Dispersed camping near Monterville, West Virginia offers varied terrain at elevations between 2,000-3,500 feet throughout the Monongahela National Forest. Camping spots in this region experience significant temperature drops after sunset, with overnight lows requiring warm sleeping gear even during summer months. Many sites sit along waterways including Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, Mill Creek, and several mountain streams that provide both scenic value and water access for filtering.
What to do
Hiking trail access: At Mower Basin, several marked trails connect directly to dispersed camping areas. "Following the road all the way to the final site you will cross paths with no fewer than 5 distinct and different toughness hiking trails, there are likely more, but I was only there for a week and would usually just do one trail a day," notes a camper at Dispersed camping at Mower Basin.
Mountain biking: Some camping areas provide excellent single-track trail access. One camper at Mower Basin explained, "I also love this place as it has a small network of single track trails for anyone with a bike, or in my case, Electric unicycle. The trails were well maintained and offered a wonderful variety of wooded and open space riding."
Fishing opportunities: The Elk River area provides designated catch-and-release fishing zones. A visitor to Elk River Dispersed camping noted: "There is Elk Springs Resort & Fly Shop just down the road. Here you can hire a guide, or pay to fly fish their well stocked area. A well stocked fly shop as well. The area where we camped is catch and release only!"
What campers like
Elevated campsites: Camping at higher elevations provides cooler temperatures and improved visibility. A camper at Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area shared: "This has been the best spot I've found so far in terms of what it offers. It's easy to find, the roads are gravel and maintained enough for just about any vehicle to get back there, the views are truly incredible with great star gazing opportunities."
Private camping spots: The forest layout provides natural separation between sites. "The sites are so spread out/the foliage is so thick that you can't see or hear anyone," explains a Mower Basin visitor who spent a week camping there and only saw three other vehicles during their stay.
Winter camping options: Some Monterville-area camping locations remain accessible during colder months. "We strolled up the mountain in our 39ft skoolie. It snowed and we had a really good time!" reports a winter visitor to Mower Basin, highlighting the area's year-round accessibility for properly equipped campers.
What you should know
Road conditions: Many dispersed sites require traveling on unpaved forest roads. A camper at Seneca State Forest advises: "I'm sure this is an amazing campsite, but it was a little to rustic for my liking. There is no cell service within 30 miles, so for an outsider who doesn't know the area, it was difficult to find the campsite."
Water sources: Most dispersed sites have no potable water. "The campsites are just pullouts in the road with fire pits. Good access to water with the river," notes a Stonecoal camper, highlighting the need to filter water from natural sources.
Cell service limitations: Coverage is extremely spotty throughout the region. "I have T-Mobile and had signal only by the first campsite for some reason. I had no signal for almost two hours heading towards VA," reports a Mower Basin visitor, emphasizing the importance of offline maps and emergency planning.
Tips for camping with families
Riverside sites: Camping areas with stream access provide natural entertainment for children. A visitor to Kumbrabow State Forest Mill Creek Campground shared: "This campground in the Kumbrabow State forest has 13 campsites that are pretty secluded and private. They are all surrounded by woods and a river and a few on the river. Very kid friendly, I mean I have four girls so...yeah."
Tent-friendly terrain: Most forest campgrounds provide level ground for setting up tents. "Soft ground for staking a tent," notes a camper at Stonecoal, making the area suitable for family tent camping with appropriate equipment.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campsites offer chances to observe local wildlife. "We drove In Thursday evening intending to go to stonecoal but the road was blocked off so we headed out to mowers basin and were lucky enough to snag this beautiful view. The few people we did encounter were friendly," mentions a Mower Basin visitor who documented wildlife sightings during their stay.
Tips from RVers
Access limitations: Forest roads restrict the size of vehicles that can navigate to remote sites. One RVer at East Fork Campground and Horse Stables notes: "Very nice campground with water and electric right on the river for $32, clean bathrooms and showers, and very nice owners. We stayed for one night but most of the others staying there had horses and were staying a while."
Seasonal considerations: Camping areas near Monterville typically operate from April through October/November. "We called to say we couldn't make it until the 2nd no problem and no charge, that was nice if him to do so. Nice well kept campground adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive," describes an East Fork Campground visitor.
Parking surfaces: Most dispersed sites lack improved parking pads. "Awesome spot in mountain, not too many sites but they are all well marked. Just have to push through some steep gravel roads but we did it in truck and trailer," explains a Mower Basin camper who successfully navigated the terrain with their RV.
