Dispersed campsites throughout Monongahela National Forest provide primitive camping near Parsons, West Virginia at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 4,000 feet. The region experiences significant temperature variations, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and dropping to 50-60°F at night. Most campsites remain snow-covered until mid-April, with spring thaws creating exceptionally muddy conditions on forest roads.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Access multiple trails from Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area, where campers report "There was a trail at the turnaround, but it was completely washed out once we got into the woods. Nice area, right on Shavers Fork of the Cheat River."
Winter camping: Attempt cold-weather camping at Canaan Loop Road Dispersed where one camper noted, "We camped here on a winter road trip fully prepared for the worst weather and this mountain top dispersed site delivered. It was muddy and snowy but our Subaru made it fine about half way into Canaan loop road."
Fishing: Cast for native trout at multiple stream locations. According to a visitor at Lower Glady, "Nice camp sites, and good fishing." Fishing licenses required from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Mountain biking: Ride the well-maintained trail network at Dispersed Camping at Mower Basin where one enthusiast discovered "a small network of single track trails for anyone with a bike... The trails were well maintained and offered a wonderful variety of wooded and open space riding."
What campers like
Stream access: Many sites offer direct water access. 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!"
Privacy between sites: The spacing between campsites provides solitude. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, "the sites are so spaced out on the road that each is very private, though you see an occasional car drive by." Another camper noted, "We picked a spot about halfway into the dispersed camping area, creek side along the Gandy creek."
Multiple fire pit options: Many sites feature more than one established fire ring. At Little River Dispersed Campsites, "There's a couple fire rings up by the parking spot, but we chose to set up a little closer to the creek."
Natural swimming holes: Several creek-side campsites offer swimming opportunities. One camper at Gandy Creek reported, "Several spots along the creek are deep enough for swimming."
What you should know
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather changes rapidly. A Canaan Loop Road camper advised, "The scenery was gorgeous but don't come here in the winter unless you are prepared for any kind of weather event. It's very secluded and you need to definitely be self sufficient."
Wildlife awareness: Black bears frequent these areas. At Little River, "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!"
Off-season advantages: Visit during weekdays or shoulder seasons for better site availability. At Lower Glady Dispersed Campground, one camper complained, "We tried to get a spot this weekend and arrived around 430pm on Friday. Every single spot was taken with many people who look like they have been set up there all summer."
Road conditions: Access roads deteriorate significantly after rain. A camper warned about Little River, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose pull-in sites for easier setup with children. At Lower Glady, "Sites are level and have good back-in driveways. Fire rings are large."
Stream-side locations: Select sites with safe water access for children. A camper at Canaan Loop Road noted, "road is easy to drive on- some bumps but we were in a small kia sedan and it was fine, there are a lot of spots visible from the road but there are also some hidden a few steps away from the road that are tricker to see while driving... there's a stream that goes by some."
Bathroom facilities: Most primitive camping areas lack facilities. However, at Stonecoal, "Two vault toilets along the long road." Similarly, Lower Glady features "a vaulted toilet" that one camper found was "one of the cleanest I have seen."
Trash management: Pack out all waste. At Little River, campers noted, "While the wilderness is beautiful and untouched, the previous campers left behind some sweet teas and cans, which probably is why the wildlife was so close."
Tips from RVers
Site capacity: Several dispersed areas can accommodate smaller RVs. At Lower Glady, "We pulled our 28 foot travel trailer in past I'd say ten other campsites that were taken. The last big turnaround featured four rv accessible campfires for us to pick."
Road navigation: Most roads require careful driving. At Canaan Loop Road, one RVer advised, "If you come in from the east, it's a very well maintained road for any vehicle (RVs may have trouble turning around), but the last mile or two you need a 4x4."
Seasonal closures: Check for road closures before traveling. One camper at Stonecoal reported, "Unfortunately the road is closed for upgrades until spring of 2024."
Turnaround space: Look for adequate space to maneuver larger vehicles. At Mower Basin, "the roads are gravel and maintained enough for just about any vehicle to get back there," though "we did it in truck and trailer" through "some steep gravel roads."
