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Kinderhook Horse Trail provides primitive camping with pets allowed near St. Marys, West Virginia. This free camping area in Wayne National Forest features a vault toilet, picnic table, and tent spots located close to equestrian trails. While primarily designed for horse trail riders, the trailhead accommodates small campers, car camping, and tent setups. Pets must remain leashed throughout the campground. The area lacks designated fire rings but does offer a manual water pump. Multiple reviews note the campground can get busy with local traffic, particularly in evenings, making it potentially less suitable for solo campers with pets. Sites are mostly level with flat tent spots in a deciduous forest setting.
Several dog-friendly hiking options surround the camping area, with the Paw Paw trail offering a smooth, wide path suitable for hiking with leashed dogs. The Kinderhook trail itself tends to be more overgrown according to recent visitors. North Bend State Park, approximately 20 minutes away, provides additional pet-friendly camping with both River Run Campground and Cokeley Campground welcoming dogs. These established campgrounds offer more amenities including showers, picnic tables, and water hookups. Campers report frequent wildlife sightings, particularly deer, making it essential to keep pets secured. The park's extensive trail system includes the rail-to-trail path accessible directly from River Run Campground, ideal for walking dogs on leashes. Weather conditions often leave trails muddy, requiring extra cleanup for pets after outdoor activities.
"Initially, you don't see it...you must drive up and over a roller."
"North Bend State Park is located at the halfway point of the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, so it’s a great camping spot for hikers, bikers and horseback riders who want to explore this scenic trail which"
"Close to the restroom there’s a picnic table, tentspots and a manual water pump. A lot of insects, humid and dense deciduous forest surrounding the trailhead. The Kinderhook trail was overgrown."
"Very quiet at night, except for a handful of cars that might drive through or spend the night. I spent two weeks here and had zero issues with people being loud or causing a ruckus."
"This campground is just off Hwy 26, but far enough away from town that there isn’t much traffic. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern pole. "
"This is a great drive in campsite perfect for family and friends to get into the woods for a bit."
"Especially if you have a dog. Across the street, the park portion of this campground has a dog park, playground, historical site and pond for fishing FYI ."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Love this place. 1st time ever in West Virginia and this park was up to the task of making a great 1st impression of the state.
Great hiking with well marked trails.""My dad and I stayed at the lodge in NBSP in May 2023 after riding bicycles for 26 miles from West Union on the rail trail."
from $15 - $55 / night
Check Availability"This is a horse trail camp. There is a vault toilet,a few trash cans,a water spigot and plenty of room for horse trailers. There are some trails you can walk or ride on."
"As we drove around the trailhead, we found a second designated site. The forest website says dispersed camping is allowed and fires are allowed with a 10 foot clearance and a ring of rocks."
"He has so much info on where to eat and what to see in the surrounding areas. The guy bends over backwards for his guests."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Very close to the nice little downtown Marietta, Ohio but still very rural location. Large sites. Great staff. Absolutely love this place. Slow pace and quiet."
"The highway traffic can be a little loud in the morning if you're on that side of the property, but who wants to sleep when there are trails to hit!"
from $15 / night
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RangerOn the border with West Virginia. There aren’t really sites on the water but there’s a nice path to the lake from the camp sites and lots of deer. We spent most of the time on the water (there’s a power limit on the boats) but the campsites were nice in a simple kind of way (showers but no flush).
RangerWeekend get away with the wife and dog. Pet friendly park. Walking path to the lake which was very close. Would advise to visually check the sites, due to terrain which is rolling.
ScoutOnly stayed for a night but it was very quiet and only a handful of other campers. All the sites seemed relatively level. Some of the electric hookups had damage but being able to choose your spot upon arrival helped. We arrived in pouring rain and had no issues with our campsite when we could see it in the morning lol.
Bathrooms and showers were relatively clean and accommodating.
Seemed a lot like a hidden gem and I definitely recommend. Especially if you have a dog. Across the street, the park portion of this campground has a dog park, playground, historical site and pond for fishing
FYI . Most of the sites seemed small so it might be best for smaller setups. Also I did not see any pull through sites.
GuideLove this place. 1st time ever in West Virginia and this park was up to the task of making a great 1st impression of the state.
Great hiking with well marked trails. Fantastic biking on the 72 mile North bend trail which is an abandoned rail way with multiple tunnels including one that is a quarter long and haunted.
Not a bad camping site in the river run part, but if you can snag one along the river, grab it.
Staff was wonderful, especially Brittany! Facilities are dated but are good enough for me. Biggest negative was an inconsistent internet. Wifi was right behind me but my Android was more disconnected than connected. Weirdly my firestick internet TV was strong throughout.
Highly reccomend
TravelerWe camped at both Dock 3 and Dock 2 with our dog, those are the only two areas that allow pets. At Dock 3 we were right on the water but dock 2 is probably 200 yards from the water. The hiking trails are nice but very muddy after the rain. Lots of geocasches in the area on the trails in Wayne national forest. The docks have near constant traffic but it's not super busy. Just a car every few hours. There were fishermen there most of the night when we were there.
LegendAs with any trip, do your research, read your reviews, peruse Google Satellite maps and talk to locals when you can.
Mountwood County Park http://www.mountwoodpark.org/about.html is located about 15 minutes east of Parkersburg on Rt 50. Heading east on Rt 50 from Parkersburg, WV you will arrive at Mountwood County Park on the right...but the campground portion is a mile further east on the left side of the road. Both are marked by road signage...but most would assume they are all in one location.
If you bring your quads, dirt bikes or mountain bikes with you when you camp, then Mountwood County Park is for you. Right off the back of Mountwood are plenty of ATV trails to keep you busy during your stay. If bombing mountain bike trails is your thing, then across the highway from the campground is your dream. If relaxing in a serene mountain or river valley campground atmosphere is what you desire...keep driving east on Rt 50 another 20 minutes to North Bend State Park.
The primitive tent sites ($20 nightly) are less than desirable and more of an afterthought...and I'm being gracious. There is patchy tall grass, dirt and rocks with no leveled areas. And you have to wander a distance to the restroom/showerhouse when needed. You can rent the tiny cabins ($40 nightly) up on the top of the hill if you desire. They were rented and filled during my visit, surrounded with trailers filled with quads (not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting). One of the main ATV offroad trail entrances is a hundred yards or so past the primitive tent sites so anticipate traffic and some noise. There were a few electric/water sites available for RV/Campers but the majority of them were filled.
It does appear that that there are several "long term campers" at numerous sites, as wooden steps and decks are built and attached to the campers. I would not describe the campground as neat and tidy, but fills a need.
The other portion of the county park lies across Rt 50 about 1/2 mile east. This is where you will find a nice 50 acre lake...shaped like a "T" on its side... for short paddles or fishing (no swimming permitted), a solid collection of varied ability MTB trails and a cool, little local WV Oil history museum. Being a bit of a history buff, I was fascinated by the museum...how the local town was created during the oil boon and then destroyed by fire...of an enormous wilderness mansion that sat where the campground now sits. Interesting stuff.
There is a nice dog park if you brought your pooch. Several picnic areas with picnic shelters, playgrounds, and decent shared hiking trails.
As stated, if your main purpose is to MTB or ATV, then you might be contented with Mountwood County Park Campground. As county parks go, Mountwood County Park, itself, is nice and has a lot to offer. If quiet camping is your objective, I would recommend NorthBend State Park just down the road a piece.
ScoutWhile the campsite only provides water when compared to the burr oak state campgrounds you really can’t beat the price. On top of that they are allowing walk ins, while burr oak requires making reservations. It is a short drive from the beach and It does have hiking trails to the lake for scenic pictures and bonding moments with your children and pets
LegendThis campground is currently closed but hopefully opening in a couple of weeks. We were camping there as volunteers with the Buckeye Trail Association to assist with trail cleanup. The Buckeye Trail is easily accessible from the campground for hiking.
The campground has a beautiful lake you fish or kayak on and there are a ton of birds so bring your binoculars.
Some sites have good shade and some have absolutely none. There is no electric so come ready to boondock or bring a generator. There are sites on the hill or right next to the lake. There are water pumps and drop toilets which were semi clean.
It’s free to camp and first come first serve. You do have to have a permit which can be downloaded from the web. You do have to register and there is a camp host.
Wood is not provided and there are no rings but spots for your fire. Be smart, keep an eye on it. Picnic benches are at each site, some better than others. Each side also has its own trash can.
It is pet friendly, keep em on their leash. Some sites have more space than others if you want to keep your dog on a lead.
We lucked out with cool weather so not having 100% shade was fine with us this weekend.
TravelerFirst come first served camping with water and pit toilets, large sites, area mostly wooded. Archery range and lots of fishing spots. Great for families with pets too! Had a great time and looking forward to our next visit this weekend! I’d give it more stars if it had a shower house or swim area! Bring your solar shower!
North Bend State Park contains various camping options located 15-25 miles from St. Marys, West Virginia. The park encompasses a 300-acre lake and connects to the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail which crosses 35 bridges and cuts through 11 tunnels. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F with higher humidity levels and occasional afternoon thunderstorms.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: North Bend State Park offers extensive mountain biking opportunities. "Loved North Bend! The trails are alot of fun for mountain biking and the Ranger in the park is also an avid mountain biker and sat down with us and mapped out the race route so we could pre-ride the course a few days before it was marked," shares Robyn S.
Rail trail exploration: The North Bend Rail Trail provides excellent hiking and biking opportunities. "North Bend State Park is located at the halfway point of the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, so it's a great camping spot for hikers, bikers and horseback riders who want to explore this scenic trail which crosses 35-bridges and cuts through 11-tunnels where the B&O Railroad used to travel," notes Jennifer B.
Paddling on North Bend Lake: Kayaking and fishing opportunities abound at the lake. "I paddled on the North Bend Lake which was extremely peaceful and beautiful, with the colors of fall surrounding me on all sides. I brought my own kayak, but they had boats for rent. There were several fishermen on the water and on the lakeside dock," explains Jennifer B.
River access sites: River Run Campground offers prime waterfront camping. "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," writes Julie C.
Wildlife viewing: Deer are abundant throughout the area. "Winding down to River Run, deer in abundance were lining the roadway, so use care," explains Dave V. The natural setting attracts various wildlife for observation opportunities.
Historical attractions: The region contains interesting historical sites. "Being a bit of a history buff, I was fascinated by the museum...how the local town was created during the oil boon and then destroyed by fire...of an enormous wilderness mansion that sat where the campground now sits," shares Dave V. about Mountwood Park Family Campground.
Flooding impacts: Some campgrounds in the area have experienced closures due to flooding. "Talked to a National Forest Ranger and was told that this campground flooded in February 2018 and it will be quite some time before they can open it up again. Check their website for details," advises Shari G. about Leith Run Recreation Area.
GPS reliability: Follow official directions rather than GPS. "Do not follow GPS to get to North Bend SP(Cokeley or River Run) Call the park office directly. GPS took us up some nasty horse-shoe hills! Park personnel said some GPS will bring campers up a bad gravel road!" warns Kim M.
Local traffic considerations: Several campgrounds experience varying traffic patterns. "Area is dedicated to horse trail riding. Nice clean area just off main road. Can camp here in certain spots. Not much area to camp," explains Joe B. about Kinderhook Horse Trail.
Pool and recreation options: Cokeley Campground offers family amenities. "North Bend State Park would be good for kids because they have playgrounds, mini-golf and an outdoor swimming pool," notes Jennifer B. These facilities provide entertainment options for children.
Site selection for families: Choose sites with adequate space. "We had a wonderful time. The Park is great and we have stayed at lodge 4 times before but this was first camping trip. I would also recommend sites 10, 11, 17, 19, 13, and 14," advises Jeremiah S.
River access for children: Supervised water play provides cooling options. "We stayed during historic heat wave but kept cool in the river, the pool, and with the ice cream store nearby. There wasn't easy river access from the campground but we climbed down the hill with no problem and waded the stream for hours," shares Jeremiah S.
Access considerations: RV routes require planning in this hilly region. "There are two campgrounds in North Bend State Park…one is Cokely and the other is River Run. Neither are easy to get to when you have a big rig! We picked Cokely Campground as it has 50 amp power and water hook-ups. It's a good thing too as we now know that getting to River Run would have been very, very tricky!" warns Bran P.
Campsite layout: Site configurations vary significantly between campgrounds. "Most of the sites are not shaded, ours had partial shade," notes Kim M. about Cokeley Campground. This information helps RVers plan for temperature management.
Budget-friendly options: Some pet friendly camping near St. Marys offers excellent value. "Small privately owned campground about 15 min off I-77. We stopped for an overnight on our way north. Right on the Ohio River. Tight spots, but pretty level. Did I mention we're right on the Ohio River with full hookup for $25 a night?!" shares Clean Slate D. about Harris RV Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near St. Marys, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near St. Marys, WV is River Run Campground — North Bend State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near St. Marys, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near St. Marys, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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