Best Equestrian Camping near Grafton, WV

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.

We really enjoyed our stay and highly recommend it. Revelle is family operated, and it’s obvious they take pride in their work. The grounds are nicely kept, and the bathrooms are very clean indeed. They have weekend activities for guests, and a small convenient store that’s well stocked with the basics. We were feet from the river and it was super peaceful. Beware though, their WiFi only works near the main office. Five stars for sure.

Very well run clean campgrounds. We had a river lot which was beautiful. Restaurant, Shavers Saloon, was walking distance and had full bar with good food. Service there was great. Bathrooms were older but very clean. Plenty of hot water.

Very nice folks in the camp store. Very centrally located to many fun attractions including the railroad tours, Mongahelia National Forest, Davis and Elkins College, etc. There is a saloon on site (Shavers) that has live music in the weekends. You have to go to Smoke on the Water for dinner.

Laid back and always friendly people. This was our go to for years!

My family and I liked this campground a lot. We had a camp site that was right against the river with full hookups. This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river and the seasonal campers spread out around. The camp store was nice with everything you need, and the staff and owners were friendly as well. We were there for a long weekend and all agreed we would go back.

This is a perfect little campground! Quiet, small and clean. Pit toilet was very clean and well stocked. Animal proof trash disposal was very convenient and newly emptied. Our site was right on the creek and the sound was awesome for sleeping. Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground ( settled deep in the woods) , there were No Bugs to speak of! Tons of wildflowers and butterflies! We stayed 3 nights and could have stayed more if we had more time.

Very remote. Two small circles of sites the only amenity is pit toilets. The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall. My wife and I spent our honeymoon here 25 years ago and plan to return there this fall. Our son was married here in the stream in waders and we all went fishing after the ceremony. Lots of memories here. Maybe you can make some too!

Just getting to Laurel Fork Campground is a backwoods, seemingly endless gravel road journey. So something tells you…this is gonna be a good spot. Its out there…I mean, really out there. If you accept the challenge, prepare to be rewarded. It is called the Laurel Fork Wilderness area…and that it is.

Upon arrival, you realize its special…there aren't many sites…count 'em 14. This is part of the CCC effort of a bygone era. It's quiet…almost too quiet. Let's see…electric…none. Showers…none. Running water…none (well, not counting the river). Sewer hook-up…none. But that's the beauty, right?! There are two pit latrines (bring your own TP…as every camper knows). http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/null/recarea/?recid=6993&actid=51

Bring your filtration and you'll be just fine. You will enjoy solitude…whether its in the campground or on the trail. Depending on the time of year you decide to make this memorable journey…bring plenty of repellent. The trails are along the river and have thick undergrowth…a haven for skeeters. Plan accordingly, you will not have any wifi or phone service (as we found in most of WV)…which was a blessing…love the unplugged freedom!

Important to check the website for any alerts or warnings. Sometimes this area floods. In fact, parts of the 18.5 miles of trail can be impassable at times.

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.

Hard to access, need 4 wheel drive and GPS, good sense of direction.

Beautiful tent sites along the creek! I was there in late summer, but I plan to return in late spring when the rhododendrons would be in bloom. Access is by about 6 miles of dirt/rock road. There are many trails at all hiking levels.

Stayed: 10/12/19

Site: 7 (Non-electric)

Price: $16

Pros: Quiet, Small, Creek, Snowshoe DH Park

Cons: Lengthy dirt road drive to get there, No cell coverage or Wi-Fi, 2 mile drive to bath house

This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals

Landed here after a road trip and it was great after sleeping in the car for a few nights. There was a lot of space between each site and it was very peaceful, but the mosquitos sucked. The pit toilets were a nice long walk or a short drive away and not the worst I’ve seen. Definitely Would come back for a short stay - probably not for a whole camping trip.

beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!

Used lot 73 for a 26ft hybrid camper. Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water. Very quiet and relaxing! Many other sites/options for 26ft ish size camper. Highly recommend!! Will be returning many times!

This place is a gem! Nice wide open site. Unfortunately, someone moved our picnic table to the next site. Too lazy to move it. Pit toilets were pretty clean. Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish. So quiet and very little traffic. Tons of space between sites. Water and dump station is 10 minutes up the road at New Germany State Park.

Amazing location for a getaway. The trails around the park are great especially the Seneca Creek trail. Nice sites, great hiking, a little chilly at the higher elevation but very peaceful place.