Tent campsites near Monterville, West Virginia offer a mix of dispersed and established options throughout the Monongahela National Forest region. Little River Dispersed Campsites, located approximately 7 miles from Durbin on a gravel road, provides free primitive tent camping along a creek with some sites featuring picnic tables and fire rings. The Greenbrier River Trail system includes multiple primitive tent camping areas at various mile markers, with sites at MP 69.6, MP 63.8, and MP 49.3 offering differing levels of amenities.
Most primitive tent campgrounds in the area feature raised gravel tent pads, fire rings, and pit latrines but lack running water or shower facilities. Campers planning overnight stays should bring adequate water or water filtration systems, as even sites near streams require treatment. Access roads to dispersed camping areas like Little River can be challenging with potholes and narrow passages that may be difficult for low-clearance vehicles. Bear activity is common throughout the region, necessitating proper food storage in vehicles or bear canisters. One visitor noted, "This is bear country so I would recommend utilizing a bear bag or bear canister for your food and toiletries."
Tent camping along the Greenbrier River Trail provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, especially at dawn and dusk. The designated primitive tent sites are spaced generously apart, offering privacy and quiet surroundings despite being adjacent to hiking and biking trails. Day Run Campground includes lantern poles and fire rings with cooking grates at each tent site, while Bear Heaven Campground offers a secluded tent camping experience with nearby boulders and rock formations to explore. Several campgrounds are positioned near streams or the Greenbrier River, allowing for swimming opportunities and scenic views. A recent review mentioned, "The site was breathtaking, with a small stream pool running along one edge, and the rushing river on another."
"There’s a couple fire rings up by the parking spot, but we chose to set up a little closer to the creek. It rained a lot while we were there but there were ample trees to set up tarps."
"Some spots even have picnic tables and fire pits. Nice and quiet."
"GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL MILEPOST 69.6 PRIMITIVE CAMPING AREA, Clover Lick, WV The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted C&O Railway that travels 80 miles from Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown,"
"There is a tiny wooden vault toilet at the base of site 9, across the campground road from the well pump. Halfway up the campground roadway from the entrance is a newer, larger vault toilet."
"Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite, Located between Clover Lick and Clawson, WV (south of Sharp's Tunnel) The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most"
"About ten tent sites with firepit, picnic table, clean concrete vault toilt. No running water or showers. Close to Elkins and half hour from Davis."
"Vault toilet and trash. A few minutes down the road from the Bickel Knob fire tower."
"Maybe 5-10 min off of highway 220. There are maybe 5 ish spots to camp next to a river in this mountain valley."
"I pulled in while passing through the area, it was a short ride off the highway and the road in was nice."
"Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, Watoga, WV West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail** (GRT) **stretches from its Northern Terminus at the Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown"
"Very spacious with two vault toilets. We were able to find quite a few nice hammock spots in the trees if that's your preferred camping method."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $60 / night
"Stayed here for a night so we didn't have to keep driving. Had the place to ourselves. Neat for a night. I took a video as well. https://youtu.be/XaYCE0Evkno"
"Good facilities and trails"
TravelerBeautiful camping sites along the river! This is a small State Park, but packs a punch with some beautiful trails, and direct river access from almost half of the sites. Nice camp store and heated, full bath houses with showers. Note that sites are gravel….so if tenting bring a cot and/or some extra cushioning. Wi fi is available within close range of the camp store. I was at Site #8.
TravelerThere are 25 or so established sights at Mower Basin and you're bound to find one with an incredible view of the mountains. Sight 12 took my breath away, but unfortunately as a tent camper the wind pushed us down to the lake sight just passed it. It was close to the road but still felt private. Everyone who passed our sight was very friendly. It's a gorgeous place, and from someone who's never been to Virginia, it was the perfect place to have my first experience. We will probably go back when we are heading back down south.
TravelerThis review is for the primitive boondockers like myself. It's a very established campground, full amenities, restaurant, gift shop, the works. I thought we would find a primitive campground with much more privacy based on the details and reviews of the grounds. The primitive camping spots are all in view of each other down a long stretch of dirt road. They're very clean and come with trash cans at each sight, which was nice. We were the only tent campers so it was enjoyable, but I don't know if I would have had the same experience if there were a lot of campers. I think that's a very important and left out detail about this location for the people who enjoy a more private environment. I'm still very happy with my stay, and the staff is absolutely WONDERFUL. They're all so kind and went out of their way to provide us with information when we had questions they didn't know the answer to, everyone who works there is a delight. 25$ a night felt a little much to sleep in our tent, but the showers, clean bathrooms, and care put into the property made it worth it. Waterfalls nearby as well. I'd stay again.
TravelerHuge campground. Well maintained. The lake is gorgeous, great for kayaking or paddle boarding
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.
TravelerThis was a gem of a state park. It's small and older (which for me is a feature, not a bug), all entirely walkable with a central bathroom, camp store and playground at the heart of the campground. We had a site on the back of the campground that was larger than most (lots of small sites) and could fit our big tent set up. It rained like the dickens for a one of the days we were there and there was a drainage river running THROUGH our site that could have turned into a problem. Luckily the rain stopped in time and our site drained quickly. Despite all that, I loved our stay. It was VERY busy when we stayed, but I liked how it felt like a family retreat, where kids were safe to hop over to the playground to play with other kids, we could take walks right to the river for swimming or (after the rain) "viewing". If you can catch a dry weekend, this campground must be utter perfection. Would probably be dicey in sustained rain, especially if you're on the river itself.
ScoutIf youre looking for away from people. Away from most people youll be. Well taken care of.
ScoutOn west side of Summersville lake, 18 free first come campsites, drive-in, level. Vault toilets, no water. Picnic tables, grill and fire ring. Access to free swimming across road at winter boat ramp. Sandy beach swimming down the road for $5. Lake is clear and warm.
ScoutOnly one campground on the east side of Summersville lake, run by private family. “Primitive “ sites have no paved area to park. Just picnic tables on the grass, close together, hilly, and no shade. $25-45/ night. Across the lake on the west side we stayed at Gauley Tailwaters cg, 18 drive-in sites, Army Corps of Engineers, Free. Access to swimming across the road at the winter boat ramp.
Primitive camping options dot the rugged terrain near Monterville, West Virginia, with elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet throughout the Monongahela National Forest. The area receives approximately 50 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush forest conditions and abundant water sources for tent camping. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-80°F, with cooler nights even during peak camping season.
Boulder exploration at Bear Heaven: Just a short distance from tent camping spots in Monterville, West Virginia, the unique rock formations at Bear Heaven Campground provide natural climbing and exploration opportunities. "Right beside the camp ground is a really cool area to explore unique boulders and rock structures. You can either walk through or climb these boulders," notes Adam W.
Visit historic fire towers: Several lookout points offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. "Just a few miles up the mountain you can go to Bickles Knob firetower and get one of the best views in the state," says Adam W. The Thorny Mountain Fire Tower in nearby Seneca State Forest can even be rented for overnight stays.
Biking the Greenbrier River Trail: This converted railway trail provides miles of relatively flat riding surface through scenic forest. "The Greenbrier River Trail is a delightful bikepacking excursion. Very doable for all ages," explains Dave V., who recommends tires no narrower than 700x32 for the sometimes soggy trail conditions.
Natural swimming spots: Many tent camping locations near Monterville feature water access for cooling off. At Little River Dispersed Campsites, Tommy S. found "a beach area about 50 yards down that offers a great spot to take a dip" when you park and walk down to the river.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings and evenings provide excellent chances to observe local animals. "The Greenbrier River Trail travels through Watoga State Park, Seneca State Forest and the Monongahela National Forest... Mostly deer, rabbit, chipmunks and Eastern Box Turtles sharing the trail...but we did see a few turkey, fox and bobcat," reports Dave V.
Fishing access: Local streams and rivers support various fish species. Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area offers "a nice free camp spot(s) next to a river" according to reviewer R C., making it convenient for fishing directly from camp.
Bear safety is essential: Black bears are active throughout the Monterville camping areas. "We were charged by an extremely aggressive black bear, fortunately with plenty of noise and shouting and slowly backing away we avoided further conflict," warns Luke M. from Little River. He continues, "We decided to keep ALL FOOD in the car's trunk those nights and not hanging in a tree just to be safe."
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to many primitive tent camping sites requires driving on unimproved roads. "The road to access these campsites is tucked in the back of a residential area. We missed it the first time by and had to turn around," notes Karli P. about Little River Dispersed Campsites.
Limited cell service: Prepare for communication blackouts in most camping areas. Clayton S. reports about Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area: "No signal, so make sure you have a map or know which way you came."
Choose sites with established facilities: For families tent camping near Monterville, Day Run Campground offers "nice size sites for tents and/or RV. All come with Lantern pole, fire ring with grate for cooking on, and picnic table," according to Christy M., making meal preparation easier with children.
Consider stream-side sites: Camping areas with natural water features provide built-in entertainment. At Little River Dispersed Campsites, Tommy S. describes how "small trails led along the creek in either direction," creating natural exploration opportunities for children.
Plan for bathroom needs: Facilities vary widely between established and dispersed camping areas. Christy M. advises at Day Run Campground to "take your own toilet paper if campground isn't busy because it doesn't get maintained daily and we ran out."
Small trailers only: Most tent camping areas near Monterville cannot accommodate large RVs. At Seven Mile Campground, Dave V. notes, "I imagine a small teardrop camper or popup could be patiently maneuvered onto this site (that's a tent camper speaking...larger campers may fit just fine, but you better feel comfortable backing long distances)."
Assess road conditions before entering: Many access roads present challenges for towing. Mikaela K. found Poor Farm "wasn't too hard to get there and park in our van," but those with larger vehicles may struggle with the narrow, sometimes muddy access roads common in the region.
Group camping options for multiple RVs: For those traveling with several small RVs, Gatewood Group provides "a great spot for a large group. Very spacious with two vault toilets," according to Justin S., who noted daily ranger visits for trash removal and toilet paper restocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Monterville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Monterville, WV is Little River Dispersed Campsites with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Monterville, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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