Best Tent Camping near Riverton, WV
Monongahela National Forest surrounds Riverton, West Virginia with numerous primitive tent camping opportunities. Eagle Rock Campground offers tent sites along the South Branch of the Potomac River, with basic amenities including vault toilets and fire rings for $10 per night. Swallow Rock Campground, located along Gandy Creek, provides dispersed tent-only sites with river access ideal for fishing. Bear Heaven Campground features about ten spacious tent sites with fire pits and vault toilets, situated near Elkins and the Bickel Knob fire tower. Little River Dispersed Campsites in the national forest offers approximately 15 creekside tent camping locations with varying levels of privacy.
Tent sites throughout the region typically feature dirt or gravel surfaces with minimal improvements. Most primitive tent campgrounds include fire rings, but campers should bring their own water or filtering equipment as potable water is scarce. Access roads to many backcountry tent camping areas require careful navigation, particularly after rain when dirt roads become muddy and rutted. One camper at Little River noted the "pothole ridden dirt road" leading to the sites. Black bears are active throughout the area, requiring proper food storage in vehicles or bear canisters. Weather can change rapidly in these mountains, with evening temperatures dropping significantly even in summer months and afternoon thunderstorms common.
Creekside tent camping provides distinctive experiences throughout the region. According to reviews, Little River Dispersed Campsites feature "wildflowers and ferns and grassy spots right by the river" with some sites offering picnic tables and fire pits. One visitor described their site as "breathtaking, with a small stream pool running along one edge, and the rushing river on another." Tent campers at Bear Heaven Campground appreciate that it's "seldom full" and provides a quiet base for outdoor adventures. Cell service is virtually non-existent at most primitive tent campgrounds, creating a true disconnect from technology. Walk-in tent sites at Canaan Loop Road offer additional seclusion for those willing to carry their gear a short distance from parking areas.
