159 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Upper Tract, West Virginia center primarily on the Monongahela National Forest, with several established campgrounds and dispersed sites available for both tent and RV camping. The area features notable locations like Seneca Shadows Campground, positioned near the dramatic Seneca Rocks formation, and Eagle Rock Campground along the South Branch of the Potomac River. Most developed campgrounds provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, while dispersed areas like Gandy Creek offer more primitive experiences without designated facilities.
Seasonal availability varies significantly across the region, with most developed sites operating from April through October. "Very clean and well kept campground. Camp hosts were very helpful and would visit to see if guest needed anything," noted one visitor about Seneca Shadows. Road conditions can deteriorate during wet weather, particularly when accessing higher elevation sites like Spruce Knob Lake Campground. Cell service is virtually non-existent throughout much of the Monongahela Forest, requiring advance planning and downloaded maps. Several campgrounds require reservations through recreation.gov, though some operate on a first-come basis with self-pay stations. Water sources may be limited at primitive sites, and travelers should prepare accordingly.
Proximity to natural features drives the camping experience in this mountainous region. Campsites near Seneca Rocks provide views of the distinctive rock formation and access to climbing routes. According to camper feedback, "The tent section is a giant meadow with picnic tables and tent pads arranged around the edges... nearly all have an incredible view of Seneca Rocks." Fishing opportunities abound along the South Branch of the Potomac, with stocked trout sections drawing anglers to nearby camping areas. Visitors seeking seclusion can find quieter experiences at dispersed sites, though these lack amenities like showers or running water. The region experiences considerable temperature variations, with higher elevations remaining notably cooler even during summer months, making layer-appropriate clothing essential regardless of season.
"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."
"West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it."
from $17 - $65 / night
Check Availability"There is no cell phone service until you either find Upper Tract or Cabins, WV in the other direction. The road is rather bumpy, I like to think that it just weeds the non-serious folks out."
"Forest, West Virginia."
from $27 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "
"The Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers extra-large camp sites with lots of shade and so much undergrowth I only saw my neighbors when I took a walk to check out the campground."
from $15 - $32 / night
Check Availability"The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through"
"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."
"Blackwater State Park, Davis, WV https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/ Camping anywhere in West Virginia is a highlight, but this area offers hiking views aplenty."
"This was our first stay in a state park campground in West Virginia and it was a great stay. Arrived during a steady downpour and rented a cabin for the first night but camped the second night."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"I stayed two nights at site 2 which is tucked away from most of the other sites, save for one close by."
"It is away from everything and it is surrounded by a ton of hiking trails. Great camping, great hiking."
"Stayed one night in a tent right next to the river. It is what it is, a West Virginia backwoods campground. $10 will get ya a nights stay."
from $10 / night
"This campground is mostly level, so bike riding for kids is great, walking to the lake or shower houses is very easy for those who have trouble with hills. The lake has a small but clean beach."
"A short walk from your campsite to the lake to enjoy kayaking, fishing, swimming and picnicking. The camp has a bath house with showers. The camp host is very nice and keeps the campground spotless."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We hiked in in warm weather and once we reached the top of a long entrance road (where one trailhead was) we found snow."
"Having visited Dolly Sods numerous times at the Red Creek Campground, using that as the base camp to launch off to explore the myriad of trails."
"Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road."
"Some things to note- the lake front campsites fill up quickly and they are not drive in. Since I sleep in my Jeep, I needed a drive in spot."
TravelerThis place is beautiful! I loved seeing all the wildlife! My daughter and I enjoyed walking the entire campground looking for Bigfoot.😉 we loved waking up the next morning to having squirrels, chipmunks, deer and birds on our campsite. We stayed on site 14
TravelerThis place is so relaxing! As soon as we stepped out of our motorhome it felt like we could relax. You could hear the birds tweeting and see squirrels playing and even butterflies dancing in the sunlight. It felt so nice to just set down in our chairs and take a break from life here. The owners are so friendly! I loved being able to pet the donkey/mule. This place is beautiful. We stayed in site 9 this time and site 8 last time. I honestly have no complaints about this place!!!
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
ScoutSuper remote camp spot! The drive to the forest road was a little tight and windy for an inexperienced mountain driver as myself. Wouldn't want to do it at night.
Most camp spots are on loops of more group camping with 4-6 sites at each loop and I believe there were 3 or 4 loops. Not my cup of tea, too fish bowl for me and way too exposed. Outside of the loops, there were 8-10 sites that were more my style, with the one we stayed at was just right! The most perfect spot in the whole place (for our preferences) we were literally on a babbling creek. Couldn't get any closer. Had direct access to water for washing and other needs. However I read in a brochure to not drink the water without boiling for 3 minutes because the area has giardia.
Saw a lot of people headed further down creek to fish for trout. No cell service for about 20 minutes. We had to drive back to route 33 and the halfway to Elkins to catch a sliver of cell service.
If you are staying at camp and brought everything you need, you're golden. There are lots of things to occupy yourself with exploring. There is a trailhead on forest rd 162 with miles of hiking with a hand full of trails to choose.
We arrived around 4PM on a Sunday. Plenty of sites to choose from. Was about half full. When we got up the next morning to leave, most spots were open. We stayed until mid day on Friday. Action was definitely picking up. Saw more people, more kids and louder noises. We are definitely Sunday to Thursday campers. I want to camp without knowing the neighbors are there. When leaving on Friday most sites were taken.
Had no problems finding plenty of fallen kindling for our fire. We found a great roadside house on route 33 that was selling firewood in their front yard for only $10 a "row" as they called it. We got 2 rows because we werent sure what to expect when we got there. We built a good hearty fire every morning and every evening and still had firewood we left there since there was so much accessible resources.
We ended up doing a lot of "tourist" experiences that was a bit of a drive to get to due to my inexperience in driving in the mountains. The drives were usually 30 minutes to an hour and a half. But well worth the drive.
Elkins is the closest place to "civilization" (north on 33) we went there for cheap gas, ice, and the grocery store. Didn't explore Elkins as it was too "city" for us. We wanted more remote experiences.
Harman was the next closest place (south on 33) not much for exploring, but they have a dollar general (what remote town doesn't have a dollar general?) and a place for gas
Continue on 33 south and hit Seneca Rocks! Such a beautiful sight to see! Also have the oldest general store built in 1902 and Yokums country store. Its like going back in time. Both tourist traps but worth the experience. We went to the recreation area with river access so beautiful to see the cliffs upclose and personal. If you are a climber this is the place for you. We are hikers. But enjoyed the views.
Continuing on 33 south there is smoke hole caverns. Another tourist trap but fun. For $20 you get a cavern tour tack on a little more if you want to go gem "panning" and get a bag of dirt to find gems. Or putt putt. Giant gift shop. Someone said it was the largest gift shop in West Virginia.
From Seneca Rocks if you head west on 28 it will take you past Seneca Caverns. They were closed for the summer due to blasting nearby.
Continuing on 28 west you then come to one of my favorite spots. Spruce Knob. The highest elevation in all of West Virginia, gorgeous views all around! Terrible observation tower that you cant see anything due to trees. Nice picnic area. Going down the other side of the mountain Spruce Knob lake, lots more trail heads AND a fantastic dispersed camping area! Seneca Creek backcountry. Didn't camp here. Will camp here next time. All dirt roads down the other side of the mountain. But so worth the adventure!
From camp and going to Harman take 32 east and that will take you to Canaan Valley state park, didn't explore too much but access to a lot more hiking
Then you come to Davis WV one of the cutest little towns ever! Very developed for back country but very very quaint. The davis depot has some camping/hiking clothes and lots of tourist items with t-shirts stickers and such. But great designs. Spent a hunk of change here. Has a grocery store and a dollar general. And a hiking, camping, backpacking store. Has gear, clothes, shoes, you name it. Had an issue with my hiking boots. Got good quality boots here! There are several small boutique stores a couple of restaurants a brewery and a bicycle shop.
Last point of interest I'll address, on the other side of Davis, Blackwater State Park. Easy in intermediate hiking here did most of our hiking here. Gorgeous falls. 3 to be exact. Nice overlooks. Nice recreation center for the kids. Near Canaan loop rd.[Canaan loop rd has dispersed camping too. This is where I had planned on camping when we came to WV and ended up over in Glady. However, I was told by the guy at the camp store in Davis that it was closed. I cannot confirm this. But just definitely check into it before solidifying plans]
My preferences for camping are not usually the whole tourist thing. But WV has so much to offer I just couldn't get enough! So we kept trekking out to see more. The drive is a lot and was a whole day's journey round trip with spending time at those locations but so worth it. Not that far of a drive in the scheme of things
Will come back to this area over and over for all the dispersed camping options and for all the sights and experiences packed in such a small area.
TravelerVery nice spot, good tent setup pads and fire rings at all the sites, my one complaint is that it is right next to the road that while not frequently used, the occasional car can often take away from the remote experience. There are some sites a little further in but the diff is minimal. Overall very great, well maintained spot
TravelerThere were at least 12 numbered sites. Free dispersed camping. 14 day limit. Most sites had sun so you could have solar. Some sites were very private tucked far off the gravel road. All sites were very spaced out. Very quiet.
TravelerI used the coordinates and it took me to a campground that charges $15 a day. They weren’t private being right on the gravel road. There were tables,pits and the shepherds hook in each one. There were some that were on the river. There were toilets. I didn’t use them so I can’t say anything more about them. Not much sun thru the dense trees for solar. I kept driving around the forest on FR227 and came upon a whole nother set of labeled dispersed campsites that were very private and have open areas for solar. They were numbered. There were at least 12 that I saw.
ScoutThis was a great place to camp. Lovely. The price was affordable. We stayed in the cabin. Electricity. Air conditioning. Running water. The property owner manager is very accommodating and pleasant to talk with.
Highly recommended.
~Robert
art505.com
ScoutThis KOA was quiet and perfect for a short stay. We enjoyed our time here. The staff was friendly.
Camping sites near Upper Tract, West Virginia offer exceptional backcountry experiences at elevations ranging from 1,000 to nearly 5,000 feet above sea level. The region's terrain creates microclimates with temperature variations of 15-20 degrees between valleys and highlands, even during summer months. Primitive and dispersed camping areas throughout the Monongahela National Forest remain significantly cooler than surrounding lowlands, with nighttime temperatures often dropping into the 40s even in July.
Tubing on natural lazy rivers: At Big Bend Campground, the South Branch Potomac River creates a unique float experience. "A natural lazy river surrounds the campground and is a great location for fishing and river activities. The water level was a little low, but you could still float on your inter tube around the entire loop. The entire loop took a little over an hour to complete, then a 2 minute walk, and start again," reports Jon C.
Stargazing from high elevations: The minimal light pollution at Spruce Knob Lake Campground creates exceptional night sky viewing. "You're in the middle of nowhere, so you do have a truly dark sky," notes Jean C. The campground sits near West Virginia's highest point at 4,863 feet, offering unobstructed celestial views from both the camping area and the nearby lake.
Creek-side camping and hiking: Dispersed sites along Gandy Creek provide direct creek access with privacy. "Very nice area several nice spot right along the creek. Areas are spread out and private. Nice spot to relax and escape along creek," says Marino. Several established fire rings can be found along the creek, and numerous hiking trails connect to the camping areas.
Private, spacious sites: Campers consistently praise the size and spacing of sites at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground. "It is quiet and the campground is not too large, it's not stuffed with RV's and screaming children. The sites are reasonably sized, and well spaced," explains Kellie A. The campground layout creates natural buffers between most sites.
Diverse terrain for exploration: The unusual ecosystem at Dolly Sods Backcountry offers an experience unlike typical Appalachian camping. "With the incredibly varied landscapes and diverse vegetation, Dolly Sods truly feels like you are somewhere far north from WV. The ferns and evergreens reminded me of being in Maine, the vast meadows felt like I was in Wyoming or Montana," writes Ben. The terrain resembles Canadian tundra more than typical West Virginia forest.
Clean facilities despite remote locations: Many campgrounds maintain surprisingly good facilities. "The campground is very clean, with plenty of trash bins and protected drinking water spigots—almost every site has one nearby. The bathrooms were spotless, and the showers were hot—almost too hot! Definitely one of the best free showers we've had," reports Denis P. about Brandywine Lake Campground.
Limited connectivity: Cell coverage is virtually non-existent at most Monongahela Forest campgrounds. "No cell service. Nearest cell reception is a 20 minute drive away," notes Jon C. about Big Bend Campground. Even at more developed areas, connection is unreliable.
Challenging road conditions: Access to remote sites can require high-clearance vehicles or careful driving. "Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road. Go slow as several sharp corners with huge drops and inexperienced drives coming towards you," warns Mike C.
Unpredictable weather patterns: The mountains create localized weather systems. "Know that it will likely rain on you in Dolly Sods, so always bring rain gear. Also realize, that with climate and conditions similar to the Canadian Tundra, temperatures and winds vary and fluctuate often, any time of year," advises Dave V. Temperature swings of 30+ degrees within 24 hours are common.
Lake activities for kids: Brandywine Lake Campground offers family-friendly water features. "I love this campground because they have showers & toilets there, a fun beach on the lake for swimming and a fishing dock as well. There's actually woods around with you hiking trails unlike a lot of campgrounds I've seen recently," says Rachel B. The level terrain also makes it easy for children to navigate.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early morning hours offer the best chance to see local fauna. "Every morning we were there, fog had enveloped the canyon. Campground is well maintained and facilities are very clean," shares Jon C. about his family's experience at Big Bend. The hundreds of fireflies visible in summer evenings also create a memorable experience for children.
Reservations for peak seasons: Secure spots well in advance for summer weekends. "We came here on a weekday with hardly anyone staying near us and rose around sunrise to catch the light over the rocks. It was such an easy and short distance to get there," notes Cierra A. about Seneca Shadows. Weekday visits typically offer more availability and quieter surroundings.
Site selection for hookups: At Seneca Shadows, RV campers should specifically request C-Loop. "Seneca Shadows Campground has three loops to choose from: The A& B Loops are for tents or RVs with no electric service. The C-Loop has electricity," explains Jennifer B. The campground accommodates RVs up to 40 feet, though some turns can be tight.
Limited dump and water access: RV campers should arrive with full water tanks. "They have electric hook up with a dumpstation and non flush toilets. Other than that its perfect," notes Melissa M. Water fill stations are limited, and access can involve waiting during busy periods.
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours and generator limitations. "This campground is a short drive from Seneca Rock. Wind back into the woods for camping in a quaint quite setting (A-D) or camp in the meadowlands with Seneca Rock in the background," advises Jillian E. about navigating the different loop options and their varying rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Upper Tract, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Upper Tract, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 159 campgrounds and RV parks near Upper Tract, WV and 32 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Upper Tract, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Upper Tract, WV is Seneca Shadows with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Upper Tract, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 32 free dispersed camping spots near Upper Tract, WV.
What parks are near Upper Tract, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Upper Tract, WV that allow camping, notably Jennings Randolph Lake and Shenandoah National Park.
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