Several dispersed camping areas exist around Mathias, West Virginia, within the George Washington National Forest and Monongahela National Forest lands. Wolf Gap Recreation Area and Squirrel Gap Road offer primitive camping opportunities in West Virginia, while locations like Little Fort Campground and Crisman Hollow Road Camp provide nearby options in Virginia. These areas typically feature basic fire rings and cleared tent sites on public land with minimal development or amenities. Most dispersed sites require no reservations and many are free, particularly those away from designated recreation areas.
Access roads leading to dispersed sites vary significantly in quality and condition. Many camping areas require travel on unpaved forest service roads that may become challenging during wet weather. According to one visitor, "Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road." High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching more remote sites, especially those along Flagpole Knob and Canaan Loop Road. Camping is typically limited to 14 days within a 30-day period on national forest lands, and seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry months.
The dispersed camping experience near Mathias offers significant solitude and natural surroundings. Sites along creeks and waterways are particularly popular but fill quickly during peak seasons. One camper noted, "Amazing place with tons of very primitive spots and privacy." Wildlife sightings are common, with bears active throughout the region, making proper food storage essential. Dolly Sods Backcountry, while requiring more hiking effort to access, provides exceptional wilderness camping with one visitor describing it as "a wilderness area within the great Monongahela National Forest" that offers "a completely different and unique ecosystem than the surrounding area." Cell service is limited or nonexistent in most dispersed camping locations, requiring advance planning and self-sufficiency.
"Very nice spot, good tent setup pads and fire rings at all the sites, my one complaint is that it is right next to the road that while not frequently used, the occasional car can often take away from the"
"The road leading to the camp site from Wardensville was in excellent condition all the way to the camp site. There are e total of 9 campsites."
"But this one is right off the road, entrance is steep. Decent sized area, stone fire ring, plenty of firewood."
"Location is approximate. After the intersection, the road will turn into a trail (marked by a metal gate) and there is a campsite right there. Was very peaceful and clean."
"Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road."
"Some things to note- the lake front campsites fill up quickly and they are not drive in. Since I sleep in my Jeep, I needed a drive in spot."
"The campsites have a fire ring, a picnic table, and a flat area to pitch a tent. They have parking spots next to them. There are permanent structure Vault toilets/ out houses."
"Love staying here for just a night couple small trails around the area not any great views but it is very peaceful in the woods."
"Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer."
"The very last car camping site on the road. We were right on the river, we swam and fished. There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours."
"Plenty of firewood from downed trees, sites are dirt which makes staking down easy, but I can imagine it would be muddy if it rains."
"Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, part of the Monongahela National Forest, offers something for every hiker, backpacker, camper."
"Dolly Sods is a wilderness area within the great Monongahela National Forest. I backpacked here in early March a few years ago. Definitely be prepared for high winds and rain."
TravelerAbout a half a mile down to gravel road to a very small boat launch and a loop where there are some fire pits but this is not really dispersed camping in the traditional sense. I saw a few fire pits on the other side of a guardrail where you could pitch a tent alongside the road. Noticeable highway noise in an otherwise scenic location
TravelerGreat place if you want to off road a little and have an amazing view to wake up and go to sleepp too. Would definitely do this again!
TravelerYou read that right. All the plans to arrive earlier went out the window and I pulled into the road well after sunset. Able to navigate well enough with recent rainfalls so road was pitted and rocky. Somewhat drove past lake and found pre-utilized spot. Nice ground for set up and plenty of room for vehicle in/egress. The 2:20am howl of the eastern coyote caught me off guard; definitely inside a mile. He traveled because at 2:40am he met his buddies and had a howl-fest in the far distance. By day light I was able to explore and see some great lake sites you would enjoy. Highly recommended. No cell service.
ScoutOvernight tent camping with my dog. Saw a raccoon in a tree. So private and peaceful. The water and wind at night made for a nice relaxing sleep. Plenty of trails to explore.
ScoutIt was a great spot for a little fire and outdoors camping. No permit needed and there are some places around where u can easily rent a kayak to go on the river. You can also park your car easily at this spot.
GuideAs we got through Shenandoah Nat’l Park, we learned that all the campgrounds were full. So we ended up getting a backcountry camping permit in the southern district between Ivy Creek and Loft Mountain along the Appalachian Trail. It was so difficult to find a good spot in this specific area. If you have a 1-2 person tent, it may be easier. We ended up “hiking” about a quarter mile from the Loft Mountain Camp Store on the Frazier Trail to the A.T. Set up right there at the corner on the flattest spot we could find. Ended up being a great night! It gets super windy up there and some of the trees creak deeply. Thankfully no downed trees!
ScoutSuper remote camp spot! The drive to the forest road was a little tight and windy for an inexperienced mountain driver as myself. Wouldn't want to do it at night.
Most camp spots are on loops of more group camping with 4-6 sites at each loop and I believe there were 3 or 4 loops. Not my cup of tea, too fish bowl for me and way too exposed. Outside of the loops, there were 8-10 sites that were more my style, with the one we stayed at was just right! The most perfect spot in the whole place (for our preferences) we were literally on a babbling creek. Couldn't get any closer. Had direct access to water for washing and other needs. However I read in a brochure to not drink the water without boiling for 3 minutes because the area has giardia.
Saw a lot of people headed further down creek to fish for trout. No cell service for about 20 minutes. We had to drive back to route 33 and the halfway to Elkins to catch a sliver of cell service.
If you are staying at camp and brought everything you need, you're golden. There are lots of things to occupy yourself with exploring. There is a trailhead on forest rd 162 with miles of hiking with a hand full of trails to choose.
We arrived around 4PM on a Sunday. Plenty of sites to choose from. Was about half full. When we got up the next morning to leave, most spots were open. We stayed until mid day on Friday. Action was definitely picking up. Saw more people, more kids and louder noises. We are definitely Sunday to Thursday campers. I want to camp without knowing the neighbors are there. When leaving on Friday most sites were taken.
Had no problems finding plenty of fallen kindling for our fire. We found a great roadside house on route 33 that was selling firewood in their front yard for only $10 a "row" as they called it. We got 2 rows because we werent sure what to expect when we got there. We built a good hearty fire every morning and every evening and still had firewood we left there since there was so much accessible resources.
We ended up doing a lot of "tourist" experiences that was a bit of a drive to get to due to my inexperience in driving in the mountains. The drives were usually 30 minutes to an hour and a half. But well worth the drive.
Elkins is the closest place to "civilization" (north on 33) we went there for cheap gas, ice, and the grocery store. Didn't explore Elkins as it was too "city" for us. We wanted more remote experiences.
Harman was the next closest place (south on 33) not much for exploring, but they have a dollar general (what remote town doesn't have a dollar general?) and a place for gas
Continue on 33 south and hit Seneca Rocks! Such a beautiful sight to see! Also have the oldest general store built in 1902 and Yokums country store. Its like going back in time. Both tourist traps but worth the experience. We went to the recreation area with river access so beautiful to see the cliffs upclose and personal. If you are a climber this is the place for you. We are hikers. But enjoyed the views.
Continuing on 33 south there is smoke hole caverns. Another tourist trap but fun. For $20 you get a cavern tour tack on a little more if you want to go gem "panning" and get a bag of dirt to find gems. Or putt putt. Giant gift shop. Someone said it was the largest gift shop in West Virginia.
From Seneca Rocks if you head west on 28 it will take you past Seneca Caverns. They were closed for the summer due to blasting nearby.
Continuing on 28 west you then come to one of my favorite spots. Spruce Knob. The highest elevation in all of West Virginia, gorgeous views all around! Terrible observation tower that you cant see anything due to trees. Nice picnic area. Going down the other side of the mountain Spruce Knob lake, lots more trail heads AND a fantastic dispersed camping area! Seneca Creek backcountry. Didn't camp here. Will camp here next time. All dirt roads down the other side of the mountain. But so worth the adventure!
From camp and going to Harman take 32 east and that will take you to Canaan Valley state park, didn't explore too much but access to a lot more hiking
Then you come to Davis WV one of the cutest little towns ever! Very developed for back country but very very quaint. The davis depot has some camping/hiking clothes and lots of tourist items with t-shirts stickers and such. But great designs. Spent a hunk of change here. Has a grocery store and a dollar general. And a hiking, camping, backpacking store. Has gear, clothes, shoes, you name it. Had an issue with my hiking boots. Got good quality boots here! There are several small boutique stores a couple of restaurants a brewery and a bicycle shop.
Last point of interest I'll address, on the other side of Davis, Blackwater State Park. Easy in intermediate hiking here did most of our hiking here. Gorgeous falls. 3 to be exact. Nice overlooks. Nice recreation center for the kids. Near Canaan loop rd.[Canaan loop rd has dispersed camping too. This is where I had planned on camping when we came to WV and ended up over in Glady. However, I was told by the guy at the camp store in Davis that it was closed. I cannot confirm this. But just definitely check into it before solidifying plans]
My preferences for camping are not usually the whole tourist thing. But WV has so much to offer I just couldn't get enough! So we kept trekking out to see more. The drive is a lot and was a whole day's journey round trip with spending time at those locations but so worth it. Not that far of a drive in the scheme of things
Will come back to this area over and over for all the dispersed camping options and for all the sights and experiences packed in such a small area.
TravelerVery nice spot, good tent setup pads and fire rings at all the sites, my one complaint is that it is right next to the road that while not frequently used, the occasional car can often take away from the remote experience. There are some sites a little further in but the diff is minimal. Overall very great, well maintained spot
TravelerI’m a new car camper and my mom and I took a day trip out to check out the sites. When I tell you this is the most beautiful, secluded, peaceful camping site I truly couldn’t have asked for a better find!! I did however (like an idiot) end up going waaay too far down the trail (aka the whole 18 miles) and THANK GOD I drive a 4 runner!! That road gets pretty sketchy in most spots the further you go down but I somehow (by the grace of God) made it through the whole thing IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE!! ugh may never do that again but the camping is fantastic!! If you wanna check out more of the off-roading aspect I recommend checking out nolimitbmore on youtube! Will be spending most of my summer & fall here!!
Dispersed camping sites near Mathias, West Virginia cluster along forest service roads in the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests. Elevations range from 900 to over 4,000 feet, creating diverse ecosystems from creek bottoms to high mountain plateaus. Most camping areas feature established fire rings from previous campers and relatively flat tent areas, with camping allowed for up to 14 consecutive days.
Hiking nearby trails: Wolf Gap Recreation Area provides access to several hiking trails including the North Mountain Trail. According to Kevin C., "There are several trails that intersect with the campsite and day hikers are a common site."
Creek exploration: At Squirrel Gap Rd Dispersed, campers can access streams and small waterfalls. Dexter V. notes, "Quite a few miles down Squirrel Gap Rd. There is another sunnier sight a little before this one. But this one is right off the road, entrance is steep."
River activities: South Fork Shenandoah River offers water-based recreation. One camper reports, "Our site was amazing! The very last car camping site on the road. We were right on the river, we swam and fished. There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours."
Seasonal photography: Fall colors peak in mid-October in the region, creating photogenic landscapes along ridges and forest roads. The high elevations offer panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Wildlife observation: Multiple camping areas provide opportunities to spot native wildlife. One visitor to Dolly Sods Backcountry observed, "The amount of brightly colored fungi, snakes, crayfish and salamanders were astonishing. So if you move too quickly, you miss them."
Natural solitude: Campers appreciate the quiet, undeveloped nature of dispersed sites. At Squirrel Hollow Road Camping, Jon D. found "Large campsites and relatively quite. We took two vehicles and found several suitable sites. Traffic was light with one pickup overnight and a small convoy of motorcycles the next morning."
Free camping options: Several areas offer free camping near Mathias, West Virginia without permits or fees. Kevin C. notes, "Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer."
Established sites: Some dispersed areas feature basic amenities. At Wolf Gap Recreation Area, one reviewer observed, "Most sites have a paved parking platform and then a second tier for the camp site. All sites are quite large and include picnic tables, fire rings and large tent platforms."
Water access: Proximity to creeks or rivers is a common highlight. Sumner C. describes South Fork Shenandoah River: "The road to get to the campsite was well maintained and easy to get to. Campsites themselves were a tad overgrown but it was the beginning of the season."
Dark skies: The remote nature of many sites provides excellent stargazing opportunities. One camper described their experience as "quiet and dark and a bit buggy," noting that "the tent pads appear to be" level despite uneven car parking areas.
Road conditions vary widely: Forest roads range from well-maintained gravel to rough tracks requiring high clearance. A visitor to Crisman Hollow Road Camp mentioned, "Some roads were closed. Some spots were full of trash."
Cell service limitations: Most areas have poor or nonexistent cell coverage. A reviewer at Little Fort Campground noted, "On this app it says T-Mobile access, I'm a T-Mobile customer, no reception at all but drive 5 minutes back down the mountain and you're good to go."
Site availability fluctuates: Weekends and holidays can fill popular areas quickly. At Little Fort, one camper reported, "Got the last site at 6PM on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Very respectful neighbors so it was very quiet."
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather changes rapidly, especially at higher elevations. Temperature differences of 10-15 degrees between valley and ridge sites are common.
Trash management: Pack out what you bring in. A camper at South Fork Shenandoah River observed, "Unfortunately there was a decent bit of trash we cleaned up."
Site selection priorities: Choose sites with established fire rings and level tent pads. At Little Fort Campground, Sawyer B. found, "Site had a fire pit, table, parking spot, and tent platform. We used one of the sign in slips but many of the other campers did not."
Water sources: Most dispersed sites lack potable water. Filter or bring water from town. Streams may run seasonally.
Noise considerations: Some areas experience unexpected noise from other users. One reviewer at South Fork Shenandoah River warned, "The real issue was the land directly across the river that had 20+ people playing loud music at almost all hours."
Wildlife precautions: Bears are active throughout the region. Store food properly. One camper at Switzer Lake mentioned, "There are bears here, so lock up your food in the car. We have encountered a bear at or around the campsite 3 times."
Educational opportunities: Many camping areas offer unique ecosystems. A visitor to Dolly Sods Backcountry described it as offering "a completely different and unique ecosystem than the surrounding area" where "the ferns and evergreens reminded me of being in Maine, the vast meadows felt like I was in Wyoming or Montana."
Vehicle accessibility: Most dispersed sites require careful navigation for anything larger than a small trailer. Kevin C. observed at Squirrel Hollow Road: "Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer."
Size restrictions: Large RVs will find few suitable options in most dispersed areas. Small travel trailers or truck campers work best. "The road was a little rough, but our 92 ford camper made it, just go slow," reported a camper at South Fork Shenandoah River.
Leveling requirements: Parking areas are rarely level. VanRumschpringa noted at Wolf Gap Recreation Area that "Many of the car parking pads are not level."
Weather considerations: Check road conditions after rain. Some areas become impassable for RVs during wet weather or winter months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mathias, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mathias, WV is Wolf Gap Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 29 dispersed camping locations near Mathias, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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