Cabins near Mount Clare, West Virginia offer rustic lodging options amid the Appalachian foothills at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 80°F and winter lows dipping to 20°F. Many cabin sites remain accessible year-round despite the region's average annual rainfall of 45 inches, which creates lush forest conditions favorable for wildlife viewing.
What to do
Hiking trails at multiple skill levels: Coopers Rock State Forest provides excellent hiking opportunities for all experience levels. According to one visitor, "There are a number of nearby parks and forests worth exploring: Blackwater Falls, Dolly Sods Wilderness, Smoke Hole Canyon, Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks are all within~1 hour drive. You can also stay put at the resort and hike, bike, golf(including mini-golf), swim, geocache, or stargaze."
Boating and fishing: Tygart Lake State Park Campground offers water recreation opportunities. "The lake offers great relaxation and the trails around the lake offer pretty views. Only wish that there were more trails available because it's so beautiful in that area!!!" reports one camper. Another notes that "The lake was pretty but there was a ton trash all around it, such a shame."
Rail trail exploration: At North Bend State Park, campers can access the North Bend Rail Trail. One visitor explains, "This humble campground is located on the 'Haunted' North Bend Rail to Trail. It was easy check in with a friendly staff. Great place to stay with plenty of room to enjoy yourself."
What campers like
Private tent platforms: Tent camping options in cabin-focused areas provide a alternative lodging near Mount Clare. One camper at Holly River State Park mentions, "The sites are a little tight if you have a bigger camper. We have a R-Pod so the site was perfect for us. We stayed in a site that backed up to the mountain which added some privacy when other campers came in towards the end of our stay."
Diverse cabin layouts: Stonewall Resort State Park Campground features various cabin options. A visitor notes, "Stonewall Resort State Park is now the official name of this mountain retreat located around the edges of Stonewall Jackson Lake. It's not your typical WV state park because it's managed by a private developer which means that Benchmark Management gets to set the pricing for the lodge, cabins and campgrounds."
Wildlife viewing: Many cabin areas offer excellent wildlife watching opportunities. At Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground, a visitor describes, "Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening." Another camper shares, "There is a ton of wildlife in this state park! Deer galore! Someone saw a black bear on the trail (we did not)! Beautiful birds with tons of color!"
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns affect cabins near Mount Clare differently throughout the year. "We spent three days in June and experienced afternoon rain showers daily, but arranged our hikes and bikes around them," notes a Canaan Valley visitor. Another camper at Holly River cautions, "Every morning and every night it rained which made it difficult to swim and fish. The park workers said this is common year round."
Limited connectivity: Many cabin areas have spotty cell service. At Stuart Recreation Area, one camper reports, "As far as cell signals, we have either AT&T and Sprint/TMobile onboard. There is no Sprint connectivity but AT&T was a full 5G signal. AT&T Speedtest 42.3 Mbps down, 20.5 Mbps up."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Shower and bathroom facilities differ significantly between cabin areas. A visitor to Coopers Rock State Forest mentioned, "The bathrooms do not have lighting so bring a headlamp or flashlight." At Stuart Recreation Area, a camper warned, "They still have plumbing issues and the showers are still non-functional, but we brought our own anyway."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several cabin areas near Mount Clare include playground facilities. At River Run Campground, one visitor noted, "Great place to stay! We were at site 13, right on the water. Check-in was easy and the staff was very friendly! Plenty of ice and firewood at the store and a cute little gift shop. The site was mostly flat where we parked the camper and very close to the bathhouse. Plenty to do around the park - biking the rail trails, hiking, fishing, basketball, and a nice playground, to name a few!"
Swimming alternatives: Flatwoods KOA offers pool access for families staying in cabins. "Love this KOA! Great grounds, lots of shade down in a valley. Great cell phone service for Verizon. Wide RV spots. Full hookup with e/w/s. Nice pool area. Pool area is at the hotel. Hotel/KOA same owner. FREE ICE at the arena area," reports one visitor.
Wildlife education opportunities: Many cabin areas offer wildlife viewing to engage children. At Holly River State Park, a visitor described, "This is a really beautiful park! When we arrived the park was almost empty and it was so quiet. We enjoyed the beautiful drive in with the fall colors and the little stream next to the road that goes through the campground."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness varies: RV site conditions can be challenging at some cabin areas. A camper at Stuart Recreation Area warned, "Nice private camping areas more well suited to tents than RV. Most of the sites are very out of level."
Power reliability considerations: Electrical systems at some cabin areas may have issues. A camper at Stonewall Resort noted, "My surgeguard shut off the power in the evening due to high voltage. It was showing 137 volts at one time. I was not impressed and most likely won't be back."
Site selection strategy: When booking cabins or RV sites near Mount Clare, careful site selection improves experience. A Family Fishing N' Camping visitor recommended, "Very nice Campground we tent camp and enjoyed our stay," while another camper warned, "This establishment does NOT offer tent sites anymore! 5/18/2024. I called to make a reservation and they said they do not do that anymore as of a few years ago."
Traveler
