Twin Falls Resort State Park offers practical camping options 25 miles from R.D. Bailey Lake in southern West Virginia's mountainous terrain. The park sits at elevations between 1,500-2,800 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. Winter camping remains available when many other regional campgrounds close, with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing December through February.
What to do
Hiking trail selection: At Twin Falls Resort State Park Campground, trails accommodate various skill levels. "They have an abundance of trails with varying difficulty levels. We were here for almost a week and had the time only to get in about half of them," notes a visitor. The park maintains well-marked paths suitable for all ages.
Water activities: R.D. Bailey Lake offers boating and fishing opportunities within 30 minutes of most campgrounds. ACE Adventure Resort provides additional water recreation, featuring "a lake for swimming that has the huge inflatable courses on it (think like the game show wipeout) you can buy a day pass for a reasonable price to play on them all day."
Evening wildlife viewing: For glamping visitors near R.D. Bailey Lake, deer watching becomes particularly rewarding at dusk. "White tail deer are frequent, and very tame," reports a camper at Breaks Interstate Park Campground. Bring binoculars as white-tailed deer frequently appear along forest edges around sunset.
What campers like
Site spacing and privacy: Campsites at Little Beaver State Park Campground receive praise for generous spacing. "Sites with water and electric hookup 1-20. Spacious, private. We had #9. Level," reports one camper. Another notes, "Sites are big and spread out. It's quiet."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high in camper satisfaction across the region. One visitor to The Outpost at New River Gorge describes, "The bathrooms were incredible, and the shower was so good that it was almost annoying (I'm jealous and want it at home now too)." Another camper at Little Beaver mentioned, "Cleanest bathrooms and showers I've seen."
Year-round availability: Unlike many seasonal operations, several glamping options near R.D. Bailey Lake maintain winter availability. Rifrafters Campground stays "open all year for RV" camping according to their seasonal information. At Twin Falls Resort State Park, heated cabins provide comfortable winter glamping when temperatures drop.
What you should know
Remote location preparation: The area surrounding R.D. Bailey Lake requires advance planning. A visitor to Breaks Interstate Park Campground advises, "The things one must take into consideration is that you need to bring ANYTHING you might need for groceries and there is limited cell coverage for ATT."
Road conditions: Mountain roads leading to glamping sites near R.D. Bailey Lake can challenge some drivers. At Twin Falls, "Make sure your truck/vehicle towing is not underrated for what you're pulling as it is a lot of big uphill elevation and tons of windy roads and tight turns." Another camper warns, "The road most map apps will send you to closes for part of the year."
Weather preparedness: The mountainous terrain creates changeable conditions. "We had 2 of the larger campsites (#2 and #3) for Memorial Day Weekend... However, on Sunday night a strong storm came through that brought down trees with its fierce wind and torrential rain. The power went out in the campground."
Tips for camping with families
Best playgrounds: Ole Henry's Camping Retreat offers exceptional family-friendly features. "The playground area has a nice swing set and a couple big wooden play structures. There is a plain 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."
Swimming spots for children: Natural swimming areas provide relief from summer heat. "The creek nearby offers up a good, safe swimming hole for all the kids and adults," notes a visitor to Ole Henry's. Another option includes the waterpark at ACE Adventure Resort, though a camper mentions it's "a bit overpriced but fun none the less."
Animal encounters: Several campgrounds offer opportunities for children to interact with wildlife and farm animals. "There is a pony that lives on the site and is very friendly. It scavenges for free food and the children love it," according to an Ole Henry's camper. At Breaks Interstate Park, "White tail deer are frequent, and very tame."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many RV sites near R.D. Bailey Lake require leveling equipment. At Grandview Sandbar Campground, "There are gravel parking pads that could accommodate a small RV/Camper/Pop-up... How they navigated the winding steep park gravel road, is a mystery to me... the rains were eroding corners causing my truck to scrape."
Electrical considerations: Power outages occur more frequently than in urban areas. "During rains, tributaries flow into the New River causing it to overflow its banks with some regularity in the spring and early summer," which can affect electrical service. At Little Beaver State Park, some sites offer electric hookups while others are more primitive.
Dump station locations: Limited sewer connections mean planning for waste disposal. A Twin Falls camper notes, "They do not have sewage hookups, so prepare accordingly." At Little Beaver, "There is a dump station available" but individual sites lack sewer connections, requiring periodic trips to the dump station.
