The Monongahela National Forest region surrounding Hillsboro, West Virginia sits at elevations between 2,000-4,000 feet, creating a temperate mountain climate with summer highs rarely exceeding 85°F. Camping sites near Hillsboro, West Virginia occupy terrain characterized by limestone formations, steep valleys, and mixed hardwood forests. Most locations experience limited cell service due to the National Radio Quiet Zone restrictions.
What to do
Hiking through dense forest terrain: Watoga State Park offers extensive trail networks beyond the riverside attractions. "The biking is tremendous. And the opportunity for good fishing is also ample," notes a visitor to Beaver Creek Campground. Many trails connect to adjacent wilderness areas.
Fishing for trout in cold mountain streams: Tea Creek Campground provides access to prime fishing waters. "This is a great place for pull-type campers or tent camping. Campground is always clean and access is directly off the scenic highway. Several hiking trails nearby," reports one camper at Tea Creek Campground.
Cycling the Greenbrier River Trail: This 80-mile rail trail offers multiple camping access points. A camper at Mile Post 28.5 explained, "Heavy rainstorms brought down numerous trees across the GRT during our trip...but the State Park employees worked diligently and feverishly to clear the trail." The trail follows former railroad beds with gentle grades suitable for all skill levels.
Lake swimming during summer months: Lake Sherwood Recreation Area features a designated swimming beach with sand shoreline. "We saw tons of wildlife in the area. The hike around the lake was awesome and all our kiddos loved the island and beach," shares a visitor to Lake Sherwood.
What campers like
Spacious campsites with river views: Many sites at Riverside Campground directly border the Greenbrier River. "The Riverside loop, there is another loop on the east end of the park (it was closed). The Greenbrier River was right at the back of our site. People were floating and fishing and paddling," notes a visitor to Riverside Campground.
Peace and quiet without technology distractions: Blue Bend Campground offers a complete digital detox. "Love the serenity of this small campground. Also cell phones don't work here, so if you are looking for quiet time, a beautiful stream and fresh air check out this campground," writes one camper at Blue Bend Campground.
Primitive campsites along the Greenbrier River Trail: Free first-come sites provide bare necessities for backpackers and bikepackers. "The campsites that dot the Greenbrier River Trail are meticulously maintained by State Park employees and are in well thought out locations." These sites typically include tent pads, fire rings, and pit toilets.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Numerous species regularly appear at campsites throughout the region. "Campers will see deer walk through sites" at Beaver Creek Campground. One visitor noted, "Lovely campground. Not too noisy and gorgeous nature... Perfect combo of shade and sun with deers grazing right next to your tent!"
What you should know
Limited cell service and utilities: Most campgrounds have no connectivity. A visitor to Morris Hill explains, "Cell service (at&t) was a little spotty but for the most part we usually had about 2 bars and were even able to watch a little netflix on the one rainy day." Water and electric hookups vary widely between campgrounds.
Seasonal operation of facilities: Most campgrounds close for winter between late October and early April. Riverside and Beaver Creek Campgrounds at Watoga State Park operate from early April through December, while Lake Sherwood and Day Run maintain year-round access, though with limited winter amenities.
Navigation challenges without connectivity: Plan route details before arrival. A visitor to Morris Hill Campground advises, "Because this entire area of WV is in the National Radio Quiet Zone, there is zero cellular service within 1-2 hours drive in any direction... make sure any electronic devices you will be using for navigation have offline maps loaded before visiting."
Weather changes rapidly in mountain terrain: Summer thunderstorms often develop quickly in the afternoons. One camper at Bolar Mountain noted, "Late afternoon showers soaked the three groups of bikepackers that set up camp at Mile Post 28.5 for the night." Pack waterproof gear even during clear forecasts.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming holes for children: Multiple locations offer natural water features. A visitor to Blue Bend Campground states, "Great area, close to amenities if needed. Quite. Can swim and fish." The swimming areas typically feature shallow entry points with gradually deepening water.
Kid-friendly tent sites: Certain campgrounds design spaces with families in mind. At Morris Hill, one camper mentions, "We visited the Pine Run camping Area of Lake Sherwood Campground... We stayed with my sister's family on sites 48 & 49 and they were perfect pair sites to share. I found our site private and spacious and perfectly distanced from the bathrooms."
Playground access: Some campgrounds maintain play equipment for children. "The park has a lot of hiking trails and a lake with boats for rent," notes a visitor to Beaver Creek Campground. Most family-oriented sites cluster playground equipment near central facilities rather than scattered throughout.
Tips from RVers
Parking limitations and site angles: Many campgrounds have sloped sites challenging for larger rigs. At Morris Hill, a camper noted, "Site 35 was pretty sloped but the gravel driveway wasn't too terribly unlevel. Only real issue was where our steps came out right into a sloped area and was hard to set them right and had to be careful coming in and out."
Water access points: Limited water hookups require planning. "I liked this campground — most RV sites have electric, and water fill stations are easily accessible. Sites weren't too close together, and they were clean and well kept," reports a visitor to Riverside Campground about the water situation.
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds maintain central dump facilities. "For you all who have campers/RV: There is a dump station for your tanks, equipped with a wash hose to wash your drain hose out. There is a fresh water filling station here as well, if you wish to fill your camper/RV when you get there," explains a camper at Morris Hill.
