Best Cabin Camping near Duck, WV

Recent Cabin Reviews near Duck, West Virginia

179 Reviews of 25 Duck Campgrounds

• K

  Kelly M.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 10, 2019

  River Expeditions Campsites

  Great Company

  This clean and spacious campground lends itself to white water rafting enthusiasts, offering various guided trips down the New and Gauley rivers. The campground has its own hiking/biking trails and zip line canopy tours. It also offers horseback riding and ATV tours. Tent camping is primitive, but the bathhouse is clean and efficient. Luxury cabins, lodges, bunkhouses, and cute Safari tents are available. There is a pool and hot tub near the well equipped gift shop, and the Red Dog Saloon and Grill for when you need a break from camp food. We had a blast on our rafting trip and truly enjoyed our stay.

• S

  Sara C.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 6, 2018

  Ace Adventure Resort

  Excellent campground with tons of activities.

  From whitewater rafting to the waterpark to their 15+ different adventures, Ace Adventure Resort has it all. The tent campsite I stayed at was out in the open and had no privacy, but the bath house was clean. The small cabins are very nice, with more room than it appears from the outside. The hot tub was a great addition for those cold nights after rafting.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 28, 2019

  River Expeditions Campsites

  Ranger Review: Banner and Oak Hats at River Expeditions

  Campground Review: 

  River Expeditions in Oak Hill, WV, is an all-in-one camping-to-glamping resort for outdoor adventures in the New River Gorge where I shared a 3-day adventure with a young lady who was a first-time camper. We both enjoyed the friendly, knowledgeable staff and all the amenities, including an outdoor swimming pool, game room, restaurant and saloon.

  River Expeditions offers tent camping, safari tents, RV sites, bungalows, mini-cabins, deluxe cabins, and even luxury cabins with private hot tubs. Prices range from$15/night for tent camping to nearly $400 for the luxury cabins with a 15% discount for booking online, and a 50% discount from November 1st to March 3rd. All accommodations include a complimentary continental breakfast. 

  River Expeditions is spread out over a 100-acres, with the tent camping located in open meadows, surrounded by trees. The RV camp sites are too close together for my taste and the gravel parking spots are all on a slant, so it would be a challenge for larger trailers to get level there. My camping buddy and I upgraded from my tent to my RV van due to thunderstorms and heavy rain. We selected spot#6 which allowed us to park parallel to the electricity and mostly avoid the downhill slant. 

  The New River Gorge National River has some of the best whitewater rafting in the country, so we booked a trip on the lower New River and it was great! River Expeditions has good gear and great guides like Porter who had us cracking up when he shared some local folklore. He gave us lots of opportunities for a relaxing swim outside the raft. We also got to test the power of a whirlpool and jump off a huge rock, while we paddled downstream through the rapids. 

  The New River Gorge is a climber’s dream, so we booked an evening of rock climbing with David Wolff, Director of the New River Climbing School and he was amazing! I would describe David as an expert instructor, combined with psychological counselor, who helped my camping buddy cope with her fear of heights during the rappelling portion of the outing. 

  There are lots of great hiking trails in the New River Gorge. The 2-mile Endless Wall Trail has been rated the #1 National Park trail by USA Today. The view from Diamond Point is amazing, with the rocky outcroppings overlooking the New River. You’ll often see climbers scaling nearby rock walls and you can watch rafts negotiating the rapids in the river below. Tip: There are two small parking lots which can fill up fast, you may want to arrive early on the weekends. If you have a big party, you can carpool from the Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center which is worth a visit to use their flush toilets and get free trail maps. 

  We also hiked the 3-mile Long Point Trail which gives you an amazing view of the New River Bridge, a steel arch bridge, more than 3,000 feet long, which spans the gorge. If you visit on the third Saturday of October, you can join tens of thousands of visitors who watch dare devils base jump from the structure during the annual Bridge Day celebration. 

  On the final day of our visit, we tried River Expeditions’ 3-part zipline in the pouring rain, something I wouldn’t repeat because I was too soaked and cold to enjoy the experience. I’d describe it as a beginner’s zipline, so if you’re looking for something more dramatic, with better views, you may want to check out the competition at Ace Adventure Resort. 

  The only negative caveat of our stay was a run-in with the resort owner caused by unpredictable hours for the pool and other amenities, which closed early with no advanced warning.  We were threatened with eviction when I used the half-covered hot tub at 9:30 PM after we were told at check in it stayed open until 10 PM.

  Product Review: 

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time, so my camping buddy and I wore Banner and Oak hats during our 3-day adventure in the New River Gorge.

  I want to be honest, without trashing Banner and Oak, because I love their American-made hats and would definitely recommend them. 

  With that said, I’m disappointed that Banner and Oak has apparently abandoned their founding pledge to sell American-designed and fabricated hats, with 95% of the materials sourced in the United States. 

  I noticed the recent change when I opened my sample box and two of three hats inside were made in China and Bangladesh. 

  My favorite hat of the trio is the American-made Banner and Oak Scout with a patch that pleases my soul, featuring the phrase“Freedom To Explore” embroidered across the top with a stars and stripes tent centered underneath. This hat is well-made, with quality materials, and generates positive comments whenever I wear it. 

  The quality of the China-made Banner and Oak Trailhead hat is fine, but the brand is unknown in West Virginia, so when I showed it to other campers, they wanted to know something about the company. I told them Banner and Oak is a relatively new American apparel brand headquartered in Arkansas, so they seemed confused by the“Made in China” tag inside. 

  The hat made in Bangladesh is the Banner and Oak Pathfinder from the women’s line. The quality is noticeably inferior, with puckered seams and the front logo slightly off-center.

  All three Banner and Oaks hats I tested have a list price of nearly $30/each, so my buying preference would be for any style of their top-quality, American-made hats, designed, fabricated and sourced in the USA.

• 

  Bridget H.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 16, 2020

  Ace Adventure Resort

  Adventures Abound

  My daughter and I had a fabulous stay here. We camped in our tent for 2 nights on the mountaintop. We were able to go whitewater rafting one day and then explored the surrounding area on another day. The resort is awesome. They have cabins and they have hot tubs. We want to go back and stay there sometime. The park has so much to do including trails, swimming, and an awesome water park. The campground is very clean and the staff were very helpful. The surrounding mountajns andvalleys are absolutely beautiful. The New River Gorge Bridge is not too far and I highly recommend going there to see it. This area is gorgeous and shkuld not be missed.

• 

  Dave V.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 1, 2017

  Babcock State Park Campground

  Drop Dead Gorgeous!

  Babcock State Park, located in the thriving megapolis of Clifton, West Virginia is postcard perfect! https://wvstateparks.com/park/babcock-state-park/

  The road in off the highway isn't too long, but it seemed long, winding, and up and down...especially as night fell. Driving backcountry roads in West Virginia, at night, is not my idea of fun, as I had several near misses with Bambi and her roving gang of miscreants...having no regard for traffic laws...and one knock down, drag out with minimal vehicle damage.

  One of the beauties of West Virginia...it is a sparsely populated state with open, unchoked roads that lead to some of the most amazing sights. You must be willing to explore, but you will be richly rewarded.

  In the dark, I did pass the campground signs without seeing them and turned into the State Park entrance...wound around past rental cabins to the park office, so I had to backtrack to the campground, which is located in a different area altogether. Driven during daylight hours, the signs are very apparent...so I'm blaming it on the deer.

  We arrived midweek, the first of May, so we did not reserve a site. The campground has 52 sites, so I thought we would have a good shot as a walk-in. No worries...we shared the campground with two other campers. Our campsite (site 32) was on the inner loop of the main campground loop at sits around 2450 ft elevation. The temperature got down to 30 degrees and frost covered everything. Twenty eight sites have electric hook-ups ($28) and twenty four do not ($25). The inner loop has some mature trees but is wide open and close cut grass...every camper has a view of the other. Even the outside sites on the main loop are visible. The smaller loop to the right as you enter and a few sites to the left sit in slightly more wooded sites...but there is no foliage separating sites. There is also sites on the opposite side of the roadway when you enter the campground, but seem more like overflow sites...and a fair distance to trek for the showerhouse/restroom/laundry which is situated on the bottom of the main loop.

  There is plenty of gravel parking pad for large RV/Campers at all the sites and are angled for trailer back-in. Tent pads are not define and grassy (or a muddy mix depending on weather and usage). Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

  The showerhouse/restroom is located at the front of the loop and was spotless and maintained at the time of our stay...but not climate controlled...as in, not heated. The ladies that keep the park facilities clean worked tirelessly. A very nice activity area for kids sat along the inner portion o the main loop.

  The main entrance to the park offers several cabin rental, from economy to 4 bedroom, the park office/visitor's center/gift shop sit along the river. The park office staff were very helpful, friendly and wear many hats...like most state parks.

  This building and surrounding stone structures, retaining walls, and staircases were built by the CCC and are magnificent and in great shape. The beautiful gift shop was once a former park restaurant of a bygone era.

  Ranger Cochrane was a wealth of information about the park, it's history and neighboring parks. He graciously spent time answering my barrage of questions. Ranger Cochrane was yet another tribute to the fine personnel that WV parks have in place.

  The park office is also the best location for postcard perfect pictures of the raging whitewater and gristmill. While not the original gristmill from this location, three remaining gristmills from around the state were dismantled and rebuilt into one at the present location over 30 years ago. The gristmill was very photogenic in the early Spring, but I can only imagine the splendor when the fall leaves change color.

  Whitewater kayakers were readying to put in on the rain swollen and boulder strewn river that feeds into the New River below.

  Boley Lake, a short drive up the mountain is picturesque and well-stoked with fish. You can paddle the 19 acre lake with personal paddle craft or rent paddleboats, canoes or rowboats from the Boley Lake Marina. Fishing is permitted, but you must have proper licensing...which can be purchased online.

  Trails are everywhere and of every terrain and level of difficulty...over 20 miles of trails total. Babcock State Park is 4,127 acres, so there is plenty to see and do. Bicycling can be done on all park paved and gravel roads (no off-road trails), as well as along the Narrow Gauge Trail. And of course, being not too far from The New River and Gauley River...whitewater rafting is close.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 19, 2020

  Kumbrabow State Forest

  Hidden Gem--Unplug and Unwind

  This was my first visit to Kumbrabow State Forest, but not my last!
     
       Kumbrabow State Forest offers lots of great trails, rustic cabins, and a primitive campground. This historic recreation area, carved into this 9,500-acre forest by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, is a wonderful place to unplug and unwind. It’s located at 3,000 feet above sea level on the western edge of the Allegheny Highlands, so it’s the highest state forest in West Virginia.
       I stayed in space #7, located next to Mill Creek, where I enjoyed the relaxing sound of this gurgling stream all night long. Each camping spot has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern holder. There are pit toilets and a pump for fresh spring water in the campground. Two-miles down the road, there’s a bathhouse next to the Kumbrabow forest headquarters.
       If you hike the 2-mile Potato Hole Trail, you'll arrive at the top of Rich Mountain and an overlook with a fantastic view. You can also park at the Kumbrabow gun range and hike the longer, but less strenuous, Rich Mountain Fire Trail which intersects with the Potato Hole Trail.
       Make sure you check out Mills Creek Falls and admire the really cool CCC-built rustic cabins. The cabins don’t have water or electricity, but offer gas lights, gas refrigerator, fully-equipped kitchen, wood fireplace, and outside grill and firepit. My 99-year old mom and her siblings stayed here for their "sister parties" years ago and loved the cabins at Kumbrabow.
       I suggest a side trip to the Highland Scenic Highway where you can admire the Falls of Hills Creek, Cranberry Glades, and colorful foliage during the fall season.

• 

  bobbi L.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 19, 2021

  Camp Holly

  The Most Beautiful Mountain Camp

  Camp Holly is a beautiful campground in the mountains of West Virginia.. Off grid but they do offer Wifi.

  You can choose between hammock, tent, cabin or RV camping, I would recommend tenting it down by the beautiful rivers. The owners are super sweet and more than accommodating.

  This campground has a shop where you can buy necessities you may have forgotten, ice, snacks and fishing gear are also available. The bathrooms are the cleanest and well kept camp bath houses I have ever seen.

  The location is near quite a few waterfalls and about an hour away from the National Forest.. some small towns are nearby as well and worth the visit. Definitely give it a shot! We can't wait to go back!

  We did have some GPS issues on Google Maps, so I would recommend a Garmin or calling for directions before getting lost like we did. It wasn't actually hard to find, but GPS messed with us..

• 

  Dave V.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 27, 2017

  Rifrafters Campground

  Convenient Location

  With impending storms, we chose to rent a cabin midweek at Riftrafters Campground in Fayetteville, WV.(riftrafters.com) rather than set up the tent in the rain.

  Riftrafters Campground is centrally located in Fayetteville right of Rt.19, close to The New River Gorge, rafting, climbing, hiking, biking and some good eateries.

  We stayed in Cabin 5, which offered a few wooden bunkbeds, one table, four chairs, one door and two windows...that's all you get in a camper cabin. Other cabins offer different bed options. No water or restroom/showers in the Cabins. Pricing is based on occupancy, much like tent camping. Which actually places it close to local hotel/motel lodging. Note: Do not anticipate spotless cabins or odor free, comfortable mattress...without heat or AC things tend to get musty.

  Riftrafters Campground offers RV/Camper sites (13) which have water and electric, Cabins (8) no water, but has electric, and several tent areas which are rated primitive. I recommend securing reservations by telephone.

  There is a covered picnic shelter and the showerhouse/restroom is clean, well-maintained and centrally located.

  Within two miles you can enjoy breakfast at Tudor's and lunch/dinner at the Secret Sandwich Society...both of which we frequented. For outdoor equipment needs, I prefer Waterstone Outdoors (waterstoneoutdoors.com), but there is another new business that recently opened between Tudor's and Secret Sandwich Society (secretsandwichsociety.com).

  Obviously, you will search the web for whatever activities you want to engage in, but I recommend paying a visit to The New River Gorge Canyon Rim Visitor Center on the NE corner of The New River Bridge. Rangers there know most of the best trails to hike and how to get there. The Park is 70,000 acres, after all. I'd also recommend Class VI River Runners if you plan on hitting the New or Gauley Rivers...(class-vi.com). Hint: If you really are looking for an experience...run the Gauley in spring or fall during the dam release.

  There is really so much to do in this area that a week is just too short. I gave Riftrafters 4 stars based on their proximity to local activities, but believe they could do much to spruce up the cabins.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 29, 2023

  Babcock State Park Campground

  Lovely State Park

  We picked this state park for a week long stay while we were in the area exploring the New River Gorge National Park. Since we were traveling in the summer and brought our dogs along, we needed a spot where we could leave our doggos in a safe and air conditioned space while we explored. We stayed in cabin 14 which is one of two Vacation Cabins. It had four bedrooms and two full baths along with a nice living/dining area and kitchen. There was also a lovely covered front porch as well as a simple charcoal standup campground grill and picnic table in the yard. The cabin was incredibly clean and well maintained. 

  The grounds are also quite large and lovely. The staff are also friendly and attentive. We enjoyed several of the hiking trails and other features like the historic Grist Mill. There were many other amenities that we did not utilize but were well kept. There was a playground, group picnic area, tennis courts and a-plethora of other lodging options. From tent sites to RV hookups and other types of cabins varying in luxury. The campground also has a coin operated laundry facility that we used during our stay. 

  For some reason I totally forgot to take pictures of the actual cabin! OOPS!

• 

  Leslie R.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 17, 2023

  Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek

  Lovely cabin

  We stayed in one of the cabins for Christmas. We were one of a handful of visitors staying at that time of year. The staff were accommodating of our late-night arrival. The cabins are heated, which kept us plenty warm in the middle of winter. This spot was a short drive away from awesome rock climbing in the New River Gorge.

• 

  Linda D.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 10, 2019

  River Run Campground — North Bend State Park

  Awesome

  It was wonderful for our RV and family staying in their beautiful cabins

• P

  Paul P.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 30, 2020

  Rays Campground

  Best campground in the area and very reasonably priced.

  This is my favorite developed campground in the new river / gauley river area. Known by kayakers and rock climbers. It also has rustic cabin bunkhouses that are also reasonably priced.

• D

  Desireé

  Guide

  

  Dec. 27, 2020

  Ace Adventure Resort

  Never stayed. Only ran

  The area and cabins looked very cozy and welcoming; however, I didn’t stay in one. We hiked and ran in the trail system on site. Beautiful vistas and great opportunities for many activities.

• 

  Jon C.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 1, 2019

  Babcock State Park Campground

  Gorgeous location

  Stayed in the cabins. Small but gets the job done. Stocked with basic kitchenware. Bunk beds are fun for the kids. Some good hiking trails on the state park that lead to the New River. Otherwise plenty of other trails in reasonable driving distance.

• S

  Suzy J.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 24, 2019

  Holly River State Park Campground

  Just Beautiful ‼️

  The Holly River runs clear through the Park, right beside a good many of the of the sites and hanging a hammock and listening to the water, can’t be beat! The staff/Rangers are so wonderful! A small restaurant, gift shop, pool, waterfalls, cabins, trails, it is so calming and relaxing! Love it!

• 

  pranali P.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 28, 2021

  Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek

  Amazing Place for fun with Friends & Family

  This was one of the best place to spend a long weekend with your Friends & Family. We booked cabin for group of 8 people, and room was pretty good enough for all of the members. They have plenty of activities to do including River Rafting. New River Gorge bridge was amazing specially Long point trail was having so scenic view of New River Gorge Bridge.

• 

  Jonda M.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 18, 2019

  Babcock State Park Campground

  Babcock

  Nice campground. The park is spectacular. The most photographed place in west Virginia is the grist mill. Awesome trails all around.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 26, 2019

  River Run Campground — North Bend State Park

  Hikers' Heaven

  North Bend State Park is located at the halfway point of the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, so it’s a great camping spot for hikers, bikers and horseback riders who want to explore this scenic trail which crosses 35-bridges and cuts through 11-tunnels where the B&O Railroad used to travel. 

  I highly recommend this trail to hikers because the scenery is spectacular, the wildlife plentiful, and the tunnels are really cool. The trail passes through some quaint towns such as the former oil boom-town of Cairo where many of the buildings from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s are still standing. 

  North Bend State Park has a year-round lodge, year-round cabins and two campgrounds open from mid-April to mid-November. 

  The Cokeley Campground has 28-sites with both water and electricity, picnic tables and fire pits. The bathhouse includes a small coin-op laundry. It’s close to the boat dock at North Bend Lake. I didn’t select this campground because it doesn’t have much shade.

  I stayed at the River Run Campground which has 49-sites along the shores of the North Fork of the Hughes River with electric and non-electric sites to choose from. Four sites are ADA accessible. Each site has paved parking, a picnic table and fire pit. The bathhouse was clean and nicely tiled with hand soap and paper towels provided. The on-site staff was extremely friendly and you get a generous wheelbarrow full of firewood, cut from local downed trees, for$5. 

  The lodge looked a little dated, but had a good home-style restaurant which was popular with travelers. The year-round cabins have been updated with ADA wheelchair ramps and wraparound decks. I may return and rent one after the campground closes so I can do some cross- country skiing on the North Bend Rail Trail this winter.

  I paddled on the North Bend Lake which was extremely peaceful and beautiful, with the colors of fall surrounding me on all sides. I brought my own kayak, but they had boats for rent. There were several fishermen on the water and on the lakeside dock. They told me they catch bass and catfish at this 300-acre lake. The trail around the lake would be good for birders because I spotted ducks, hawks and wood-peckers.

  North Bend State Park would be good for kids because they have playgrounds, mini-golf and an outdoor swimming pool(closed when I visited in October, but looked really nice).

• M

  Michael F.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 17, 2019

  Stonewall Resort State Park Campground

  Quite possibly my favorite park.

  Stonewall Jackson State Park has been one of my favorite places to visit, especially for a weekend getaway, for a very long time. It was once the best RV or “car camp” camping spot around, but it has become a fairly popular tourist resort and the noise and light from the lodge can be disruptive to those seeking nature’s peaceful separation (hence 4 stars instead of five for camping). Aside from this, the park has much to offer for just about anyone. It has everything from an Arnold Palmer golf course, to hike/bike trails, to any type of water activity possible on a lake, as well as various indoor facilities to enjoy during inclement weather.

  As I grow older, I find myself spending more time at the lodge than at the campground. Inside the lodge you will find an excellent restaurant and bar, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, spa, equipment rentals, etc.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 5, 2019

  Stonewall Resort State Park Campground

  Upscale, Pristine, A Little Pricey

  Stonewall Resort State Park is now the official name of this mountain retreat located around the edges of Stonewall Jackson Lake.  It's not your typical WV state park because it's managed by a private developer which means that Benchmark Management gets to set the pricing for the lodge, cabins and campgrounds.

  It's not outrageous, but I paid $55/night mid-week for a 30-amp site which could run about $35/night at a state-run resort such as Pipestem.

  What you get for the extra cash is a well-staffed, beautifully-maintained resort with every imaginable amenity including boating, fishing, swimming, a Palmer golf course, disc golf and tennis.  You can rent boats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, road bikes and even segways.

  I would say the Stonewall Resort Lodge is geared to upscale out-of-state tourists, but l could see locals using it for anniversaries, romantic getaways, and special occasions.

  The campground is upscale, as well, with 30 and 50-amp full-service RV sites, many with lake views and some with tie-ups for those who bring their own boats.  I chose a spot under the pine trees where I was close enough to the lake's edge so I could hand-carry my kayak to the water for a peaceful paddle.  

  There are a limited number of tent sites, with wooden platforms, tucked into the woods where kayak or canoe access would be right outside your tent flap.  There are a half-dozen hiking trails, mostly easy to moderate difficulty, with a total of 16-miles to explore.

  If you get sick of camping, or would just like to sip an adult beverage, there's a boardwalk across the lake to the lodge patio where you can sample one of three restaurants or visit the outdoor bar.

• l

  laura M.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 3, 2022

  West Virginia Adventures Campground

  No people, but no staff

  Site was accessible, and we could get into the bathhouse. The cabins and picnic facilities look to be first class. Water and power worked.

  But there isn’t a soul on site, and we didn’t get a confirmation email as was promised by the reservation system. No wifi at all. No maps to let us know the property boundaries. There is a lot of junk laying outside the locked buildings.

  The site is near the freeway, and you can hear the road noise.

  I’d skip this site out of tourist season.

• 

  Zayne W.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 18, 2019

  Rays Campground

  Nice Place

  Friendly owner. Friendly campground dog who likes to roam free and check on tenants. Stayed one night on 9/8/19. Campgrounds was dog friendly. I was able to let my well behaved dog off leash to play frisbee for a bit and walk around. $18 for two people. Has showers. Sites are mostly level, wooded and the grass was mowed nice. Not a lot of dirt or mud which is always a plus. Had AT&T and Sprint cell signal. Most campsites filled by dark except for the cabins. Just pull in, stop, pay the lady and pick a spot.

• 

  Aspen H.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 22, 2022

  Ace Adventure Resort

  This place is goals for my own business ventures

  Everything you could ever want at a campground. The main reason to visit is for WHITEWATER RAFTING ON THE NEW RIVER AND GAULEY!!! Woohoo. It recently became a national park and it is a renowned area to raft. Class 1-5 rapids. This giant facility has zip lines, a bar(love it, great local selection, pool tables, and live music), a lake with giant wipe out inflatables, cute cabins, disc golf, ATV, mtn bike program, bike trails, hiking trails, a trail that leads to Thurmond, WV. Request Dalton, Jeremy aka Squatch, Ash Manning, Preston, or Annie Byrne! Great bathroom facilities at the campgrounds.

• M

  Megan B.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 18, 2020

  Kumbrabow State Forest

  Nice Secluded Campground

  Beautiful campground located in the middle of nowhere. Quiet and peaceful with a fantastic stream going through the campground to either fish or play in. Some of the campsites are smaller and less private than others. We stayed in campsite 11, and it had plenty of privacy and space. In all reality, that campsite could easily be made a double because it’s really good sized.

  Picture of the waterfall is at the cabin area of the park. You would have to drive from the campground to there. Picture of the creek is down the hill from the campsite.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 3, 2019

  Tawney Farm

  Kayakers' Dream-- Whitewater Wonder

      Tawney Farm is part of a growing trend of agrotourism in West Virginia where farmers allow visitors to camp on their land.

      The proximity to the Gauley River makes this primitive campground an ideal place for kayakers to stay during the whitewater season in September and October.  That's when the meadows and hills around Tawney Farm will be filled with tent campers ready to ride the rapids.

       James and Susan Tawney are the perfect hosts because they're super nice and sincerely interested in talking about their sheep farm, the history of Panther Mountain, and the best places to swim, fish and kayak on the Gauley River.

      I enjoyed a couple nights of "glamping" when I stayed at the Tawney Farm "Nut House," appropriately named because James crafted it from recycled wood, including cherry, beechnut and black walnut. 

      The primitive cabin has electricity, a full-sized roll-away bed and a futon.  There's no bathroom or running water, so I used the clean port-a-potties and community propane-heated shower and had access to a fire pit and charcoal grill.

       Great hospitality!  James prepped my fire pit with free wood and Susan made sure I had plenty of charcoal, then loaned me BBQ tools so I could grill my dinner without scorching my hands.  

       The Wild and Woolly Primitive Campground includes a group area where guests can cook, wash their dishes, and hangout.  There's a small store with raw wool crafts, fresh farm eggs and black walnuts, plus and a stage for live music during the peak season.

       I wanted to make sure I got some nice photos of their sheep, so James and Susan brought the flock down for a closer look and encouraged some young guests to pet them.

       The access road to Tawney Farm is gravel with a tree growing in the middle, so take caution at night.  The nearby roads leading to the Gauley River National Recreation Area are in good shape but a little nerve-wracking because they're so narrow there's not much room to get out of the way when you come face-to-face with tour buses shuttling paddlers to and from the Gauley River.

       I checked out Mason Branch and Woods Ferry where I enjoyed some nice hiking, paddling and swimming.  Since it was summer, the kayakers I spotted were using "rubber duckies" so they could negotiate the rocky river without getting stuck.

       Mason Branch has an unmarked, unmaintained trail near the parking lot where you can see a couple of nice waterfalls.  There's a trail to the left of the lower falls that takes you to a higher waterfall the locals call "Janie's Hole."  The story I heard is Janie was a young lady who died after she either fell or jumped from the top of this falls.

       There's another interesting local story about the nearby Summersville Lake.  This crystal clear lake was created when an earthen dam was built that covered the small farming community of Gad with water.  My 98-year old mom says no one wanted to call it the "Gad Dam" because it sounded like they were using the Lord's name in vane, so they settled on the next closest town and named it the Summersville Dam.  Water released from this lake in the fall is what creates the world-class whitewater on the Gauley River.

• 

  Sarah C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 29, 2023

  Ace Adventure Resort

  This place has exploded!

  I have been to this facility in the past, like 20 years ago, and revisited this summer (2023) and wow has it exploded! There is a ton of infrastructure and people everywhere. There are multiple lodging options from decked out cabins to rustic tent camping. If you're into amusement park style activities with an outdoor spin, then you won't get bored here but nothing is free and lot's of the activities will require an additional fee, though packages are available. There's several food options on site as well. Not my jam anymore but I'm sure families with young kids will love it.

  It is conveniently located to the New River Gorge National Park!

• 

  Lauren R.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 12, 2020

  Rifrafters Campground

  Mid-sized, quiet, & convenient to lots of recreation areas

  We stayed one night at site 34 in the back of the campground and loved it. It was quiet, with both shade and sun; it also had a wooden deck and nice picnic table. The back seems to be for small RVs and tents (we have a teardrop). We opted for a water and electric site; there is a dump station in the front of the park. The middle and front of the park was for larger RVs, tents and several cabins that were too close together for our preference. A 3 mile drive to long point trailhead and only 20 minutes from the beautiful Summersville lake. The campground has a bathhouse and store but we didn’t use either so can’t comment on those amenities.