping requires self-sufficiency. At Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area, "The campsites are just pullouts in the road with fire pits. Good quality dirt access road, no problem for my Honda Civic. Got here on a Monday night in late September and there were lots of campsites available."
Road conditions: Access routes require planning and appropriate vehicles. "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," reports one camper, while another warns, "The road is narrow and you'll need to pull off to the side to let cars pass coming in, and the road is riddled with pot holes and is entirely gravel."
Seasonal closures: Some camping areas close for maintenance or weather conditions. "Unfortunately the road is closed for upgrades until spring of 2024," noted a visitor to Stonecoal in fall 2023. Weather patterns also affect accessibility, with spring rains creating muddy conditions throughout the forest.
Tips for camping with families
Fire safety considerations: Teach children proper campfire protocols in wilderness settings. "There was a fire ring by the main camping area, and a fire pit down by the creek," noted a Little River camper. Another adds, "It had rained a lot recently, so the driveway into the site got muddy towards the end, causing us to park half way down. We couldn't get a fire started either of the two nights we were here as everything was wet."
Swimming spots for children: Several locations offer safe water play areas. "The creek rose a few inches one night, so keep an eye on it if there's heavy rainfall," warns a Little River visitor. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, "Several spots along the creek are deep enough for swimming."
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for animal encounters and safety protocols. "Not even 2 minutes from our dispersed camp site we were charged by an extremely aggressive black bear, fortunately with plenty of noise and shouting and slowly backing away we avoided further conflict!" reports one Little River camper, adding "We decided to keep ALL FOOD in the car's trunk those nights and not hanging in a tree just to be safe."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Many dispersed sites accommodate larger vehicles with planning. At Seneca State Forest, RV campers mention the site is "easy to find, the roads are gravel and maintained enough for just about any vehicle to get back there." However, site-specific challenges exist: "Awesome spot in mountain, not too many sites but they are all well marked. Just have to push through some steep gravel roads but we did it in truck and trailer," notes one Mower Basin visitor.
Supplies and provisions: No amenities means bringing everything needed. "You need to bring everything with you and take it all out with you," advises a Mower Basin reviewer. Another camper cautions, "Fuel & small grocery store can be found here 38.710707,-79.979095" and "Minor Automotive shop and tire repair here 38.713085,-79.979352."
Leveling challenges: Terrain often requires equipment for stabilizing RVs. "The sites ranges in size from tent capable to large RV and group sites," notes a Gandy Creek visitor, but many reviewers mention terrain challenges, with one Island Campground visitor reporting, "The other sites were not the most level and hardly had any room/flat areas. Only enough flat area for the picnic table and fire ring."
