Monongahela National Forest offers rustic camping near Hendricks, West Virginia across multiple locations with elevations ranging from 1,500 to over 4,000 feet. The forest's diverse terrain includes alpine-like conditions at higher elevations, with frequent fog and precipitation year-round. Weather patterns can change rapidly in this region, with snow possible in late fall through early spring at many camping areas.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: The Canaan Loop Road area connects to trails leading to Blackwater Falls State Park, approximately 4 miles from some camping spots. One camper noted, "There's a stream that goes by some, the woods are beautiful. There are some that are about 4 mile hike to blackwater falls state park. And it's an easy drive to seneca rocks."
Fishing in mountain streams: Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping offers excellent stream access for fishing. A camper mentioned, "Very nice area several nice spot right along the creek. Areas are spread out and private. Nice spot to relax and escape along creek."
Wildlife observation: The higher elevation areas provide opportunities to see native wildlife. While camping in winter, one visitor reported, "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."
Forest exploration: Little River Dispersed Campsites provides access to unmarked forest trails. According to a visitor, "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."
What campers like
Year-round accessibility: Dolly Sods Backcountry camping remains open throughout the year despite challenging conditions. A camper shared, "You can backpack in any season of the year here, but both roads (Forest Road 19 and 75) leading to Dolly Sods are winding and steep so in snowy or ice conditions could be dangerous."
Privacy between sites: Most dispersed camping areas feature well-spaced sites. At Gandy Creek, a camper observed, "Each site is secluded and creek front. We stayed at the last site with the cliff over hang and it was magical. We took our car but the roads were a bit rough and I wouldn't recommend anything too low to the ground."
Natural swimming holes: Some camping areas provide swimming opportunities during warmer months. A Little River Dispersed Campsite user advised, "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!"
Fire rings at established sites: Lower Glady Dispersed Campground maintains proper fire containment areas. A visitor reported, "Sites are level and have good back-in driveways. Fire rings are large. We removed lots of trash from our fire ring, mostly aluminum cans."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to many camping areas requires navigating rough forest roads. A camper at Canaan Loop Road shared, "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."
Weather preparedness essential: Higher elevation sites can experience severe weather changes. One camper recalled, "It snowed but we didn't die 🤣... It was muddy and snowy but our Subaru made it fine about half way into Canaan loop road. All of the sites were mud pits but they were easily identified by big fire rings."
Early arrival recommended: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during summer and fall weekends. A Lower Glady camper warned, "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."
Bear safety protocols required: Mower Basin and other areas have active black bear populations. A visitor reported, "In setting up camp I found two piles of bear scat. One pile was clearly fresher than the other, but still two piles!"
Tips for camping with families
Accessible riverside sites: Some campsites offer flat terrain and water access suitable for children. A visitor to Little River noted, "Love it here! Wildflowers and ferns and grassy spots right by the river. Some spots even have picnic tables and fire pits. Nice and quiet."
Multiple vehicle capacity: Many dispersed sites accommodate several cars for group camping. A Canaan Loop Road camper shared, "We found a nice site in the pine trees! Perfect for 2 vehicles and 5 people hammock camping!"
Proximity to facilities: When camping with children, consider sites closer to vault toilets. One Lower Glady Dispersed Campground visitor advised, "We arrived on a Sunday and found all the sites near the vaulted toilet empty. The toilet was one of the cleanest I have seen. Most sites have good shade while still open to the sky."
Shallow water play areas: For families with children, certain creek locations offer safer water access. A Gandy Creek visitor noted, "Several spots along the creek are deep enough for swimming."
Tips for RVers
Limited large-vehicle access: Most dispersed areas have restrictions for larger RVs. A visitor to Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area advised, "Good quality dirt access road, no problem for my Honda Civic. Got here on a Monday night in late September and there were lots of campsites available."
RV-compatible sites: Lower Glady offers some level sites suitable for smaller RVs and trailers. One visitor shared, "The last big turnaround featured four rv accessible campfires for us to pick. No one bothered mom and I on Easter weekend. We pulled our 28 foot travel trailer in past I'd say ten other campsites that were taken."
Turnaround space limitations: Backing in is required at many sites. A Stonecoal camper noted, "We pulled in just at sunset on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend and drove through the entire length of the campground to see that all the sites were filled. We got to the turn around and noticed a couple of fire pits setup and a patch of grass."
Steep road navigation: Some access roads present challenges for longer vehicles. At Dolly Sods, a camper warned, "You can park at Bear Rocks or right in front of the trail head, you will see a good majority of cars parked in those areas from people backpacking in or day hiking."
