Camping near Wardensville, West Virginia offers outdoor enthusiasts access to the Monongahela National Forest at elevations ranging from 900 to 4,000 feet across the region. Summer daytime temperatures typically hover in the 70s with nighttime lows in the 50s, while autumn brings more dramatic temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night. Many forest service roads accessing the most remote camping areas require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after periods of heavy rainfall.
What to do
Hiking to views: 1-2 hours from Wolf Gap provides access to Big Schloss, which "offers one of the most unique views in the region" according to Andrew M. The trail is steep in places but manageable for most hikers with proper footwear.
Target practice: 30-minute drive to The Cove Campground where campers can use the outdoor gun range. "On top of them having an outdoor gun range... they have a small beach, picnic tabels everywhere, a volleyball ball sand court, a dock, you can fish in the lake, rent non motorboats," notes Shanna B., making it suitable for multi-activity days.
Off-road trails: 8+ miles of ATV-friendly paths at The Cove Campground let you explore the surrounding forest. "With great trails, a lake, and outdoor shooting range we can easily spend the whole weekend or longer," reports Victoriana P., who visits regularly to escape the DC suburbs.
Wildlife watching: Early morning at Hawk Recreation Area Campground provides opportunities to spot bears. "Saw one in the first hour of camping," reports Jakob D., who appreciated the solitude. Deer are also common at dawn and dusk throughout the region's campgrounds.
What campers like
Free camping options: Campers appreciate that Hawk Recreation Area Campground costs nothing and allows stays up to 21 days. Grace D. notes there are "sites in a loop, these are numbered and near the water pump and the vault toilet. There are also dispersed sites along some of the gravel roads around the official campground."
Mountain-top camping: The elevation at Hawk Recreation Area provides a cooler camping experience in summer. Aaron W. describes it as "tucked away atop a mountain far from any crowds. Not too long a drive to get there, but long enough for some seclusion."
Crystal clear water: Trout Pond Recreation Area features Rockcliff Lake which Fred F. describes as "throbbing with freshwater jellyfish. Very clean campground." The swimming beach has sand and is suitable for families with children of all ages.
Private campsites: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at Wolf Gap. One camper notes, "Wolf Gap is great—the campsites are high quality and well-maintained. There's overflow camping across the road, which is good since this campground usually fills up on good weekends."
What you should know
Road conditions vary: The drive to Squirrel Hollow Road Camping requires careful navigation. Kevin C. reports, "Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by car or with a small teardrop trailer." Other forest roads in the area can be significantly more challenging.
Water availability issues: At Hawk Recreation Area, the water pump is frequently out of service. Ray G. reports, "The water pump was out of order during my visit. I saw a ranger come and check on it." Always bring extra water when camping in this area.
Seasonal population shifts: Weekends bring significantly more visitors to Wolf Gap. Michelle M. notes that "This was a great midweek site. The reservation board is straightforward... The weekend folks ceased to use the reservation board system and were very noisy."
Site registration protocols: At Wolf Gap and Hawk Recreation Area, self-registration systems require campers to claim sites. Meredith P. emphasizes: "If you go— REGISTER. It takes all of two minutes and helps arriving campers figure out if there's actually space."
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: For families with children, Shenandoah River State Park Campground offers river access for swimming and fishing. Matt P. notes "the primitive spots are right next to the river. The spots are a short walk from the parking area and the campground provides wagons to transport your stuff. Great fishing and swimming right at your camping spot."
Kid-friendly programming: Weekend children's activities at Shenandoah River State Park provide structured entertainment. Melissa T. mentions "the children's programs offered on the weekends were great too."
Easy-access campsites: Families with young children should consider Squirrel Hollow Road. Jon D. describes "Large campsites and relatively quiet. We took two vehicles and found several suitable sites." The relatively flat terrain and proximity to the main road make it manageable for parents with small children.
Wildlife education opportunities: The high frequency of deer sightings at Shenandoah River State Park creates natural learning moments. Susan P. emphasizes "The river. The views. The experience. It's all good," making it suitable for nature education with children.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Wolf Gap can accommodate smaller camping trailers but has limitations. Vy N. shares, "We were pulling a 15' trailer and could only access the sites from driving reverse along the one way road. The trailer barely fit the back-in site and we were able to detach and park our vehicle perpendicular to the trailer. It was perfect for our set up, but I wouldn't recommend anything larger than 15'."
Water management: RVers at Trout Pond Recreation Area should arrive with tanks full. One visitor advises: "Unless you have a powerful vehicle pulling your camper, it would help to release your water supply and fill up when you get to the campground." The steep mountain roads make towing a fully loaded water tank challenging.
Hookup limitations: Most campgrounds near Wardensville offer minimal or no hookups. At Elizabeth Furnace Campground, William B. explains: "I would call this primitive camping as there is no electric or water hookups at the campsites. There is potable water at multiple locations that you can fill up an RV tank."
Site selection strategy: RVers should arrive early for the best sites at Trout Pond. Laure D. notes: "We were in site 12 which was small for our RV (22 ft total pulled by our F-150) but we worked it out. Site 14 is a buddy electric site. There are a few other buddy sites with no hookups. Site 11 and 13 both look nice and a bit more length to them and have electric (15 amp)."
