Best Tent Camping near Thomas, WV

Small, primitive campground with 12-sites.  There were a surprising number of trailers and small RVs when I visited, especially when you consider visitors have to drive about 10-miles on a graded dirt road to get there.

There are some walk-in tent sites for more privacy and you have the option of pure wilderness camping in the surrounding 17,400 acres of Dolly Sods as long as you use existing campfire rings, or use a backpack stove when you can't find one.

No cell phone service or Internet… No electricity, pit toilets, and a busted water pump, but there is a fresh-water spring. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern pole. 

The camp hosts are super mellow and also lead the volunteer bird-banding that takes place just across the road from the Red Creek Campground.  

The plant life and weather at Dolly Sods are similar to Northern Canada, so bring some extra layers. It was at least 15-degrees cooler than the valley when I reached the peak of the Allegheny Plateau. Add the wind and I had to put my sweatshirt after sweating in a T-shirt at Seneca Rocks that same day. 

Bring a backpack and good hiking boots so you're prepared to experience some of the most amazing scenery and wildlife you’ve ever seen! 

First-come, first-serve only and often full on weekends.

*Word of caution: Dolly Sods was used for military training during WWII, so there are artillery and mortar shells still being found in this wilderness. Don’t touch any shells you might find, note the location and report to authorities.

Spruce Knob is West Virginia's highest peak and on a clear day offers breathtaking 360 degree views from the Observation Tower.      https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7053

Because of the thick conifer growth, long mountain views don't occur till nearly to the top and that only along the western roadway...but once you climb the observation tower...(as mentioned, on a clear day) you are rewarded with wonderful views of WV and VA mountains.  Watching storm clouds or simple clouds roll in and envelope the Knob offers a wonderful experience.

I've taken the opportunity to camp on Spruce Knob on several occasions, once to the NE of the parking lot just into the pines, once a couple hundred yards down the Seneca Backcountry trail to the right and once directly south of the Tower in the pines.  Each offered a differ experience.  There is no cost, which is a huge plus!

In the pines, just below the summit, it is eerily quiet and muffled.  I've never seen another camper when I've stayed, so the solitude is glorious.

If you want shelter and a picnic table for cooking/eating...they are available, but only along the parking lot.  Pit latrines are nearly on the summit in the parking lot near the trailhead for the Observation Tower.  So practice leave no trace when camping and hiking!! No water, so bring enough with you. There are waste receptacles but be wise and take trash with you. 

There are two levels to the concrete Observation Tower...and best views are from the upper level. I've often though about cowboy camping on the second level after the last sightseer has left for the night, but haven't seen, heard or read if its forbidden or permitted...so I haven't...yet.

Obviously, on a clear night, star gazing is incredible as there no ambient light. It is much cooler at this elevation, even in the summer...and the winds on the summit cut through like a knife. 

Note: utilize good camping practices and set camp on a previous location where there is an established fire ring. Again, use caution with campfires because of the wind.

If you desire a more established campground, Spruce Knob Lake Campground is not too far away...down the mountain.

Spruce Knob summit camping is a family highlight!

If you're a fan of hiking and rock climbing at Seneca Rocks, Seneca Shadows is absolutely the best campground near this fantastic rock formation. 

It’s located in the Monongahela National Forest near the North Fork South Branch of the Potomac River with nearby peaks ranging from 1,000 feet to nearly 5,000 feet above sea level. Seneca Shadows campground offers a view of the famed Seneca Rocks and puts you within walking distance of the visitor’s center, hiking and climbing trails, plus the quaint town of Seneca Rocks where you buy gas, food and gifts. 

Make sure you visit Harper’s Old Country Store, a 4th generation family run business, operating since 1902. The visitor’s center has a nice collection of Native American artifacts and a cool video of the Army soldiers who trained here before WWII. 

Seneca Shadows Campground is a modern campground with paved parking, flush toilets, showers and an amphitheater. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Seneca Shadows is part of a growing trend where a private concessionaire is a running a public camp-ground. I’m not a huge fan since it often mean higher fees, but I must say that the campground was spotless and well-run by a delightful couple who obviously enjoyed their summer job. 

Seneca Shadows Campground has three loops to chose from: 

The A& B Loops are for tents or RVs with no electric service. 

The C-Loop has electricity. 

There's also a group camping area and a "tent-only" camping area with walk-in sites from a nearby parking lot.

Spruce Knob and Dolly Sods are nearby and both deserve a spot on your outdoor adventure“bucket list” in West Virginia.

This is a remote riverside campground with great fishing opportunities for catch and release(check the requirements for license/stamps; I included a picture of a sign). One loop comes with water/electic hookups($7 more) the others are primitive. If you use solar, ironically, the sites around the loop/with electric, are your best bet as there is a large open field in the middle; a second loop contains more primitive sites and some walk-in sites with parking near the bathroom. Parking pads are large and generally level. There are vault toilets and some flush toilets. No cell service(Verizon). Sites are equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grate, and lantern post. The prices for firewood are among the highest I’ve seen at$10/bundle. Camp store has limited hours, but ice and firewood are available. 

You may have day visitors here to fish, swim, or picnic at one of the two pavilions. In addition to fishing, you may find it refreshing to swim/wade in the river, but I would definitely want water shoes to protect my feet. Interested in more adventure on the river? Head about 15 minutes down the road to St George where outfitters can set you up for both flatwater and whitewater activities on the Cheat River, depending on your preference, age, and water level.

Admittedly, we had awful weather - it rained more than 50% of the time.  The weather ruled out our main purpose for being their which was astrophotography at Spruce Knob Lake and doing some hiking.   That said, we had a lovely walk-in site with a nicely situated tent pad, fire ring and large picnic table nestled in a private space with lots of tree shade.  If you are wanting to take in the sites of the area and need a base for day hiking, this is a good spot.  There are a few things to know: this campsite is very basic with the only facilities being vault toilets and bins for your trash.  You are able to buy firewood there (if you can get it lit and enjoy before it rains!). There is no cell service whatsoever, so once you get there, you’ll have no clue what the weather is going to do unless you have access to a satellite source (we didn’t.)   There was a water spigot near our site, but we were told to boil the water before drinking any (which made us glad it wasn’t that hot out and we had brought a sizable stash from home.)

I stayed here for a single night while I was exploring West Virginia, but I wish I had stayed longer. This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've ever seen.

The front section of Seneca Shadows isn't all that interesting. There are standard sites here with gravel pads, water, and electricity, good for trailers and RVs. The sites are of an average size and have plenty of shade and privacy.

There is also a large tent-only section at the back of the campground. This is where I stayed, and this is what made Seneca Shadows memorable. The tent section is a giant meadow with picnic tables and tent pads arranged around the edges. There is also a picnic shelter here. Parking is adjacent; expect to carry your gear a few hundred feet. Many of the sites have shade trees, and a few have shrubs for privacy, but nearly all have an incredible view of Seneca Rocks, a magnificent geological feature.

There are vault toilets located close to the tent section, but these didn't smell great so I avoided them. There are real bathrooms with flushing toilets, running water, and showers located just up the road. These were nice and clean when I visited.

I intend to return someday for a closer look at Seneca Rocks. This place is a destination, not just a stopover.

Campground Review:

You have heard the phrase, "you can't get there from here," and it is as close to truth about Big Bend Campground nestled in Smoke Hole Canyon of the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia. It takes some effort and much time to locate and arrive at Big Bend Campground, but with much effort comes much reward. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/big-bend-wv/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70235

We had just finished a week backcountry trip in nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness and Big Bend was the closest campground that had showers. It took two stops and inquiring of locals to find the way...and we ended up traveling the back mountain road. Note: Cell service in the mountains of WV is nearly nonexistent, so do your searching and print maps before you venture out Of all the states to be lost in, I enjoy it most in West Virginia. Locals are friendly and always willing to help.

Informative road signage was absent coming the back way, so I was relieved to finally come to a "T" in the road and actually see a Big Bend Campground sign that stated I was still four miles from my destination.

The road that leads to the campground is three miles of poorly maintained and pot-holed gravel. I was told neither the state nor the feds want to claim ownership and maintenance of the road. The South Branch Potomac River is visible to the right as you bounce along. You pass Jess Judy Group Campground about midway. With one mile remaining, you hit smooth blacktop that leads into the campground...and nowhere else. As you enter the campground, you will also see the South Branch Potomac River on your left.

As you climb into the campground, you arrive at another "T" intersection. At the stop sign, you look to the right and see a 45 grave family cemetary of the former land owners. Jesse Ketterman and his wife Susan (a Blackfoot Indian) raised and buried their family there since the early 1800's. Turning left toward the lower tent site loop, the host site is immediately on your right. The host, Glenn Cook, is congenial, informative, hardworking and has a great deal of love for this Campground, which is evident not only by the way he talks of it...but also seen in the impeccably clean grounds and spotless facilities.

Tent sites along the lower loop (1-12) are spacious and each has a massive picnic table, fire ring, metal pole for lanterns and elevated tent pad. Most tent pads were 12x12 raised timbers...and a smart 20-30' from the fire ring. Sites 1-7 are closest to the river trail being on the outside of the loop. Blacktop parking pads are about 15' long. Plenty of foliage separates the sites, but voices travel in this river canyon. The Campground River loop trail travels the outside perimeter of the campground and can be reached by a short 20' trail from each of the "riverside" sites. You cannot visibly see the river from these sites, but you can hear it.

The two upper campground loops offer longer parking pads for campers/RV's and more distance between neighboring sites. These also offer a natural visible barrier of foliage. Tent camping can still occur on these upper sites, but there are no designated tent pads. There is no electric hook-ups in the campground and no cell service. I visited nearly every site and can safely say, there are no bad sites in this campground.

Each loop has restroom facilities with flush toilets. There are also two ADA pit latrines, with one being beside a river trail in the lower tent loop. Between the two upper loops there is a shower house/restroom. There are four individual showers on one side and restrooms on the opposite side of the building...all with separate locking exterior doors. I will mention that the showers and restrooms in this campground are absolutely spotless. I thought they were brand new, so I asked. "Well, yes, they are new...they were built just 7 years ago." Cleanest facilities I've seen anywhere...ever. Each loop has two water spigots and trash dumpsters centrally located.

Big Bend Campground is located...well...on a big bend in the river. Shaped like a lollypop, it offers something that is clearly unique. Walking the perimeter trail, you have access to the river the entire loop. The perimeter trail also takes you by the remnants of a fireplace from what was once a Post Office along the river. Cool history...but what is distinct is the river nearly meets on either side of the entrance road. So campers grab their tubes, floats, kayaks, canoes or PFD's and walk to the river...put in...and float around the bend to nearly the same location across the roadway...pull out...walk across the roadway and down a trail and repeat. At this time of August, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to float around the bend. Limitless fun! .

To add to this enjoyment, at about the halfway mark in the bend...you will locate a rope hanging from a tree, river right. No its not a hangman's noose...its a rope swing. An entire day of creative fun can be had flinging oneself out into the river. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g08xmiwMVqo The river is crystal clear, the bottom can be seen at depths over 8 feet. Fishing is another popular activity at Big Bend. In the spring, countless fishermen stand shoulder to shoulder to bring in cagey trout. Most of the river is catch and release outside the campground. Inside the campground you can keep four a day. Just off site 6 there is a river beach area. The water is swimmable, but the current is strong. Bald eagles soared the thermals above the river cliffs as we played in the river and chased crawdads in the shallows.

Nights were refreshingly cool and black as ink, the days were sunny and hot. Fellow campers were friendly and thoughtful...a Washington DC family that we got to know at the rope swing, made it a point to find our site and gift us their firewood before they left for home.

I camped here midweek and only the tent sites were filled, but was told that its packed on weekends. If tenting, I highly recommend sites 5, 6, or 7. I stayed at both site 5 and 6 during my visit due to heavy reservations. Site 7 is secluded more and appeared to enjoy more privacy.

Product Review:

As a Review Ranger for TheDyrt.com, I am honored to review various outdoor products. At times I am provided the products free or heavily discounted, and such is the case with the Primus New Primetech 1.3L Stove Kit. https://primus.us/products/new-primetech-stove-set-1-3l

I am no stranger to Primus stoves. I own and use the tiny Primus Express Piezo electric backpacking stove, and purchased one for each of my four adult children years ago. These are lightweight, reliable stoves so I was excited to test and evaluate the New Primetech 1.3L Stove kit.

Pros:

⦁ Great for large meals

⦁ Burns super quiet

⦁ Sips fuel

⦁ Boils 1.3 liters fast

⦁ Ceramic coated pot nearly cleans itself

⦁ Considerably light for its size

⦁ Handheld piezo-electric starter

⦁ Convenient locking pot grabber

Cons:

⦁ Difficult to see flame when starting

⦁ Seemed fuel cannister finicky

⦁ Large profile for backpacking

Upon opening the box, the New Primetech 1.3L nesting stove and pot kit comes with a wide-based stove with integrated windscreen. The stove base has small non-marking rubber feet to add stability on slick or smooth surfaces. On the bottom of the stove base is also a snap clip to secure the braided stainless steel fuel line and regulator, which assists when nesting inside the including pots. You recieve two 1.3 liter cooking pots. Both pots and stove base are hard anodized and scratch resisitant. One pot has interior ceramic coating and integrated heat exchanger along the exterior bottom. The second pot is simply hard anodized and has no heat exchanger. Also included is a transparent Tritan (similar to lexan) lid, round aluminum ground protector, a piezo electric igniter and a quick release, locking pot gripper and ripstop nylon stuff sack.

The New Primetech 1.3L Stove Kit was relatively light (25.6 oz) for its size and contents.

When first using the stove, I learned that you must open the fuel regulator wire bale entirely to allow fuel to flow for ignition. Then you can adjust the flame once lit. The fuel regulator takes rotations to open entirely, unlike the Primus Express adjustment knob that only takes a crack.

Noise?...there is none. All the fuel stoves I utilize (and I have many) sound like a space shuttle lift off, so the Primus New Primetech 1.3L stove is quiet, so unless I see the blue flame, I can't tell if its on. Now people may accuse me of being hard of hearing, but I can't hear the burner.

These are the primary areas that Primus has managed to make the New Primetech stove sip fuel. At first, this was frustrating but I grew to appreciate its quietness and economy. The stove platform is very stable and doesn't rock when placing the pots atop its serrated support fins. The accompanying pots fit below the top lip of the stove platform so there are no worries about toppling or sliding off when stirring or adding to the pot. There are additional fold-out serrated support fins should you have an even larger pot, which raises the pot above the outside rim of the stove base.

The hard anodized 1.3 liter pot is typical and familiar. I make certain this is the pot I nest the stove base into when packing. The finish is durable, but I can foresee the stove base marring the interior finish over time. It is purely presumption on my part.

The ceramic coated 1.3 liter pot with the integrated heat exchange is nothing short of remarkable! If I could have only one pot, this would be it. The ceramic coating on the inside surface is so slippery, every form of pasta-cheese concoction I cooked in it basically dripped right out. Very little food residue remained. When I had paper towels, one swipe and the pot was clean. Cleaning is really a non-issue with this pot. For backcountry backpacking, this is the pot I would prefer but I fear the nesting stove base would ultimately damage the ceramic coating, thus ruin the non-stick surface. I like to keep things simple, so I've avoided the whole heat exchange craze...but it does work and I now see its value.

The "Tritan" pot lid (think Lexan) is pretty convenient. The red rubber lid handle is simple and with its "push-through" design, replacing a torn one will be easy. The lid, though tinted, is see-through, so no guessing the condition of the pot's contents. Integrated strainer holes allow fast draining of liquids. There is also a nice cutout to permit use of a pot gripper without removing the lid.

The separate piezo electric igniter shaped like a "T," offers firm grip and the push button easily depressed, sending the spark down a small tube to the fuel source. It's small enough to toss in the pack and long enough to keep your hands away from the flame. In a nutshell, its reliable and effective.

The Quick Release locking pot gripper works well, once you determine the amount of pressure to apply when pressing the release button. When in the locked position, it holds securely...and the rubber tips eliminate scratching the pot interior.

The aluminum ground protector would serve some benefit if placing directly on grass, other than that, it remains folded at the bottom of the stuff sack.

Fuel cannister attachment to the fuel regulator is simple and secure.

Field test: I took the Primus New Primetech 1.3L Stove kit with me on a backpacking trip in Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, which always has unpredictable, varyied weather conditions and then an additional 11 days at campgrounds for breakfast and dinner (lunches were cold and on the move). Using the Primus New Primetech 1.3L stove on a daily basis caused you to become familiar with its nuances quickly. It was odd not hearing the typical roar of the stove when cooking, so I constantly got on my hands and knees to see if the stove was still lit. Then I grew accustomed to the silence and preferred it. I was impressed with boil times and how it sips fuel. I used a 220g cannister for an entire week of meals and boiling water for clean up.

Two things I would like to see different:

1. Fewer turns on the fuel regulator bale to introduce and adjust flame. I prefer the short "throw" or twist of other stove fuel regulators I own.

2. Fewer "cut-out windows" in the stove base. I found in high gusting winds, the flame would blow out. So I had to shelter the stove with rocks as a natural wind screen.

Overall, I began to prefer the Primus New Primetech 1.3L Stove kit above my other stoves out of convenience, speed and fuel savings. It's a keeper and if searching for a stove kit, you would be pleased with this selection.

We had a nice time camping at Spruce Knob. Rich the camp manager was really chill. You can purchase firewood from him at that entrance for ~$20 a bundle. The walk up sites are pretty private, you can see/hear other campers but after quiet hours start it’s totally silent. Each site comes with a fire ring and picnic table. Bathrooms but no showers. Great place for star gazing and disconnecting from reality for a bit (seriously there’s not a drop of cell service there except up at Spruce Knob so plan accordingly if you rely on phone for maps and what not.) Within close distance of many trails. Looking forward to visiting again!