Primitive camping near Letart, West Virginia extends beyond the Ohio River into surrounding forests. Wayne National Forest offers several rustic camping sites on its eastern edge with Ohio. The terrain consists primarily of second-growth hardwood forests with rolling hills ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet in elevation. Winter camping remains possible but requires additional preparation with overnight temperatures often dropping below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Several ponds at Hanging Rock Recreation Area provide good fishing spots. "With that being said, there was good and bad. The good was I found a spot quickly and had 2 entire ponds to myself," notes camper Rob G.
Wildflower viewing: Spring visits to Wayne National Forest offer spectacular wildflower displays. At Hanging Rock, one visitor reports seeing "tons of gorgeous wildflowers like trilliums, violets, showy orchids, and more!"
Off-highway vehicle trails: The Monday Creek OHV Dispersed area provides trail access for motor enthusiasts. Kevin C. observes, "Lots of trucks and toy haulers heading up the various roads into the late evening," making it a popular spot for off-road recreation.
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail Dispersed offers peaceful camping spots. Steve C. reports, "There are a couple of campsites at the trailhead and quite a few all along the trail. Overall, it was a beautiful, quiet place and I only saw 2 other people on the trail while I was hiking out the second day."
Loop trail options: Hikers appreciate the trail configurations. As one camper notes, "The trail has a smaller loop and a larger loop. Both are fairly easy hikes."
Basic facilities at trailheads: Dorr-Run Red Oak Trailhead provides minimal but useful amenities. Taylor P. mentions, "There are restrooms and several fire rings. Cell service was available, but not great."
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Winter camping requires planning for closed facilities. Doug H. at Dorr-Run notes, "Most campsites inaccessible during off-season. Pit toilet closed for winter."
Challenging navigation: The region requires careful planning. "We arrived late at night wishing we had better cell reception and a paper map of the National Forest. Even still, Wayne National Forest is a maze of public and private land," explains one visitor at Sand Hill Trailhead.
Water safety concerns: Water sources in the area should not be trusted. Steve C. warns, "While there is water in the valleys I wouldn't use it even with a filter. There are signs posted at the trailhead that advise against it plus there is still active oil drilling in one of the hollows."
Tips for camping with families
Choose short loop options: For family backpacking, select manageable distances. One Wildcat Hollow camper suggests, "Perfect place for a first time backpacking trek."
Visit during weekdays: Weekend crowds can limit campsite availability. Taylor P. shares, "Saturday was super busy, and we snagged the last available spot with a fire ring. The second night we only had one tent near us."
Pack extra footwear: Muddy conditions require preparation. Shane from Witch's Peak advises, "The trail in is super steep. The climb is totally worth it though. Some amazing rock out croppings and views up there!"
Tips from RVers
Trailhead overnight parking: Some trailhead areas accommodate overnight RV stays. Jay S. shares about Hanging Rock, "We stayed in the parking lot as it was getting dark and didn't know if there were any place to turn our rv around. Very quiet night and were visited by fireflies which was awesome."
Limited designated spaces: RV camping is possible but restricted to certain areas. Kevin C. notes about Monday Creek, "Camped at the west side of the vaulted toilet lot. Arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty."
Prepare for off-grid camping: No hookups exist at any dispersed sites near Letart. A Monday Creek visitor simply states, "Primitive (off the grid). My kinda place."
