West Columbia is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. West Columbia is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near West Columbia and user-submitted reviews.
$29 - $46 / night
"This particular campground is amazing because it's located nicely to many hiking trails but far away that you aren't overly crowded so you still get the feeling that you're in nature."
"Limited flat locations existed for a tent and my tent footprint is fairly small."
"At lake hope you can enjoy camping in many ways rather if it’s by tent (the way I prefer) or by camper. It’s a very nice place to have some family fun. Very nice beach and swimming area."
"Lake Hope has plenty of recreational opportunities for everyone and the campground is close by! The campground is quiet and well kept."
"Twice it rained so much some of the trails were uncrossable but even then we still enjoyed ourselves. The is one spot about 3 miles in that is pretty far off trail, flat and on top of a hill."
"Zaleski State Forest is adjacent to Lake Hope State Park. Off Rt 278 near Zaleski, Oh, true Ohio countryside to enjoy on the way in. Signal is spotty."
"The go to camping location for Athens. Many campsites, trails, and amenities. Anything from boat rentals, a small store, and docks to use near the lake."
"Sites are only rented in person once you arrive, they have clear instructions at the entrance. Sites were nice and level, but a bit on the smaller side. Plenty of trails for hiking around the park."
"The Blue Trail goes through here and provides a fun hike. There is a bathroom across the road and access to water at the entrance of the site. Showers are 15 minutes walk or a quick drive away."
"Burr Oak State Park is on the eastern edge of Wayne National Forest, outside Glouster, Oh , off Rt 13. The Lodge is on the opposite side of the lake off Rt 78."
$20 / night
"The hiking trails are scenic and pretty and the lake while not overly big, is clean and great for swimming(there's a beach) , kayaking, and fishing."
"Great campground with super easy access to the trail and lake. The sites are spread apart enough so you aren’t right beside someone - and shaded."
$35 - $52 / night
"If you're a tent person using Vesuvius as a home base for trail hiking, stick with Iron Ridge."
"Great location to earn some backpacking miles. Feels quite remote, but along the trails there are shelters, bathrooms, trash reciprocals, and other useful hookups."
"The second night we only had one tent near us. There are plenty of pull-off areas on the road leading up to this trailhead that were being used night one as well."
"OHV trails closed for winter. Hiking allowed year-round. Most campsites inaccessible during off-season. Pit toilet closed for winter. Probably busy on weekends during the season. Nice place."
$40 - $70 / night
"The old horse stalls have been torn down and 28 new covered stalls have been built! They are amazing and plenty if room for larger horses. "
"Stacked Stones has a very nice location and the camp hosts/owners are wonderful. They truly make you feel like family."
$20 - $40 / night
GuideI get asked "where should we go camping or hiking in the Midwest?" Hocking Hills State Park is always my go-to answer.
It has a ton of different terrains, it's easily accessible from Columbus, OH, and has great hiking opportunities.
This particular campground is amazing because it's located nicely to many hiking trails but far away that you aren't overly crowded so you still get the feeling that you're in nature.
I've been here a ton growing up in the horse campground area, but most recently was there for tent camping. We were surrounded mostly by RVs, but we fit in quite nicely into our site.
The sites were nicely spaced out and the hiking trails were all nearby.
GuideLake Hope gave me a new way to experience an area I grew very close to and appreciate but cannot stand the swarms of people. It was a great quiet and spacious campground with solid amenities and it’s own nearby sites. We were in Wayne National Forest and right next to the infamous Moonville tunnel. It was no problem to drive over to the caves in hocking hills but it was also nice to stay close by a couple days too. This is likely the only way we’ll do the area moving forward
TravelerStayed at the youth campground from 8/17/18 to 8/19/18. We had 5 people staying at site 7. From driving around it seems we had one of the better sites because many were joint sites (next to each other). Most of the other sites had some flooding and another campers car got stuck in the mud.
There are no toilets close to this site but the toilets at this campground left something to be desired. 2 smelled so bad, I couldn’t use them. They were also covered in spiders, ants, and other bugs.
There is no running water in this area and the closest showers are back at the visitors center 6+ miles away.
Some ATT and Verizon service can be found at the site but it is very inconsistent.
I would not recommend this area for camping. It is far away from attractions and no running water. The ground is uneven and there are a lot of bugs. One night we had an issue with a raccoon.
You will need to drive everywhere as walking on the main road is extremely dangerous.
At this site you are close to Ash Cave, Firetower, and Cedar Falls.
GuideAt lake hope you can enjoy camping in many ways rather if it’s by tent (the way I prefer) or by camper. It’s a very nice place to have some family fun. Very nice beach and swimming area. Hiking and horse back riding trails. Canoe/kayak rental. Very nice dinning area at the lodge. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone.
GuideWe stayed in one of the small cabins and loved it! Very clean, with thoughtful amenities. Hot tub on the back porch. This cabin also comes with two horse stalls. Bridle trail access right from campground.
GuideThe site was angled so we had to turn around before we could back in/park - our 5th wheel is 43’ and it was tight even with all spots not full. The pad was level and full hook ups but the site was small and the fire pit was RIGHT next to the camper. Beautiful wooded view behind us.
There was also quite a bit of mud at the front of campsite which we used fallen leaves to cover but there should be material added there.
Walking distance to all state park trails which was great! Bathhouse was warm and clean.
LegendHocking Hills State Park, Oh-Site 89. https://thehockinghills.org/
Hocking Hills State Park offers close proximity to most of the popular natural attractions...Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, etc....but for a tent camper that prefers solitude and space, I found it unappealing.
I did arrive late on a Monday evening, mid-October and got one of the last available sites. Packed on a Monday night!
I found the camping sites a bit cramped both in depth and width. Site 89 and 90 shared the same parking pad. Limited flat locations existed for a tent and my tent footprint is fairly small. You do have a firepit and picnic table with all three in fairly close proximity, so you must be extremely cautious with wind direction when deciding for a fire, else you’ll have embers dotting your tent and picnic table. Even though the neighbors were trying to be respectfully quiet...you heard every conversation and saw their every move.
No electric, which is fine in my book...the water spigot is centrally located on the loop and happened to be next to my site.
The restroom/shower facilities were not well cared for upon my visit. The floors were very muddy and trash was piled up in the corner of one stall and out of necessities.
Construction and dump truck noise started early with a project behind the restrooms.
The visitor’s center was well-stocked and the employee was pleasant. Cell service is unavailable and even sketchy at the visitor’s center. Wood can be purchased at the visitor’s center.
Close proximity to local attractions and a swimming pool are likely the big draw.
Knowing that I prefer solitude and distance when camping, I’ll likely not return but choose nearby Lake Hope State Park for my local visits.
ScoutStayed one week with horses, corral falling down, outhouses and shower facilities beyond gross. 3/4 mile from trails, had to ride along very narrow road. Only saw owner once. There are better places to stay and enjoy riding at Hocking Hills. Place could be nice with some work
GuideEasy pull-thru site for our small travel trailer. Each pull-thru is set-up for horses, but RVs are allowed (according to NFS website). Maybe because it was Halloween night, maybe due to hunting season, I dunno, but there seemed to be more traffic than expected for this road. Our only neighbors got a little... rowdy, but it was okay.
Campsite fee is $15 on the honor system. If you have a National Park's Golden Age or Access pass, they honor a 50 percent discount.
I had good 4G ATT cell service. Worked well, with no drops. Data was a bit slower than usual but still good.
The only facilities here were a single pit toilet (surprisingly clean) and a trash can at each site. There may be more services during the height of the season, at least water for horses, but nothing else I could tell.
A short distance further down the road, just after it turns to gravel, at the Old Stone Church trailhead, there are grassy places to back in smaller campers/RVs. And even further down the road, after it turns back to asphalt :D, there's a private campground with utilities, I think, but we only saw it and didn't check it out.
Horse camping in West Virginia offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the companionship of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near West Columbia, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near West Columbia, WV is Hocking Hills State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 109 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near West Columbia, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near West Columbia, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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