East Fork Campground and Horse Stables in Durbin offers dedicated facilities for equestrian visitors seeking camping opportunities with their horses. The campground provides horse stalls with direct access to trails throughout the Monongahela National Forest. Camping accommodations include sites for tents and RVs with water, electric, and sewer hookups. Campground amenities support both riders and their horses with drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables, and trash disposal. The campground remains open from April 1 to November 1, allowing equestrians to experience different seasonal riding conditions.
Trails connecting from East Fork Campground lead riders through diverse forest terrain with multiple route options. Horse owners have convenient access to water sources for their animals while at the campground. The area surrounding Brandywine provides several riding opportunities through mountain landscapes and forest service roads. Equestrian campers should note that while some facilities exist specifically for horses, advanced reservations are recommended during peak season. The proximity to natural water features allows horses to cool down after trail rides. Riders frequently note the peaceful setting creates an ideal base camp for exploring the numerous bridle paths throughout this section of the Monongahela National Forest.
"It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "
"The Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers extra-large camp sites with lots of shade and so much undergrowth I only saw my neighbors when I took a walk to check out the campground."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 - $32 / night
"The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through"
"Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site."
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $75 / night
"I go there to climb and both sites are close to the rocks. I have camped there just about every month of the year. Be forwarded this entire area has no cell service due to the Green radio telescopes."
"Laurel fork campground is a nice place to go if you are looking to get away from the busy life. It’s not a very large camp ground or heavily populated. Finding a spot shouldn’t be a problem."
"Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground ( settled deep in the woods) , there were No Bugs to speak of! Tons of wildflowers and butterflies!"
"Very peaceful, surrounded by mountains. The campground had stables and catered to people with horses, but we felt very welcomed by the owners."
"We stayed for one night but most of the others staying there had horses and were staying a while."
"Restaurant, Shavers Saloon, was walking distance and had full bar with good food. Service there was great. Bathrooms were older but very clean. Plenty of hot water."
"This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river and the seasonal campers spread out around."
"There is Rockcliff lake and small beach area, an overlook (Lina Constable Overlook) to hike to right off the camp loop but it’s 1 mile steep incline at times but worth every step. Gorgeous!"
"The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained. Lots of hiking trails and a very easy one that loops around the Rockcliff Lake."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $105 / night
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
TravelerLong drive thru spots, lots of space between campsites. Really inexpensive laundry ($1 to wash $1 to dry) $5 showers for 10 minutes. Nice bathrooms. Dry camping at its finest. Close drive to Grand caverns and Luray caverns.
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.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
ScoutWe were there for a short time Arriving on Aug. 17th. Our trip plan was to see the steam engine trains.
Camp grounds was very clean and well kept. The sites were grass with gravel pads where the camper was placed. We plan to come back again and stay longer. There are a lot of places to visit and enjoy the area site seeing.
The manager was very accommodating. We had a problem with a water line. The manager came over and helped us find parts and repair the water line.
ScoutGood facilities for a NP campground
RangerThis is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
GuideGreat summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
GuideI chose Big Meadows to stay at because my traveling companion is definitely a bit bougie and was anxious about camping in the mountains of a NP. Due to this site having showers, toilets, a laundromat, camp store(s) and even a lodge/taproom, they felt more comfortable. We stayed at site D142, right near the entrance by the registration office and showers. I didn’t expect the site to be so nice and quiet and still feel quite private despite the location! We checked out the loops and besides the tent sites, I actually preferred our site. We stayed the week before Memorial Day weekend and I was pleased with how quiet it was. Quiet hours were strictly adhered without rangers having to ask, other campers were respectful toward each other and we had no issues. The NP staff were awesome and the concession employees for the showers, camp store, and the Wayside grill were genuinely friendly and obviously cared about their jobs, which I sincerely appreciate. Wayside grill with attached camp store was fun and had some great gift items as well as some pretty solid quality hiking and camping items. The grill even had a beyond burger which I greatly appreciated! The lodge was funky but not my cup of tea, the taproom was ok, although the employees were really nice.
It did rain half the time we were there with extremely heavy fog so we only did a few hikes but they were still a lot of fun. We didn’t see any bear either! The number one animal we had invade our campsite on the regular were birds. Two catbirds regularly tried to involve themselves in everything, including landing on a pot of oatmeal I was actively cooking and standing next to! We followed leave no trace of course but any chance the birds got, from catbirds, robins, brown thrashers, towhee, and even a redstart, they would try to investigate.
There is clean drinking water listed on the campsite maps, there are utility sinks for grey water (don’t use the bathroom sink!), bathrooms were always clean and bathrooms and showers are open 24/7 and are well lit. I didn’t buy the firewood so I’m unsure how much it is but the little camp store was open from 9-6 (right by the bathroom) for firewood, ice, and other various supplies.
Only downsides to the site are 1) showers are not cheap ($5 for 10 mins) and don’t stay warm for long so you’re showering in chilly water. Some stalls last a bit longer than others. 2) The biggest issue though was surprisingly the bear boxes. They are quite large and fit a lot of stuff which is great. However, you are expected to keep your cooler in them. I have a bear proof cooler (IGBC) so I’ve never had to experience this situation before. The bear box being made of metal, heated everything up in it which caused rapid melting of ice. Despite pre-chilling it and my ice usually lasting for days and days, we had to refill it daily. The camp store thankfully sold ice (10 lb bags for $5) but it was frustrating that there was no other option for bear proof items. I didn’t fight the rangers regarding it because it’s their rules, it’s for the safety of the bears and people, and the rangers and park staff have enough stuff to deal with.
All in all, I’ve never really glamped before so it was quite a luxurious trip even with the rain and fog for half the trip. I’ll most definitely be back and would even stay at the same site or a tent only site with no driveway.
Equestrian camping near Brandywine, West Virginia offers access to the diverse terrain of Monongahela National Forest at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,800 feet. The region's varied landscape includes dense forests, mountain ridges, and natural water features that support multiple trail systems. Winter temperatures can drop below 15°F with summer daytime averages around 80°F.
Trail riding beyond East Fork: Riders can venture beyond the immediate East Fork area to explore Gandy Creek trails. As one visitor notes, "Very nice area several nice spot right along the creek. Areas are spread out and private. Nice spot to relax and escape along creek. Drive back is well maintained dirt road" at Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping.
Fishing opportunities: Many equestrian campers combine riding with fishing at nearby waterways. One camper at Laurel Fork Campground reports, "The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall. My wife and I spent our honeymoon here 25 years ago and plan to return there this fall. Our son was married here in the stream in waders and we all went fishing after the ceremony."
Seasonal activities: Plan equestrian camping trips around seasonal conditions. A visitor at Spruce Knob Lake notes, "Beautiful especially in the fall. Lake is stocked with trout spring and fall. It is an easy drive to many of the local trout streams such as the Gandy, the Glady and Shavers Fork. Many hiking opportunities with excellent birding especially in spring or fall during migration."
Proximity to scenic railways: Some equestrian campers appreciate combining horse activities with historic train excursions. At East Fork Campground and Horse Stables, a visitor shared, "Nice campground adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive. They are doing a train robbery this week, robbers are riding horseback to steal a guarded shipment!"
Remote wilderness access: Many riders value the isolation of certain camping areas. A visitor to Laurel Fork Campground describes it as "Very remote. Two small circles of sites the only amenity is pit toilets... Lots of memories here. Maybe you can make some too!" Another camper notes, "This place feel and literally is in the middle of nowhere. It takes forever on dirt forest service roads to finally stumble upon this place, making its beauty that much more enchanting."
Creek-side camping: Equestrian campers frequently select sites near water features for their horses. At Revelle's River Resort, a camper reports, "My family and I liked this campground a lot. We had a camp site that was right against the river with full hookups. This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river."
Limited connectivity: Cell service is extremely restricted throughout the region. A visitor at Spruce Knob Lake Campground warns, "Its very remote, but your at the top of a mountain so it's gorgeous. Pit toilet, no sinks or sanitizer. Limited running water. They do sell wood from the camp host. Do not expect cell service, we didn't have any for about 45 min driving there."
Weather preparedness: The mountain elevation means rapid weather changes affect trail conditions. One camper shares, "We did this hike in March and there was a thin layer of snow on the ground when we started that quickly accumulated while we hiked and then overnight as we slept. Quick heads up to be prepared."
Driving conditions: Many equestrian-friendly camping areas require travel on unpaved roads. A visitor notes, "Directions from the Recreation.gov website: From Riverton, WV, take U.S. Route 33 south 2 miles to Briery Gap Road(County Road 33/4). Turn right onto Briery Gap Road. Go 2 miles to Forest Road 112, turn right and continue for 13.5 miles."
Water activities: Children can enjoy creek access while horses rest. A visitor at Gandy Creek describes, "We picked a spot about halfway into the dispersed camping area, creek side along the Gandy creek. We were closer to the road than we wanted to be but because the past few days had been beautiful spring weather, the area was packed. The only others we saw from our campsite were people fishing downstream from our camp."
Wildlife viewing: Families can observe local wildlife during their stay. One camper at Kumbrabow State Forest reports, "Beautiful tent sites along the creek! I was there in late summer, but I plan to return in late spring when the rhododendrons would be in bloom. Access is by about 6 miles of dirt/rock road. There are many trails at all hiking levels."
Designated family sites: Some campgrounds offer specific family-friendly accommodations. A visitor notes, "Beautiful campground located in the middle of nowhere. Quiet and peaceful with a fantastic stream going through the campground to either fish or play in. Some of the campsites are smaller and less private than others. We stayed in campsite 11, and it had plenty of privacy and space."
Hookup availability: RV campers should verify utility options before arrival. At East Fork Campground, "The sites are full hook up" according to one camper, while another reports, "Most of the sites were full hook-ups and the facilities were very clean and well maintained."
Water weight considerations: RVers should plan for challenging mountain roads. One camper advises, "There are some pretty steep inclines to even get to the campgrounds. Unless you have a powerful vehicle pulling your camper, it would help to release your water supply and fill up when you get to the campground."
Seasonal closures: Verify operating schedules before planning an RV trip. A visitor mentions, "We were just traveling through on our way south and called to see if we could stay for a night. The campground was being shut down for the season but the owners accommodated us anyway! They let us fill water near their home which is on site and had a full hook up available for us."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Brandywine, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Brandywine, WV is Spruce Knob Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Brandywine, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Brandywine, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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