Best Equestrian Camping near Nitro, WV

Recent Equestrian Reviews in Nitro

24 Reviews of 8 Nitro Campgrounds

• 

  Jeremiah S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Chief Logan State Park Campground

  Lots to do

  Chief Logan has a lot of interesting things to see, including an outdoor animal exhibit, a lodge, a pool, a theatre, and a museum all close together.

  Our site was full hook up and very level. There was creek nearby and walking paths all over. We went over to the lodge and was able to swim in the pool and hot tub as part of the price of our campsite. There was solar event with super rare aurora light show for this part of the world while we were there.

• 

  Raquel R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 23, 2023

  Chief Logan State Park Campground

  Lots to do!

  Beautiful, quiet spot. The staff was very easy to work with and very friendly. The wildlife exhibit is a fun detour ($2/person). We saw a water slide, putt-putt, and enjoyed the restaurant at the lodge. They have tours for the local elk there too. The town itself is cute and we enjoyed a date night at the local steakhouse. Great spot, perfect getaway!

• L

  Liz

  Guide

  

  Aug. 25, 2023

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

  Quiet, relaxing

  Stayed here for 2 nights. Scarlet Oak campground. Drove and checked out the other two campgrounds which were also nice. Some sites are really small and some are right along the road. Not crowded at all during our visit. Some sites are sloped from slight to more severe. We did have to take our camper off our truck (truck camper) in order to get level. Our site had a large “yard” and trees. All great for our two big dogs. Site had w/e.

• 

  Corey M.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 24, 2022

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Good campground, great hiking

  This campground above Lake Vesuvius was nice. Not a lot of privacy, but sites are comfortably spaced out. Great hiking and Lake Vesuvius is small but beautiful. Also, there’s a hidden gem of a cave/overhang along one of the hiking trails.

• 

  Corey M.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 17, 2022

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Iron Ridge at Lake Vesuvius

  Nice, quiet campground. Not a ton of privacy, but much better than an RV park. More shade and privacy here than the nearby Oak Hill campground on the other side of the lake. Tons of hiking trails around the lake. We will definitely be back!

• 

  Wendi L.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 15, 2022

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Beautiful but be careful of water pressure

  Beautiful place to camp. Some sites are more difficult for parking a camper than others. We stayed at site 6 which wasn’t too difficult to park but the water pressure was extremely high

• 

  Andrew S.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 17, 2021

  Ole Henry's Camping retreat

  Ole' Henry's is very family friendly and set up to accommodate anyone.

  Ole' Henry's has a very nice setup with a Giovannis pizza restaurant and camp store on site.  It is privately owned and the owners are very nice.  Vicky and her family run it with some workers that make it very nice.  The showers stalls can accommodate about 7-8 people at a time in the men's and women's bathrooms.   

  The playground are has a nice swing set and a couple big wooden play structures.  There is blain drain pipe slides coming off one of the hillsides that is a kid favorite.  they also have a little 55 gallon barrel train ride for little kids.  The creek nearby offers up a good, safe swimming hole for all the kids and adults.

  Giovanni's pizza restaurant on site has wifi.  This campground is located out in God's country.  Its very beautiful and is near several attractions with 5 minutes to the Mud river and about half an hour to Waterways water park.  Of course you're in the heart of the Hatfield and MCcoy trail ride system.  The coal river is nearby for float trips.  There really is a lot to do in the area and after a fun filled day you can come back and relax at Ole' Henry's after having a nice meal.  The website shows the restaurant menu and all of the prices for tents & RV's.  They also have cabins to rent on a back section of the property out of view of the tent and RV sites.

  Not to mention they have a store where you can buy almost anything you might need in case you forget something.

  There is a pony that lives on the site and is very friendly.  It scavenges for free food and the children love it.  There is also a few cats or so that live on site and is very friendly to children.

• 

  Jackson B.

  Traveler

  

  May. 6, 2021

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Rustic and simple

  I LOVE camping here, unlike a lot of camp grounds they're actually within the woods so you feel like you're actually part of the forest and the nature. It's a simple place, they have showers and restrooms. The hiking trails are scenic and pretty and the lake while not overly big, is clean and great for swimming(there's a beach) , kayaking, and fishing. They have plenty of crappie, bass, and catfish stocked in the lake and there are bait shops close by.

  Over all it is a very relaxing place to camp and cheaper than most other places even for a camper hook up.

• K

  Kelly L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 24, 2020

  Chief Logan State Park Campground

  Lots of things to do

  Beautiful place. There is a pool (open 11-6, cost $6), mini golf($3), paved courts($4/hr), and more. It’s pricier than what I am used to in Tn, but it has primitive or hookup sites with bath/shower houses.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 30, 2019

  Chief Logan State Park Campground

  Worth An Extended Stay

  I stayed at Chief Logan for 3-days and 2-nights and didn’t get to do or see everything I wanted to experience at this wonderful WV State Park, so it’s worth an extended stay. 

  Chief Logan has 26 level RV camping spots with water and electricity at all sites and a sewer connection at about half of them. The park also has a large open field for group camping or enough space for about 40 to 50 individual tents for those who prefer a more primitive experience. No water or electricity at the primitive campground, but you’re within walking distance of the main bathhouse which was nice and clean during my stay.   Here's a link for an interactive map of the Chief Logan campground where there's cell phone service for both AT&T and Verizon customers.

  When you check-in at the park headquarters, make sure you visit the adjoining museum which gives you some background on the local coal industry and the hardy settlers who clashed with the American Indians when this area was still used as their hunting grounds. The gift shop has a variety of souvenirs with their#1 best sellers tied to alleged sightings of “Big Foot,” not Chief Logan… Lol… 

  Chief Logan State Park has lots of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. I hiked the Coal Mine Trail with remnants of the coal industry decaying in the forest, then continued on the Wilderness Trail which gives you a nice view of the surrounding mountains. I was super impressed by the maintenance staff when I reported offensive graffiti on the Guyandotte Beauty Trail and a crew hiked into the woods and painted over it before I even had time to show my photos to Superintendent Bruce Collinsworth.

  There are a variety of shelters and playgrounds scattered throughout the nearly 4,000 acre forest so you can spread out and enjoy the park without feeling like you’re fighting any crowds. 

  I didn’t get to try the Chief Logan swimming pool, but it looked amazing with a giant slide, high dive and kiddie pool. There's also a stocked fishing pond in this park.

  There’s a small wildlife center where you can see bears, bobcats and raptors in enclosures for a$2.00 donation. The caretaker helped me get some nice photos of the bears by putting some honey and peanut butter on the fence around their enclosure. You won’t have to pay a dime to see deer. I spotted dozens of does, bucks and fawns during my stay, so keep your eyes peeled because they don’t seem terribly cautious around people or cars. 

  I should add that nearly 100 elk have recently been reintroduced in and around Chief Logan State Park. I didn’t see any elk during my visit, but I plan a return trip in the fall when naturalist Lauren Cole offers tours during the mating season. 

  I can’t write a Chief Logan State Park review without mentioning the outdoor theater. Actors had just wrapped a sold-out run of “Deadly Divide” about the bloody history of the Hatfields and McCoys and were practicing for the “Lion King, Jr.” Chief Logan also has an entertainment venue called“Pickin’ In The Park,” where you can hear some local bluegrass music on the weekends. 

  Chief Logan also has a really nice lodge and some new deluxe cabins about 2-miles from the main portion of this state park. The lodge has a restaurant and conference rooms, plus there’s a modern recreational center nearby which includes a heated indoor swimming pool, weight room, tennis courts, and elevated walking track. Admission to the rec center is free for lodge guests, but campers can also use the facility for$10/day or$32/month for a family of four… Deal! 

  So why is such a grandiose state park located in the middle of Lincoln County, WV, where the decline of the coal industry has left many in poverty? Former WV Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is from Lincoln County, so he made sure big bucks where channeled into his home turf, including a nerve jangling connector road that links the main portion of Chief Logan State Park to the lodge and rec center. This road, named “Tomblin Drive,” in his honor, is so steep and curvy it’s closed during the winter months. 

  Additional things/do to see nearby: The Coal Heritage Trail, Blair Mountain, Hatfield and McCoy ATV Trails, and the City of Logan.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 28, 2019

  River Expeditions Campsites

  Ranger Review: Banner and Oak Hats at River Expeditions

  Campground Review: 

  River Expeditions in Oak Hill, WV, is an all-in-one camping-to-glamping resort for outdoor adventures in the New River Gorge where I shared a 3-day adventure with a young lady who was a first-time camper. We both enjoyed the friendly, knowledgeable staff and all the amenities, including an outdoor swimming pool, game room, restaurant and saloon.

  River Expeditions offers tent camping, safari tents, RV sites, bungalows, mini-cabins, deluxe cabins, and even luxury cabins with private hot tubs. Prices range from$15/night for tent camping to nearly $400 for the luxury cabins with a 15% discount for booking online, and a 50% discount from November 1st to March 3rd. All accommodations include a complimentary continental breakfast. 

  River Expeditions is spread out over a 100-acres, with the tent camping located in open meadows, surrounded by trees. The RV camp sites are too close together for my taste and the gravel parking spots are all on a slant, so it would be a challenge for larger trailers to get level there. My camping buddy and I upgraded from my tent to my RV van due to thunderstorms and heavy rain. We selected spot#6 which allowed us to park parallel to the electricity and mostly avoid the downhill slant. 

  The New River Gorge National River has some of the best whitewater rafting in the country, so we booked a trip on the lower New River and it was great! River Expeditions has good gear and great guides like Porter who had us cracking up when he shared some local folklore. He gave us lots of opportunities for a relaxing swim outside the raft. We also got to test the power of a whirlpool and jump off a huge rock, while we paddled downstream through the rapids. 

  The New River Gorge is a climber’s dream, so we booked an evening of rock climbing with David Wolff, Director of the New River Climbing School and he was amazing! I would describe David as an expert instructor, combined with psychological counselor, who helped my camping buddy cope with her fear of heights during the rappelling portion of the outing. 

  There are lots of great hiking trails in the New River Gorge. The 2-mile Endless Wall Trail has been rated the #1 National Park trail by USA Today. The view from Diamond Point is amazing, with the rocky outcroppings overlooking the New River. You’ll often see climbers scaling nearby rock walls and you can watch rafts negotiating the rapids in the river below. Tip: There are two small parking lots which can fill up fast, you may want to arrive early on the weekends. If you have a big party, you can carpool from the Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center which is worth a visit to use their flush toilets and get free trail maps. 

  We also hiked the 3-mile Long Point Trail which gives you an amazing view of the New River Bridge, a steel arch bridge, more than 3,000 feet long, which spans the gorge. If you visit on the third Saturday of October, you can join tens of thousands of visitors who watch dare devils base jump from the structure during the annual Bridge Day celebration. 

  On the final day of our visit, we tried River Expeditions’ 3-part zipline in the pouring rain, something I wouldn’t repeat because I was too soaked and cold to enjoy the experience. I’d describe it as a beginner’s zipline, so if you’re looking for something more dramatic, with better views, you may want to check out the competition at Ace Adventure Resort. 

  The only negative caveat of our stay was a run-in with the resort owner caused by unpredictable hours for the pool and other amenities, which closed early with no advanced warning.  We were threatened with eviction when I used the half-covered hot tub at 9:30 PM after we were told at check in it stayed open until 10 PM.

  Product Review: 

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time, so my camping buddy and I wore Banner and Oak hats during our 3-day adventure in the New River Gorge.

  I want to be honest, without trashing Banner and Oak, because I love their American-made hats and would definitely recommend them. 

  With that said, I’m disappointed that Banner and Oak has apparently abandoned their founding pledge to sell American-designed and fabricated hats, with 95% of the materials sourced in the United States. 

  I noticed the recent change when I opened my sample box and two of three hats inside were made in China and Bangladesh. 

  My favorite hat of the trio is the American-made Banner and Oak Scout with a patch that pleases my soul, featuring the phrase“Freedom To Explore” embroidered across the top with a stars and stripes tent centered underneath. This hat is well-made, with quality materials, and generates positive comments whenever I wear it. 

  The quality of the China-made Banner and Oak Trailhead hat is fine, but the brand is unknown in West Virginia, so when I showed it to other campers, they wanted to know something about the company. I told them Banner and Oak is a relatively new American apparel brand headquartered in Arkansas, so they seemed confused by the“Made in China” tag inside. 

  The hat made in Bangladesh is the Banner and Oak Pathfinder from the women’s line. The quality is noticeably inferior, with puckered seams and the front logo slightly off-center.

  All three Banner and Oaks hats I tested have a list price of nearly $30/each, so my buying preference would be for any style of their top-quality, American-made hats, designed, fabricated and sourced in the USA.

• 

  Jackie D.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 22, 2019

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Will return

  Great campground with super easy access to the trail and lake. The sites are spread apart enough so you aren’t right beside someone - and shaded. Well prepared sites with a clearing, fire ring, and a picnic table. Nice host and rangers too! Bathrooms were meh: the walls need cleaned or painted, no where to put your things, and there was no hand soap - no biggie though.

• 

  Ruby W.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 24, 2019

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

  Awesome Backpacking

  Great location to earn some backpacking miles. Feels quite remote, but along the trails there are shelters, bathrooms, trash reciprocals, and other useful hookups. When camping and hiking here, you feel space and distance from other campers, with the perks of established facilities.

• 

  Joey B.

  Traveler

  

  May. 31, 2019

  Chief Logan State Park Campground

  Awesome quiet getaway

  Private sites

• K

  Kelly M.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 10, 2019

  New & Gauley River Adventures

  Basic Camping

  Primitive tent camping with spacious sites, RV and cabins too; friendly staff, small bathhouse and small gift shop; cute and earthy pub and grill with live music; offer rafting adventures and horseback riding.

  The rafting trip was fun, but we took the double express trip which means you do the same ride twice in one day- I don't recommend this as I was bored the second round. Athough the check-in attendant was very nice, he "didn't get around to" chopping any firewood, so he sent me to a neighboring campground to buy some. Since bringing outside/foreign wood is not allowed, I was extremely annoyed (and hungry) when I had to stop at 3 different places to find/buy some. I will not be booking another stay here.

• K

  Kelly M.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 10, 2019

  River Expeditions Campsites

  Great Company

  This clean and spacious campground lends itself to white water rafting enthusiasts, offering various guided trips down the New and Gauley rivers. The campground has its own hiking/biking trails and zip line canopy tours. It also offers horseback riding and ATV tours. Tent camping is primitive, but the bathhouse is clean and efficient. Luxury cabins, lodges, bunkhouses, and cute Safari tents are available. There is a pool and hot tub near the well equipped gift shop, and the Red Dog Saloon and Grill for when you need a break from camp food. We had a blast on our rafting trip and truly enjoyed our stay.

• 

  Lisa S.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 7, 2019

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

  Perfect Family Destination

  This Recreation Area offers hiking trails, picnic opportunities, along with shelter house rentals for those family get togethers. The damn provides an excellent place for photos, while the lake is excellent for fishing and birdwatching. Year-round Campground with Electric, tent sites are also available. Perfect quiet area for a family day trip or spending a few days.

• 

  Neal C.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 1, 2018

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

  awesome

  great place to camp and kayak. must camp 150ft from the trail. no cell service.beautiful park

• A

  Ashley F.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2018

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Clean

  Very clean and private campsites

• C

  Chris S.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 22, 2018

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Great!

  Most of the sites shaded and separated by trees. Love the privacy this provides. Our favorite “close to home campground”!

• 

  Natali M.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 11, 2018

  Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

  Lovely campground, nice shaded sites

  MMy husband and I love it here

• 

  Brew W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 15, 2017

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, Wayne National Forest, Ironton District, Iron Ridge Campground (Pedro, OH)

  The Iron Ridge Campground sites are relatively close together; however, the Iron Ridge campground boasts a handful of sites that sit below the road, and, thus, offer more privacy. I didn't camp at Oak Hill, but I have explored it a few times. Even during the week, that campground was packed with campers. If you're a tent person using Vesuvius as a home base for trail hiking, stick with Iron Ridge. The fishing isn't bad at Vesuvius, but the shore access can be crowded, which has resulted in a limited number of keeper fish. The Lakeshore Trail is well-marked and generally nice, but, at times, a bit unkempt in the summer. The lake views are somewhat limited by brush and trail/lakeside growth, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get a good view of the lake. We also hiked the Whiskey Run Trail, which was short and hilly, but conveniently located right off the campground. The Whiskey Run also offers just enough lake access to let your dogs swim or to put a pole in the water. It also passes an impressive rock shelter. The very short (but rewarding) Rockhouse Trail is a right on top of the major lake action (near the boat ramps and beach area). The benefit is a nice rock house at the end, as well as interpretive signage that sheds light on Ohio's iron industry and history.

• 

  Robyn S.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 4, 2017

  Chief Logan State Park Campground

  Beautiful area

  Came in for a mountain bike race, stayed at the campground. Nice large level lots to choose from. Very quiet and easy access to the trails, also a nice park to run in as well as bike.

• J

  Justin S.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 29, 2016

  Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area

  Small wooded sites

  This is a relatively simple little site with fishing, swimming, and a boardwalk. We were there in early November for the leaves and it wasn’t too crowded then. There aren’t many campsites so summer could be an issue without reservations. The camp sites were nicely spread out within the forest.