Tent camping near Jumping Branch, West Virginia offers opportunities for riverside relaxation and forest exploration across several campgrounds within a 20-mile radius. The region sits at the confluence of the New and Bluestone rivers, with elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,500 feet creating varied camping microclimates. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with cooler nights, while spring camping often means dealing with the region's average 45 inches of annual rainfall.
What to do
Fishing access points: Stone Cliff Campground provides sandy riverside spots perfect for anglers. One visitor noted, "Beautiful spot on New River. Make sure you remember to print off directions if you are unfamiliar with the area" and mentioned being "very close to the abandoned town of Thurmond."
Rock climbing: The New River Gorge area offers world-class climbing opportunities, with Stone Cliff Campground serving as a convenient base. A camper explained, "There are so many things to come for and so many things to stay for! I've come here to climb and ended up fishing. I've come to fish and ended up hiking and climbing."
Water recreation: Multiple access points for swimming and paddling exist near Bluestone State Park. A reviewer described it as "West Virginia at its finest! Blue stone state park is right next door to the lake so there are wonderful water activities here. There is a marina where we got to rent a boat and the catfish were plentiful."
Trail hiking: The region contains numerous hiking trails with river views. At Brooklyn Campground, a visitor recommended, "South side junction trail is right there and leads to thurmond; an almost abandoned coal mining town."
What campers like
Affordable options: Many campgrounds in the area are free or low-cost. At Meadow Creek Campground, a reviewer confirmed, "There are 17 sites, all free FCFS tent only sites. We thought we'd have a hard time finding a spot on a Friday night but it was less than half full the whole 4 nights we were there."
Privacy between sites: Tent campers appreciate the separation between campsites at certain locations. A camper at Chestnut Creek Campground noted, "Most sites are simple with just a picnic table and fire pit. There are lots of trees in between many of the sites for great privacy."
Natural swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer direct river access for cooling off. A visitor to Bull Falls Campground shared this tip: "Right off campsite#14, there's a great opening that will take you down one of the longer hiking trails, which after about 1 mile or so you'll come to a small little inlet, perfect for inflating an innertube and floating in isolation."
Well-maintained facilities: Some campgrounds feature clean amenities despite their rustic setting. A Chestnut Creek Campground reviewer wrote, "The bathrooms are clean and spacious to accommodate the number of campers. It can be a little old school in that you have to text to get in touch with them and make reservations but they are always willing to make things work."
What you should know
Train noise: Railroad tracks run near several campgrounds, causing regular noise disruptions. A Meadow Creek camper warned, "The biggest con to this is the multi-track railroad right next to the campground. They go by pretty frequently at all hours of day and night and are so loud you can feel the vibrations."
Limited cell service: Signal strength varies across the camping area, with some locations offering better connectivity than others. At Brooklyn Campground, a camper mentioned, "Google maps does not take you there, it took us to the other side of the river. We arrived after dark."
Seasonal considerations: Early fall provides more comfortable camping with fewer insects. A visitor to Meadow Creek noted, "The gnats were out even in early April, so be sure you have bug protection."
Bathroom facilities: Restroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. One camper at Chestnut Creek shared, "There is only one bath house and it can be a short hike depending on the location of your site, but it was clean, had several stalls, showers, sinks and electricity."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming: Look for campsites with gentle river access. At Old Mill Campground, a visitor commented, "They had a swimming pool and it was clean. I loved the lake. Big and beautiful. Great time on the water!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Bluestone Wildlife Management Area offers excellent bird watching. As one camper mentioned, "There's some really great bird watching in these parts, so bring your binoculars."
Fire safety precautions: Some campgrounds have fire restrictions or specific fire ring requirements. At Bluestone Lake State Park, facilities vary widely, with a camper noting some areas have "some shaded sites. some sites along water. semi-private sites."
Elevation changes: Be prepared for varied terrain when setting up camp. A Stone Cliff visitor cautioned, "So we had no idea there was a steep gravel decline to get to the camp site. My wife and I had brought our hatchback instead of our SUV- so our fault, but if this had been mentioned somewhere then we would have known."
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Jumping Branch have limitations for larger vehicles. At Chestnut Creek Campground, a visitor clarified, "This is a very nice little campground set up for tents, hammock campers and some car campers. No hook-ups. Definitely not for RVs or Camper trailers."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have entrance roads that aren't suitable for larger vehicles. One camper at Meadow Creek shared, "The ranger informed us someone who stayed here in a rv had a close call crossing the train tracks and now they have decided to make this campground a tent only place."
Weather considerations: Strong winds can affect camping in valley locations. A visitor warned, "The wind here is also very strong and without strong anchors could easily pull up your tent. We were having to restake the corners throughout our stay."
