Dispersed camping near Snowshoe, West Virginia occurs at elevations between 2,500-4,300 feet in the Monongahela National Forest. This region experiences significant temperature fluctuations, with summer highs rarely exceeding 80°F and winter lows often below 10°F. Most dispersed sites in this area require vehicles to navigate gravel forest roads that become challenging after rainfall or during spring thaw conditions.
What to do
Hike established trails: Several well-marked hiking paths connect to dispersed camping areas. At Mower Basin, campers have easy access to multiple difficulty levels. "Following the road all the way to the final site you will cross paths with no fewer than 5 distinct and different toughness hiking trails, there are likely more, but I was only there for a week and would usually just do one trail a day," notes a camper at Dispersed camping at Mower Basin.
Mountain biking opportunities: Some dispersed camping areas feature maintained single-track trails suitable for cycling. "I also love this place as it has a small network of single track trails for anyone with a bike, or in my case, Electric unicycle. The trails were well maintained and offered a wonderful variety of wooded and open space riding," writes a visitor to Mower Basin.
Fly fishing: The Elk River and surrounding streams offer catch-and-release fishing zones. A camper at Elk River Dispersed camping notes, "There is Elk Springs Resort & Fly Shop just down the road. Here you can hire a guide, or pay to fly fish their well stocked area. A well stocked fly shop as well. Everyone there was great on suggestion on flies suggestions."
What campers like
River-adjacent sites: Many dispersed camping locations offer streamside spots. A visitor to Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping shared, "We stayed at the last site with the cliff over hang and it was magical. Several spots along the creek are deep enough for swimming."
Natural separation: Campers appreciate the privacy between sites at certain locations. At Little River Dispersed Campsites, a camper observed, "When you park and walk down to the river, if you turn right, there's a beach area about 50 yards down that offers a great spot to take a dip!"
Stargazing opportunities: The elevation and distance from urban areas create excellent night sky viewing. A camper at Dispersed Camping off Forest Road 227 shared, "You are sort of in a valley/basin kind of area. There used to be a lot of spruce tree farming here so I think that is why it is so cleared out. It doesn't seem to be an active logging zone now though, so it's just peaceful and quiet."
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Bears are active in this region and proper food storage is essential. A camper at Little River Dispersed Campsites reported, "Not even 2 minutes from our dispersed camp site we were charged by an extremely aggressive black bear, fortunately with plenty of noise and shouting and slowly backing away we avoided further conflict! But, it was very very close to the site we had our tent!"
Limited phone service: Connectivity is virtually nonexistent at most sites. "I have t-mobile and got zero service. I wouldn't expect any carrier to get any service out there though," notes a visitor to Forest Road 227 sites. Another camper at Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area advised, "No signal, so make sure you have a map or know which way you came."
Road conditions vary seasonally: Access roads can deteriorate significantly during wet periods. A visitor to Little River mentioned, "The road is narrow and you'll need to pull off to the side to let cars pass coming in, and the road is riddled with pot holes and is entirely gravel. Just beware and you'll have a great time!"
Tips for camping with families
Beach-like water access: Some sites offer gentle entry points to streams for supervised water play. A camper at Gandy Creek noted, "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. My favorite areas are on the creek."
Choose sites away from steep drop-offs: For families with small children, select camping areas without riverbank hazards. "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," shared a family at Gandy Creek.
Pack extra clothing layers: Temperature fluctuations in this mountainous region can be extreme, even in summer. At Gaudineer Knob camp sites, a visitor observed, "The spots are not huge, so don't plan on a big group, but if your group wants to spread out, that could work as the sites are fairly tightly packed in there."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Several areas accommodate small to medium-sized RVs but require careful navigation. A visitor to Mower Basin reported, "Awesome spot in mountain, not too many sites but they are all well marked. Just have to push through some steep gravel roads but we did it in truck and trailer."
Turn-around limitations: Some forest roads lack adequate space for larger rigs to reverse direction. A camper at Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area shared, "We pulled in just at sunset on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend and drove through the entire length of the campground to see that all the sites will filled. We got to the turn around and noticed a couple of fire pits setup and a patch of grass."
Winter accessibility challenges: Snow accumulation severely restricts RV access during winter months. "We strolled up the mountain in our 39ft skoolie. It snowed and we had a really good time!" noted a visitor to Mower Basin, though such access is unusual during significant snowfall.
