The Monongahela National Forest region near Cass, West Virginia sits at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, creating a cooler microclimate than surrounding areas. Summer evenings often drop into the 40s even when daytime temperatures reach the 70s. Tent campsites near Cass, West Virginia typically experience afternoon thunderstorms from June through August, with periods of dense morning fog in lower elevation river valleys.
What to do
Hiking the Span Oak Trail: Access this scenic ridge trail from the Little River Dispersed Campsites area. "We hiked the Span Oak trail, at the beginning of the camping area, which led us along a beautiful ridge," notes Tommy S. from Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Swimming in forest streams: Many primitive campsites offer natural swimming opportunities. "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!" reports Tommy S. about Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Fishing at Seneca Lake: Campers can fish or paddle at this small mountain lake. "You can fish Seneca Lake, toss your own paddlecraft in, or rent their boats. You can also swim at your own risk in the Greenbrier River," explains Dave V. from Seven Mile Campground.
Biking the rail trail: The Greenbrier River Trail offers 80 miles of relatively flat terrain. "The Greenbrier River Trail is a delightful bikepacking excursion. Very doable for all ages. I'd recommend road bicycles with tires no narrower than 700x32 or mountain bikes," advises Dave V. from Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite.
What campers like
Secluded creek-side tent spots: Primitive campsites along waterways provide both privacy and natural white noise. "Little river has about 15 campsites along Little River Road. Most are decent, but a few are absolutely gorgeous. I stayed at site 13 last time (which was occupied) but this time at site 9 was just as magical," shares Tommy S. about Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Well-maintained facilities: Despite their remote locations, many tent campsites near Cass receive regular maintenance. "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. Both are very clean and stocked," reports Dave V. from Seven Mile Campground.
Morning wildlife viewing: The forest's creeks and rivers attract animals at dawn. "Camping along it affords great wildlife viewing at dawn and dusk when the animals head to the water to drink. The amount of wildlife we saw throughout the day was incredible while biking the trail. Mostly deer, rabbit, chipmunks and Eastern Box Turtles sharing the trail...but we did see a few turkey, fox and bobcat," notes Dave V. from Greenbrier River Trail MP 69.6.
What you should know
Bear safety precautions: Black bears inhabit the Monongahela National Forest. "We were charged by an extremely aggressive black bear, fortunately with plenty of noise and shouting and slowly backing away we avoided further conflict! But, it was very very close to the site we had our tent! We decided to keep ALL FOOD in the car's trunk those nights and not hanging in a tree just to be safe," warns Luke M. from Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Road conditions to remote sites: Access roads to primitive tent campsites often require 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," shares Tommy S. about Little River.
No cell service: Most tent camping areas lack connectivity. "The campground is fairly linear and quite narrow along a stream gradually ascending...likely termed a 'holler' to West Virginians. This rustic 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...phones are useless (unless at the park office area a mile south)," notes Dave V. from Seven Mile Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Best tent pad surfaces: Look for established tent sites with proper drainage. "Tent pads at established campgrounds are large, raised timbers with a fine pea gravel, leveled and raked. Tent stakes pushed in without much effort but held fast," describes Dave V. about McClintic Point Primitive Campground.
Prepare for temperature swings: Pack appropriate sleeping gear for cool nights. "Nice, first come, first served campground. Toilets were very clean, but just covered a hope in the ground. Beautiful morning, but seems to stay chillier than the surrounding area. It's in a valley and two sites back up to the lake," advises Josh P. from McClintic Point.
Site selection for flat terrain: Some tent areas offer better layouts for multiple tents. "My husband and I stayed her for one night with our dog! We arrived around 6pm on a Friday evening. A couple of the spots were taken but we found a lovely spot in the group campsite - there was no one else there! The group campsite had 5 spots spread around a smallish gravel loop," explains Karli P. from Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Tips from RVers
Small trailer access: Primitive tent sites may accommodate compact RVs with careful maneuvering. "I imagine a small teardrop camper or popup could be patiently maneuvered onto this site (that's a tent camper speaking...larger campers may fit just fine, but you better feel comfortable backing long distances)," suggests Dave V. from Seven Mile Campground.
Alternative accommodation options: Consider unique stays beyond traditional tent camping. "Seneca State Forest also offers pioneer cabins and a 65ft tall Fire Tower for nightly rentals. We stayed in the Fire Tower several years back for a truly epic experience," recommends Dave V. from Seven Mile Campground.
Road conditions cautions: Forest service roads often present challenges for larger vehicles. "Also a warning ⚠️ 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. Just beware and you'll have a great time!" advises Luke M. from Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area.
