Cabin camping near Hinton, West Virginia offers access to the New River Gorge region at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,500 feet. The area receives approximately 45 inches of rain annually with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak season. Most campgrounds in this region open from April through October, though weather conditions can extend or shorten operational dates.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 2-mile trek to cascades at Camp Creek State Park where "the waterfalls are easily accessible and were beautiful even without an abundance of water." The park maintains multiple hiking trails including ADA-accessible short paths with "hiking trails including trails to two waterfalls."
Fishing at Boley Lake: 19-acre stocked lake at Babcock State Park provides catch opportunities throughout the season. A visitor notes "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."
River tubing trips: 2-hour float experiences where you can "rent tubes and float down the river. The staff was great and the grounds well kept." Many visitors appreciate how river-based activities terminate near their sites, with one camper mentioning "2 hour tubing float down river ending up at my campsite!"
What campers like
Shower facilities with adequate hot water at certain campgrounds get high marks. At Mash Fork Campground, campers appreciate "Showers were the best of any campground I've seen- water gets as hot as you'd like, with great water pressure and plenty of hooks and towel racks." The bathhouses are cleaned regularly, with some parks providing "very clean. Instant hot water was appreciated at the tap (it was in the 30s when we were there in mid-October)."
Privacy between sites: select secluded options by requesting specific site numbers. At Greenbrier River Campground, tent sites offer more seclusion: "the RV sites aren't right on the river, that's mostly reserved for primitive campers." For those seeking space, "We stayed in site number eight, it backed up to the creek and was quite private with the exception of the trail on the other side of the creek."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: deer frequently visit camp areas. According to visitors at Bluestone Lake State Park, "There were also TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation) during our short one night stay." Morning and evening hours provide the best wildlife spotting opportunities when animals are most active.
What you should know
Train noise affects riverside sites: Several campgrounds are located near active rail lines. One camper noted about Greenbrier River Campground: "There are railroad tracks right across the river that are almost as busy with long trains. I stopped counting at 7 our first evening." Consider packing earplugs if you're sensitive to nighttime noise.
Road access varies significantly: Some cabin locations require navigating steep mountain roads. At Kairos Wilderness Resort, visitors warn "The hill to climb to get there is SUPER sketchy but it's a gorgeous location." Similarly, other parks may have "the last couple miles of road getting here are rough...if you have an SUV you should be fine but i have a sportier suspension and it was not fun."
Seasonal operations affect availability: While some parks operate year-round, many close bathroom facilities in winter. "We were told there was one open bathroom however it was not made clear this was 1-2 miles away which was not exactly convenient." Always confirm which amenities remain available during shoulder seasons before booking.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: multiple age-appropriate options exist at several parks. Rifrafters Campground provides "a nice playground for our daughters to burn off some energy." Other parks feature "Playground, basketball, volleyball, laundry" within walking distance of camping areas.
Swimming areas with shallow sections: Look for designated family swimming zones like at Little Beaver State Park where "The park has a lot of trails and a lake but we didn't have time to check them out." Another visitor mentioned the park offers "several hiking trails and the man-made lake is small but offers plenty of recreation possibilities."
Kid-friendly cabin layouts: bunk bed configurations work well for families. Basic cabins at some locations provide "a few wooden bunkbeds, one table, four chairs, one door and two windows." For larger families, "many cabins at the Campground" are available in various sizes to accommodate different group configurations.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: bring additional blocks as terrain can be uneven. At Little Beaver State Park, "Many sites looked like it may take some work to get level. We were in site 20 with a 23 ft TT and got level fairly easily but a longer rig may have difficulty in that site."
Dump station accessibility: Check location and approach requirements before arrival. One RVer noted that at Little Beaver State Park, "Dump site was a little different. Had to make a uturn to get in to dump." Other parks may have different arrangements that require specific approach angles.
Pull-through availability for larger rigs: Reserve specific sites when traveling with longer trailers. "We had site 19 which is one of the few pull thrus. We have a triple axl, had plenty of room and the site is wooded." Call ahead to confirm site dimensions as many older campgrounds have limited space for contemporary RVs.
