The Canaan Valley area near Thomas, West Virginia sits at approximately 3,200 feet elevation in the Allegheny Mountains, creating a unique microclimate that's typically 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. This mountainous region receives significant precipitation throughout the year, with summer temperatures rarely exceeding 85°F even during July and August. Camping options range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots within a 30-mile radius of Thomas.
What to do
Hiking at Blackwater Falls State Park: Located just 10 miles north of Thomas, this park features well-maintained trails with impressive views. "The falls are amazing and the gift shop has some interesting goods," notes Dale O. about Blackwater Falls State Park Campground. Another visitor adds, "This is a great state park! We really enjoyed the falls & were able to take a couple of hikes. Wonderful views from the lodge & one of Pendleton Falls from the road."
Kayaking at Five River Campground: The Shavers Fork river offers excellent water recreation opportunities in warmer months. "The river is fantastic and holds trout and smallmouth for those that like to fish," shares a visitor at Five River Campground. Another camper mentions, "We walked up river to the end of the property and were able to tube down to the lower end of the property."
Wildlife viewing at Canaan Valley: The diverse ecosystem supports abundant deer, birds, and occasional black bear sightings. "Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening," reports a camper at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground. Another visitor notes, "There is a ton of wildlife in this state park! Deer galore! Someone saw a black bear on the trail."
What campers like
Riverside camping: Many sites offer direct water access for fishing, swimming, and relaxing. At Revelle's River Resort, campers appreciate the proximity to water: "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," notes Kevin C. about Revelle's River Resort.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses and shower facilities consistently receive positive mentions. "The bathrooms in the Delphia loop were modern and very clean. The showers were very nice and rivaled any hotel shower I've had," reports a visitor to Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground. Another camper adds, "The sites were level, spacious, beautifully shaded, and convenient to the bath house."
Winter activities: Unlike many camping destinations, the Thomas area offers four-season recreation opportunities. "This state park offered a lot of nature adventures right in your backyard. Hiking, biking, playground, sight seeing," shares a camper at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground. Another mentions, "Winter brings copious snowfall and the skiing here draws thousands...downhill and XC."
What you should know
Bear awareness: Black bears are active throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. "We were told there were regular bear sightings and there were bear boxes at each site," notes a camper at Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground. "Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. The camp store has firewood and helpful rangers."
Weather variability: Mountain weather can change rapidly, particularly in spring and fall. "It also still gets chilly in these mountains during the early summer months," explains a visitor to Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground. "We spent three days in June and experienced afternoon rain showers daily, but arranged our hikes and bikes around them."
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have spotty or no cellular coverage. "The entire area has no cell service due to the Green radio telescopes," warns a camper at Yokums Vacationland. A notable exception is Five River Campground, where a visitor noted, "Ended up staying 2 weeks as the wifi service is the best we have had on the road."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "There is a huge field that the kids enjoyed kite flying! The staff at the store/check in are very friendly and helpful with area attractions," shares a visitor to Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground. Another notes, "A kid's playground is situated beside (separated by a field) primitive tent sites."
Swimming options: Lakes and rivers provide natural swimming areas during summer months. "I gave it a 5 star for many reasons. First the campground is clean and made us feel like we were in a forest not just a campground," explains a camper at Swallow Falls State Park Campground. "Walking distance to the huge beach/lake. The area was overcrowded but maintained well and clean."
Educational opportunities: Many parks offer nature programs specifically designed for younger campers. "There's a nature center by a small lake. You can fish there & they have kayaks to rent," reports a visitor at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground. Another camper mentions, "There is a nature center for the kids, a petting zoo."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose RV sites carefully, as some have unusual layouts or size restrictions. "Many of the pull thru sites are situated in the wrong direction with the electric hookup on the wrong side," warns a camper at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground. "This is a very oddly laid out campground. Choose your site wisely!"
Hookup availability: Full-service sites can be limited at state parks but more plentiful at private campgrounds. "We utilized one of the rv sites with 50 amp service and full hookups," notes a visitor to Five River Campground. "It has 120 RV sites many with full hook-ups. It can accommodate tents to large rigs."
Winter camping considerations: For those interested in glamping near Thomas, West Virginia during colder months, some campgrounds remain open year-round. "Five River Campground, Parsons WV offers both tent and RV camping year round," shares a visitor. Another camper advises, "Keep in mind, anytime after mid September can be quite cold overnight. But the foliage is totally worth it!"
