Best Tent Camping near Kerens, WV
Tent campers visiting Kerens, West Virginia find multiple primitive camping options throughout the Monongahela National Forest. Bear Heaven Campground offers spacious wooded tent sites with fire pits and is located near Bickel Knob fire tower, while Little River Dispersed Campsites provide free camping along creeksides. Both locations accommodate tent camping with varying levels of amenities and natural features within a 30-minute drive from Kerens.
Most tent sites in the area feature natural surfaces with minimal development. Bear Heaven provides concrete vault toilets and trash service but no drinking water, requiring campers to treat water from nearby streams or bring their own supply. Little River Dispersed sites offer more primitive conditions with some sites including fire rings and picnic tables. Gravel roads access most camping areas, though several reviews note the roads to Little River are potholed and potentially challenging in wet conditions. As one camper reported, "About 7+ miles in from the town of Durbin on a dirt road, not sure how that would go in an RV but easy in a small vehicle."
The Kerens area tent sites provide excellent backcountry access and seclusion. Many walk-in tent sites sit directly alongside streams, offering natural white noise and fishing opportunities. Bear Heaven maintains relatively private sites despite its small size, and tends to remain uncrowded even during peak seasons. Based on feedback on The Dyrt, the Little River sites feature "wildflowers and ferns and grassy spots right by the river" with multiple tent pads situated along the waterway. Wildlife encounters are common, with black bears active in the Little River area. Tent campers should store food securely, as reviews indicate aggressive wildlife activity near some dispersed camping areas. Campsites throughout the region provide access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and scenic overlooks that showcase West Virginia's mountain terrain.
