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North Bend State Park offers multiple pet-friendly camping options near Ellenboro, with both River Run and Cokeley campgrounds accommodating pets. Tent sites, RV spaces with water and electric hookups, and cabins welcome dogs throughout the park. River Run Campground provides riverside camping with easy access to the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, perfect for hiking with dogs. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and clean shower facilities. Cokeley Campground features spacious, well-maintained sites with 50-amp electrical service and water hookups, though campers note most sites lack shade. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities with modern bathhouses. The park's extensive trail system includes the popular rail trail which crosses 35 bridges and passes through 11 tunnels, providing excellent opportunities for dog walking and exploration.
Pet owners appreciate the park's outdoor recreation options, including fishing in North Bend Lake and wading in the Hughes River. The campgrounds remain quiet despite attracting many visitors, particularly mountain bikers and hikers using the rail trail. Mountwood Park Family Campground, another pet-friendly option, offers additional camping with electric sites, showers, and access to ATV trails. When traveling with pets to these campgrounds, visitors should be prepared for varied terrain and weather conditions. The rail trail provides an excellent, well-marked path for dog walks with tunnels and bridges adding interest to the journey. Park staff maintain clean facilities and are noted for being friendly and accommodating to guests with pets.
"Initially, you don't see it...you must drive up and over a roller."
"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"
"Love this place. 1st time ever in West Virginia and this park was up to the task of making a great 1st impression of the state.
Great hiking with well marked trails.""My dad and I stayed at the lodge in NBSP in May 2023 after riding bicycles for 26 miles from West Union on the rail trail."
"Especially if you have a dog. Across the street, the park portion of this campground has a dog park, playground, historical site and pond for fishing FYI ."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
Check Availability"Close to the restroom there’s a picnic table, tentspots and a manual water pump. A lot of insects, humid and dense deciduous forest surrounding the trailhead. The Kinderhook trail was overgrown."
"Very quiet at night, except for a handful of cars that might drive through or spend the night. I spent two weeks here and had zero issues with people being loud or causing a ruckus."
"Pets are welcome, though there’s no dog park, and families might find it a bit dull since there’s nothing for kids to do. For me, the simplicity was part of the charm."
"He has so much info on where to eat and what to see in the surrounding areas. The guy bends over backwards for his guests."
from $25 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $55 / night
Check Availability"This is a horse trail camp. There is a vault toilet,a few trash cans,a water spigot and plenty of room for horse trailers. There are some trails you can walk or ride on."
"As we drove around the trailhead, we found a second designated site. The forest website says dispersed camping is allowed and fires are allowed with a 10 foot clearance and a ring of rocks."
"This campground is just off Hwy 26, but far enough away from town that there isn’t much traffic. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern pole. "
"This is a great drive in campsite perfect for family and friends to get into the woods for a bit."
"Very close to the nice little downtown Marietta, Ohio but still very rural location. Large sites. Great staff. Absolutely love this place. Slow pace and quiet."
"The highway traffic can be a little loud in the morning if you're on that side of the property, but who wants to sleep when there are trails to hit!"
RangerOn the border with West Virginia. There aren’t really sites on the water but there’s a nice path to the lake from the camp sites and lots of deer. We spent most of the time on the water (there’s a power limit on the boats) but the campsites were nice in a simple kind of way (showers but no flush).
TravelerThis campground was perfect. It’s up on a hill and the sites are spaced out pretty well. It’s behind a hotel. Our site had room for our 26’ hybrid with 3 beds, plus two cars, chairs, and our two dog tie outs. I loved that it was near the main highway but up on a hill so you didn’t hear the traffic. The pool is part of the hotel property and the campground is allowed to use it anytime it’s open. There is a grocery store and a Walmart within a mile. There is also a small dog park on site. Sutton lake was about ten minutes away. I definitely recommend this campground.
RangerWeekend get away with the wife and dog. Pet friendly park. Walking path to the lake which was very close. Would advise to visually check the sites, due to terrain which is rolling.
ScoutOnly stayed for a night but it was very quiet and only a handful of other campers. All the sites seemed relatively level. Some of the electric hookups had damage but being able to choose your spot upon arrival helped. We arrived in pouring rain and had no issues with our campsite when we could see it in the morning lol.
Bathrooms and showers were relatively clean and accommodating.
Seemed a lot like a hidden gem and I definitely recommend. Especially if you have a dog. Across the street, the park portion of this campground has a dog park, playground, historical site and pond for fishing
FYI . Most of the sites seemed small so it might be best for smaller setups. Also I did not see any pull through sites.
ScoutI spent 28 nights at this laid‑back little campground from late May through June, and honestly, it was exactly the kind of no‑frills spot I love. Every site is a pull‑through, long enough for just about any rig and tow vehicle, with a simple grass‑and‑gravel setup that only needed minimal leveling. There’s no shade, so be ready for full sun, but the tradeoff is wide‑open views—especially if you snag sites 11 or 12, which overlook the river beautifully. Hookups were solid across the board: 30/50 amp electric, normal water pressure, and full sewer. Connectivity was fantastic, which made working remotely a breeze. Starlink ran between 250–300 Mbps, Verizon had five bars. I didn’t have a single issue streaming, attending meetings, or getting work done. Amenities are basically nonexistent—no bathrooms, no showers, no pool, and the laundry across the street was closed the entire month I stayed. But honestly, the price reflects that, and I wasn’t paying for extras I didn’t need. Pets are welcome, though there’s no dog park, and families might find it a bit dull since there’s nothing for kids to do. For me, the simplicity was part of the charm. The atmosphere is relaxed and quiet, with moderate road noise from Route 7 and occasional train and barge traffic along the Ohio River. I actually enjoyed the sounds—they added character. There’s also a nearby church whose bells I found lovely. Most of the other campers were long‑term workers who kept to themselves and were consistently respectful. I rarely saw anyone, which made the whole stay feel peaceful and private. The location is great if you need essentials: gas, ice cream, a post office, and even the occasional food truck. Scenic views and parks are close by, and I stayed here mainly because my family lives nearby and I’ve always loved the area. The staff made the experience even better. Paul greeted me when I arrived, helped me pick a great site, and even assisted with unhooking. Max, the owner, stopped by on the weekend with a packet of local attractions and chatted for a bit. Both were incredibly friendly and welcoming. As for pros, the location, views, and price are hard to beat. The cons are pretty mild—no trees to buffer the road noise and sites that could be a bit roomier—but nothing that ruined the stay. Remote workers, vacationers, and anyone craving a quiet retreat will feel right at home here. My work‑from‑RV score was excellent across connectivity, noise, and comfort, and I’d absolutely work remotely here again. In the end, I genuinely loved my time at this campground. The owner and manager were wonderful, the grounds were well maintained, and the no‑frills vibe fit me perfectly. I fully plan to make this a regular summer stop.
GuideLove this place. 1st time ever in West Virginia and this park was up to the task of making a great 1st impression of the state.
Great hiking with well marked trails. Fantastic biking on the 72 mile North bend trail which is an abandoned rail way with multiple tunnels including one that is a quarter long and haunted.
Not a bad camping site in the river run part, but if you can snag one along the river, grab it.
Staff was wonderful, especially Brittany! Facilities are dated but are good enough for me. Biggest negative was an inconsistent internet. Wifi was right behind me but my Android was more disconnected than connected. Weirdly my firestick internet TV was strong throughout.
Highly reccomend
LegendAs with any trip, do your research, read your reviews, peruse Google Satellite maps and talk to locals when you can.
Mountwood County Park http://www.mountwoodpark.org/about.html is located about 15 minutes east of Parkersburg on Rt 50. Heading east on Rt 50 from Parkersburg, WV you will arrive at Mountwood County Park on the right...but the campground portion is a mile further east on the left side of the road. Both are marked by road signage...but most would assume they are all in one location.
If you bring your quads, dirt bikes or mountain bikes with you when you camp, then Mountwood County Park is for you. Right off the back of Mountwood are plenty of ATV trails to keep you busy during your stay. If bombing mountain bike trails is your thing, then across the highway from the campground is your dream. If relaxing in a serene mountain or river valley campground atmosphere is what you desire...keep driving east on Rt 50 another 20 minutes to North Bend State Park.
The primitive tent sites ($20 nightly) are less than desirable and more of an afterthought...and I'm being gracious. There is patchy tall grass, dirt and rocks with no leveled areas. And you have to wander a distance to the restroom/showerhouse when needed. You can rent the tiny cabins ($40 nightly) up on the top of the hill if you desire. They were rented and filled during my visit, surrounded with trailers filled with quads (not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting). One of the main ATV offroad trail entrances is a hundred yards or so past the primitive tent sites so anticipate traffic and some noise. There were a few electric/water sites available for RV/Campers but the majority of them were filled.
It does appear that that there are several "long term campers" at numerous sites, as wooden steps and decks are built and attached to the campers. I would not describe the campground as neat and tidy, but fills a need.
The other portion of the county park lies across Rt 50 about 1/2 mile east. This is where you will find a nice 50 acre lake...shaped like a "T" on its side... for short paddles or fishing (no swimming permitted), a solid collection of varied ability MTB trails and a cool, little local WV Oil history museum. Being a bit of a history buff, I was fascinated by the museum...how the local town was created during the oil boon and then destroyed by fire...of an enormous wilderness mansion that sat where the campground now sits. Interesting stuff.
There is a nice dog park if you brought your pooch. Several picnic areas with picnic shelters, playgrounds, and decent shared hiking trails.
As stated, if your main purpose is to MTB or ATV, then you might be contented with Mountwood County Park Campground. As county parks go, Mountwood County Park, itself, is nice and has a lot to offer. If quiet camping is your objective, I would recommend NorthBend State Park just down the road a piece.
GuideWe prefer state parks but had to stay here at a KOA because of availability (Labor Day Weekend). My biggest complaint with KOAs is the tightness of the sites - this one was not bad. They had concert pads for the picnic tables (loved that). But we were in the first loop and we were far from the shower house - only one for the whole campground. Now we did have full hookup - but there are 6 of us that need showers after a day of hiking.
We went to New River Gorge and hiked all day. The Rim and the Bridge were only 1 hour away. One of the hiked we did was 1.5 hours away - but we enjoyed it.
Go see the Flatwoods monster and the Dam. Nice small town in beautiful West Virginia.
LegendCamp Creek State Park West Virginia.
This was a drive through, we didn't camp here. This State Park is only 2 miles from I- 77! Exit 20.
This is a hiking park & also has horse trails.
We stopped at the office for a map & the lady at the desk was very nice & friendly.
There are a lot of nice picnic areas too.
Two very nice waterfalls. The first waterfall is on a road right by the modern campground so of course we had to visit.
9 electric sites.
9 full hookup.
8 water& electric.
A nice looking bath house.
I liked the sites that were by a creek- 8/9/10/13/14/15/16/18. 12 is a pull thru. These sites have a paved pad & the whole campground looked nicely kept. All the sites looked flat. There's a dump station on the road out of the park.
Blue Jay Campground is primitive camping along a creek. 12 sites. They looked very nice. There's pit toilets. This campground is on the road to the 2nd waterfall. There's parking by the gate.
Further down from Blue Jay is a locked gate. Beyond the gate is the Double C horsemans camp. You have to register at the office & they'll give you a key.
I really liked the modern campground. If we ever travel this way again I would stop here. There's no interstate noise in the campground.
Dispersed camping options near Ellenboro offer varied terrain with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,100 feet throughout the surrounding Wayne National Forest and nearby recreation areas. The region experiences moderate rainfall year-round with peak precipitation in spring and early summer, creating lush forest conditions. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s while winter lows can drop into the 20s, making late spring through early fall the prime camping season.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Mountwood Park Family Campground provides excellent mountain biking opportunities with trails of varying difficulties. "If bombing mountain bike trails is your thing, then across the highway from the campground is your dream," notes Dave V., who visited the park and enjoyed its MTB infrastructure.
Fish in local waters: The 300-acre North Bend Lake offers prime fishing opportunities. "I paddled on the North Bend Lake which was extremely peaceful and beautiful, with the colors of fall surrounding me on all sides," writes Jennifer B. "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."
Explore historic tunnels: The 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail includes 11 tunnels and 35 bridges. "I highly recommend this trail to hikers because the scenery is spectacular, the wildlife plentiful, and the tunnels are really cool," explains Jennifer B. "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."
Visit local museums: Backwoods Campground & Winery provides a centralized location to explore area attractions including the Oil and Gas Museum in the nearby town. "So peaceful, beautiful views!!! Always have a good time, and always love enjoying time with family and friends and time together," reports Brittany R. about using this location as a base for exploration.
Spacious RV sites with river views: River Run Campground offers premium waterfront sites. "We stayed at site 13, right on the water. Check-in was easy and the staff was very friendly! Plenty of ice and firewood at the store and a cute little gift shop," notes Julie C. The riverside sites are particularly popular according to campers.
Clean facilities: The campgrounds in this region maintain high cleanliness standards. "Bathrooms are clean and the sites seem pretty spacious," writes Alicia W. about River Run Campground. "Wifi and Verizon cell were both strong. Easy access to the rail trail and close to the river."
Motorcycle-friendly camping: River Run Campground accommodates motorcycle travelers well. "Review from the perspective of a motorcycle traveler tent camping. Tent sites are along a stream on one side and campsite access road on the other. Clean and well maintained with super nice staff," writes TNWoodsman, highlighting the staff's helpfulness for motorcycle campers.
Dog-friendly atmosphere: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Ellenboro provide excellent pet accommodations. "The trail around the lake would be good for birders because I spotted ducks, hawks and wood-peckers," mentions Jennifer B., describing North Bend State Park's nature trails that are perfect for dog walking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ellenboro, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ellenboro, WV is River Run Campground — North Bend State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ellenboro, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 51 dog-friendly camping locations near Ellenboro, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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