Tent campgrounds near Burnsville Lake in West Virginia include a mix of established and dispersed sites scattered throughout the surrounding Monongahela National Forest. Little River Dispersed Campsites offer secluded tent camping along a stream, while established options like Bear Heaven Campground and Day Run Campground provide more structured tent-focused experiences. These sites typically sit within dense forest settings that showcase West Virginia's characteristic mountain terrain and waterways.
Most tent sites feature unpaved surfaces with fine gravel or natural forest floor serving as tent pads. Bear Heaven Campground offers spacious wooded sites with basic vault toilets but no running water, requiring campers to treat water from nearby streams. Day Run Campground provides lantern poles, fire rings with cooking grates, and picnic tables at each site. One camper noted, "Nice size sites for tents with lantern pole, fire ring with grate for cooking on, and picnic table." Wildlife considerations are important, as this is bear country; proper food storage is essential, with some campsites providing bear-proof trash receptacles.
Walk-in tent sites along the Greenbrier River Trail offer a different experience from drive-in locations, with several primitive campsites positioned at various mileposts. These sites typically include raised gravel tent pads, pit latrines, and fire rings, making them suitable for overnight stays during multi-day hikes or bikepacking trips. A visitor to Little River Dispersed Campsites described the area as having "wildflowers and ferns and grassy spots right by the river. Some spots even have picnic tables and fire pits." The surrounding forest creates opportunities for wildlife viewing, especially at dawn and dusk when animals approach waterways. Tent campers should prepare for limited or no cell service throughout the region, which contributes to the sense of wilderness isolation that makes these areas appealing for backcountry camping experiences.
"There’s a couple fire rings up by the parking spot, but we chose to set up a little closer to the creek. It rained a lot while we were there but there were ample trees to set up tarps."
"Some spots even have picnic tables and fire pits. Nice and quiet."
"About ten tent sites with firepit, picnic table, clean concrete vault toilt. No running water or showers. Close to Elkins and half hour from Davis."
"Vault toilet and trash. A few minutes down the road from the Bickel Knob fire tower."
"There is a tiny wooden vault toilet at the base of site 9, across the campground road from the well pump. Halfway up the campground roadway from the entrance is a newer, larger vault toilet."
"GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL MILEPOST 69.6 PRIMITIVE CAMPING AREA, Clover Lick, WV The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted C&O Railway that travels 80 miles from Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown,"
"Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite, Located between Clover Lick and Clawson, WV (south of Sharp's Tunnel) The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most"
from $100 / night
"Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, Watoga, WV West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail** (GRT) **stretches from its Northern Terminus at the Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown"
TravelerBeautiful camping sites along the river! This is a small State Park, but packs a punch with some beautiful trails, and direct river access from almost half of the sites. Nice camp store and heated, full bath houses with showers. Note that sites are gravel….so if tenting bring a cot and/or some extra cushioning. Wi fi is available within close range of the camp store. I was at Site #8.
TravelerThere are 25 or so established sights at Mower Basin and you're bound to find one with an incredible view of the mountains. Sight 12 took my breath away, but unfortunately as a tent camper the wind pushed us down to the lake sight just passed it. It was close to the road but still felt private. Everyone who passed our sight was very friendly. It's a gorgeous place, and from someone who's never been to Virginia, it was the perfect place to have my first experience. We will probably go back when we are heading back down south.
TravelerThis review is for the primitive boondockers like myself. It's a very established campground, full amenities, restaurant, gift shop, the works. I thought we would find a primitive campground with much more privacy based on the details and reviews of the grounds. The primitive camping spots are all in view of each other down a long stretch of dirt road. They're very clean and come with trash cans at each sight, which was nice. We were the only tent campers so it was enjoyable, but I don't know if I would have had the same experience if there were a lot of campers. I think that's a very important and left out detail about this location for the people who enjoy a more private environment. I'm still very happy with my stay, and the staff is absolutely WONDERFUL. They're all so kind and went out of their way to provide us with information when we had questions they didn't know the answer to, everyone who works there is a delight. 25$ a night felt a little much to sleep in our tent, but the showers, clean bathrooms, and care put into the property made it worth it. Waterfalls nearby as well. I'd stay again.
TravelerHuge campground. Well maintained. The lake is gorgeous, great for kayaking or paddle boarding
TravelerThis was a gem of a state park. It's small and older (which for me is a feature, not a bug), all entirely walkable with a central bathroom, camp store and playground at the heart of the campground. We had a site on the back of the campground that was larger than most (lots of small sites) and could fit our big tent set up. It rained like the dickens for a one of the days we were there and there was a drainage river running THROUGH our site that could have turned into a problem. Luckily the rain stopped in time and our site drained quickly. Despite all that, I loved our stay. It was VERY busy when we stayed, but I liked how it felt like a family retreat, where kids were safe to hop over to the playground to play with other kids, we could take walks right to the river for swimming or (after the rain) "viewing". If you can catch a dry weekend, this campground must be utter perfection. Would probably be dicey in sustained rain, especially if you're on the river itself.
ScoutIf youre looking for away from people. Away from most people youll be. Well taken care of.
ScoutOn west side of Summersville lake, 18 free first come campsites, drive-in, level. Vault toilets, no water. Picnic tables, grill and fire ring. Access to free swimming across road at winter boat ramp. Sandy beach swimming down the road for $5. Lake is clear and warm.
ScoutOnly one campground on the east side of Summersville lake, run by private family. “Primitive “ sites have no paved area to park. Just picnic tables on the grass, close together, hilly, and no shade. $25-45/ night. Across the lake on the west side we stayed at Gauley Tailwaters cg, 18 drive-in sites, Army Corps of Engineers, Free. Access to swimming across the road at the winter boat ramp.
RangerWe thoroughly enjoyed this camp spot right on the river. LOTS of different birds. And it was so quiet!
Tent camping in the Burnsville Lake region of West Virginia offers a mix of forest settings and water access amid the state's central Appalachian terrain. The elevation ranges between 1,200 and 2,500 feet, creating microclimates that can shift quickly from warm days to cool nights even in summer. Sites throughout Monongahela National Forest are typically open from April through November, with limited winter camping available for experienced backcountry campers.
Hiking to Bickel Knob Fire Tower: Bear Heaven Campground serves as a convenient base camp for this scenic viewpoint. "A few minutes down the road from the Bickel Knob fire tower," notes camper Ann P., who visited this primitive site with its spacious wooded camping areas.
Stream fishing opportunities: Little River Dispersed Campsites provide direct water access for anglers. "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," writes Tommy S., highlighting the dual-purpose water access available to campers.
Mountain biking along the Greenbrier River Trail: This rail-to-trail conversion offers 80 miles of relatively flat terrain for cycling. "The trail itself is recorded at differing lengths depending on what you read, but we started at MP 80...at Cass Railroad Station," explains a camper at Greenbrier River Trail MP 69.6, describing the crushed gravel and two-track trail conditions ideal for mountain bikes.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region's abundant wildlife makes for excellent nature watching. "Because of its relative remoteness and light traffic, wildlife flourishes along the GRT. This is bear country," notes a visitor at Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, who observed numerous animals during their stay.
Private waterside camping: Secluded spots along streams provide peaceful tent camping experiences. "Seven Mile Campground is one mile north of the park office and initially feels odd from a security standpoint as there is no formal gate or entrance and no cell service," writes Dave V., who enjoyed the "bubbling brook that leads to the stream, passing along the inside of the two sites...and the water's melody lulls you to sleep."
Historical railroad connections: The region's railroad history enhances the camping experience for many visitors. "Lost cell service an hour before reaching the area. Utterly beautiful, pretty untouched wilderness," reports Luke M. from Little River Dispersed Campsites, highlighting the remote feeling that attracts many tent campers to Burnsville Lake's surrounding areas.
Road conditions can be challenging: Access to some campsites requires careful driving. "We drove in from the south, through Durbin, which is almost 7 miles on a pothole ridden dirt road. Dangerous for RVs, great for those looking for an escape," explains Tommy S. about Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Wildlife safety considerations: Proper food storage is essential throughout the region. "We decided to keep ALL FOOD in the car's trunk those nights and not hanging in a tree just to be safe," writes Luke M. after a close encounter with a black bear near his tent site at Little River.
Water sources vary by location: Not all campgrounds have potable water. "Bear Heaven Campground offers spacious sites with fire pits. Vault toilet and trash. No drinking water (bring treatment methods for the stream)," explains Ann P., highlighting the need for water planning at Bear Heaven Campground.
Choose campgrounds with clear boundaries: Sites with defined tent pads work well for children. "Nice size sites for tents with lantern pole, fire ring with grate for cooking on, and picnic table," notes Christy M. at Day Run Campground, describing features that help contain family camping areas.
Look for shallow water play areas: Some sites offer kid-friendly water access. "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," recommends Tommy S., highlighting Little River's accessible swimming spot.
Consider camping historic significance: Educational opportunities abound for children. "I camped here 20+ years ago when I (a city girl) had just started camping and I still think about how awesome this place was," reflects Jen S. about Bear Heaven, adding that "This place helped inspire my love of camping and being outdoors."
Size limitations are strict: Most tent camping areas near Burnsville Lake cannot accommodate larger vehicles. "About 7+ miles in from the town of Durbin on a dirt road (not sure how that would go in an RV but easy in a small vehicle)," cautions Erik C. at Seven Mile Campground, where sites are primarily designed for tent camping or very small trailers.
Limited hookup options: Plan for self-contained camping without services. "We stayed at site 9, which had a nice gravel pull through. A large raised tent pad is between the site driveway and the campground road... I imagine a small teardrop camper or popup could be patiently maneuvered onto this site," describes Dave V., noting the tight configuration even at established campgrounds.
Weather-related access issues: Rain can impact road conditions significantly. "The driveway into the site got muddy towards the end, causing us to park half way down," explains a Little River visitor, highlighting how West Virginia's "wet" reputation affects vehicle access even in summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
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