H
Heather G.
Scout
ScoutAshland Huntington West Campground
Very nice
Very friendly people and my dog loved the dog park.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Wilsondale, WV
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Cabwaylingo State Forest's pet-friendly camping areas accommodate tent, RV, and cabin campers from April through October. Located in Wilsondale, this established campground provides drinking water, electric hookups, and fire pits where pets can join their owners. Pappy's Creekside Camp also welcomes pets with multiple accommodation options including tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping sites. The campground features a dedicated dog park where pets can exercise off-leash, with many campers noting their dogs particularly enjoyed this amenity. Backwoods Camping & RV Park maintains a quiet environment where pets can stay safely with their owners, with no reported issues regarding pet security during overnight stays. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to remain leashed when outside designated exercise areas, with owners responsible for waste cleanup and preventing excessive barking during quiet hours.
Hiking trails throughout the region provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with the Heritage Trail near Grayson Lake State Park offering a less steep option for older pets or those with mobility issues. Several campgrounds feature creekside locations where dogs can cool off during summer months, though swimming in Dewey Lake is not recommended for pets or humans. The Huntington/Fox Fire KOA includes a clean, fenced dog park that receives regular maintenance. Campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, as black bears and coyotes inhabit the surrounding forests, making bear mace a recommended safety precaution when hiking with pets. Local campgrounds typically enforce quiet hours to prevent disturbances from barking, with most sites providing sufficient space between campsites to minimize pet-related conflicts.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Wilsondale (52)
1. East Fork (WV)
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability2. Cabwaylingo State Forest
"Here's another tip from the superintendent: If you pull up next to the satellite dish by the bathhouse, there's Internet service with no pass code."
"The campground is small, tucked into a side hollow just off the main road through the State Forest with tiny Spruce Creek flowing right through it. "
from $15 - $75 / night
Check Availability3. Pappy's Creekside Camp
"Campground is located right next to the East Lynn outlaw trails. The owner and staff very friendly and even set us up with a local group to show us around."
"We ride with the WV Outlaws and they take you on awesome trail and creek rides!! Kids love the creeks on hot days they have so much fun!! "
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability4. Yatesville Lake State Park Campground
"In my opinion the best sites are the boat in tent camping sites down the hill by the lake. The sites also run along a gravel rode that can be used to hike in."
"It's been a few years since I've visited Yatesville Lake State Park Campgrounds but it used to be a staple of my summer. The campsites are a LONG distance from each other."
from $20 - $32 / night
Check Availability5. Chief Logan State Park Campground
"No water or electricity at the primitive campground, but you’re within walking distance of the main bathhouse which was nice and clean during my stay. "
"There was creek nearby and walking paths all over. We went over to the lodge and was able to swim in the pool and hot tub as part of the price of our campsite."
from $16 / night
Check Availability6. Four Coves Campground — Beech Fork State Park
"The spots on the lake are our favorites, but are usually first to fill up. You won't be far from the lake wherever your spot is. The full hookup spots are in my opinion most crowded."
"This place is so pretty its positively photogenic! Monday - Wednesday we had our loop all to ourselves. We were visited by geese, ducks and deer."
7. Falls Campground
"The sites are nice and most have direct access to the creek and beach area. Privately owned so not ruled to death like some state park campgrounds."
"There's a dollar general at the entrance."
from $37 - $72 / night
Check Availability8. Jenny Wiley State Park Campground
"The park’s along the lake and has hiking, birding, a restaurant, and a nice surprise: an open air theatre with shows outside all summer."
"I lived in the Dewey Lake-JWSP area with family members, until 2002. Currently, I live about 10-15 minutes away from JWSP and visit the park at least once a month, depending on the weather."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability9. Riders Retreat at Romans Branch
from $20 - $150 / night
Check Availability10. Beach Fork Lake Lower Bowen
"You can get a spot right next to the lake. Now the bad... Not much at the camp store. Verizon service is non-existent. The WiFi only works when you get within a few feet of the office."
"The lake was lower but it was still nice. The bath houses were impressively clean. They have a nice Park Head quarters with a general store that has grocery items, firewood, and cool souvenirs."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 2 min from Huntington, WV
- 2 hrs 6 min from Beckley, WV
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Wilsondale, WV
36 Photos of 52 Wilsondale Campgrounds
Jennifer B.
Chief Logan State Park Campground
Andrew S.
Ole Henry's Camping retreat
Todd C.
Yatesville Lake State Park Campground
Lisa R.
Old Orchard Campground — Beech Fork State Park
John
Four Coves Campground — Beech Fork State Park
Destiny C.
Beach Fork Lake Lower Bowen
Todd C.
Ashland Huntington West Campground
mike
Saint Albans Roadside Park
Todd C.
Grayson Lake State Park Campground
Shelly S.
Kanawha State Forest
Jeremy K.
Breaks Interstate Park Campground
Brittany I.
Greenbo Lake State Resort Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Wilsondale, WV
317 Reviews of 52 Wilsondale Campgrounds
Laura H.
LegendHuntington / Fox Fire KOA
Party Central
We enjoyed our stay at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA! This is a holiday KOA that offers more amenities for vacationers. It has very close proximity to I-64 in West Virginia, and you can hear the traffic pretty clearly.
The staff is wonderful, they obviously care very much about their jobs and we enjoyed talking to them. They keep the property very clean which is saying a lot because it’s a very busy park. Each day we watched the park nearly empty and by sundown it was mostly full again. On the weekends it was full to capacity, and it’s occupants were out enjoying their time!
There is: great cellular for TMobile and AT&T, laundry, dog walk area, storage, cabins, a store, a swimming pond, small beach area, and some sites have fire pits. The picnic tables were pretty dated.
The hookups are a little strange. You share pedestals in many of the sites. And the arrangement is a little strange but it works.
Cheryl T.
GuideRobert Newlon Airpark RV Park Huntington, WV
Nice campground train tracks directly next to it
The campground is small. Has a nice dog park. Pickle ball courts Cafe Sky diving right here. The Ohio river is visible. The only real problem comes with the train tracks right here. The trains are close and do blow their whistle for crossing by the office.
- William I.Scout
Moxley Branch Campground — Beech Fork State Park
Looking for a great getaway with lots of stuff to do?
Go to Beech Fork! I’ve been camping here with my family for close to ten years now and we always have a blast. I’ve stayed in primitive sites and RV sites and you can’t really go wrong with either (my review will be 4 stars until I check out the cabins)! Whether you’re looking to spend some time on the lake, fish, hike, bike, or even learn a thing or two about West Virginia history, Beech Fork will typically have you covered. The park stays clean and the staff are pretty good people as well!
Todd C.
RangerAshland Huntington West Campground
Nice Campground Close to Interstate
KOA Review
The campground it’s self is very clean and taken care of. We were there in early March with winter temps. The staff was extremely nice and helpful, bath house and laundry was clean. The water at our site was inoperable and they offered to move us without me even having to ask which was nice. The site could be maintained better ours had lots of tire ruts and fire pit could have been better for the price. Overall it’s a good campground with amenities in great shape. A good little dog park that was extremely clean, putt putt, and more. I would come back again in the off season just cause we like camping with less crowds.
Jacqueline H.ScoutOasis Point RV Resort & Adventure Lake
Very peaceful
Quiet spot next to an industrial area. Nice view of man-made lake with a number of fishing huts for catch-and-release fishing. Pets allowed leashed, with no tie-outs permitted. Helpful owner who escorted us to our campsite with full service hookups but no picnic table or fire ring (some sites had tables). We had a peaceful overnight stay.
- mmike
TravelerSaint Albans Roadside Park
Decent for passing through
Spent one night here, easy to pull in to and plenty of light overnight. Directly across from a grocery store, pet store, and auto supply store so great resupply stop! And free electric! Clean playground also.
- Tahnee M.Scout
Valley Breeze RV Campground
Very cozy/clean RV & camper site
The folks that run this RV park are very nice and obviously have a lot of pride in their place. Valley Breezy is very well kept and clean. Good amenities- electric/sewer/water hookup. Pets allowed (on-leash).
Jennifer B.LegendCabwaylingo State Forest
Coal Country Culture at a Historic State Park
Cabwaylingo is off the beaten path, but definitely worth a visit! It's one of the oldest WV state parks, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. Described as a"hidden gem" on the state website, I was the only camper in the entire 8,200-acre property on a warm Sunday afternoon. Sad this beautiful state forest is so underutilized.
Cabwaylingo sits on a portion of four different counties, namely: Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln and Mingo, which helps explain the origin of the exotic-sounding name. The forest has two campgrounds, lots of picnic shelters, 100-capacity bunkhouses with a huge kitchen, plus some gorgeous historic cabins which now have A/C. The outdoor pool is closed due to a lack of funding, but there's swimming hole in the nearby creek which is also used for baptisms by local churches.
The stonework in this park is amazing, especially the superintendent's residence which was built by Italian stone masons. It's located across the street from the park headquarters, so be sure and check it out.
I pulled into the Spruce Creek Campground which appeared nicely maintained, but there was no campground host, no other campers, and the bathhouses were locked, so I wasn't sure if it was open for use. I found out from the superintendent the next morning that it's difficult to keep a campground host because it's an unpaid position. He said I could have pulled in and picked one of 11 spots, then the night watchman would have shown up to check me in and unlock the bathrooms. Good to know, if you're just passing through with no reservation like I was. Here's another tip from the superintendent: If you pull up next to the satellite dish by the bathhouse, there's Internet service with no pass code.
I ended up driving to the Tick Ridge primitive campground which lived up to its name. Again, no host and no campers, so this isolated campground tends to attract partying locals and ATV riders who use the nearby county road. The bathhouse here is permanently closed due to a dried up well, so the only facilities are the ancient pit toilets. I was surprised that I had phone service high on the hill, thanks to an AT&T tower on a nearby ridge. I wouldn't camp here again, but I might make the 2-mile drive to checkout the old Tick Ridge Fire Tower built by the CCC in 1935. I'm bummed I didn't know about it and missed it during my stay.
The drive to Cabwaylingo State Forest is half the adventure. You'll be motoring through the heart of southern West Virginia's coal country where you'll cross several single-lane bridges and pass through at least one historic tunnel chiseled out of the surrounding rock.
You'll see the economic impact of the decline of the coal industry with many businesses shuttered, so best to stock up on groceries and gas before you get too far off the beaten path where there's often no phone or Internet service.
I stopped for gas at the Dingess Service Center where locals can pull-up and pump fuel, but you'll have to go inside and leave your credit card before the manager will turn the vintage pump on. I bought a cold caffeinated beverage and visited with some local residents about their favorite pastimes, the coal industry, and the poor job market that's causing their young people to flee. Everyone was super-friendly after I explained I was reviewing Cabwaylingo in an attempt to encourage more tourism.
The Dingess Service Center is located near the infamous Dingess Tunnel which is a former train tunnel, nearly a mile-long, stained with the bloody history of train wrecks and purported deaths of foreign laborers killed by locals. Whatever the truth is, the 60's-era conversion to a single-lane road for cars still makes for a nail-biting drive. They were paving the roadway when I came through, so the tunnel was closed, but I did drive through a similar, but much shorter, tunnel which runs between Dingess and Breeden.
There are lots of churches along the access road to Cabwaylingo, including a couple of Old Regular Baptist Churches, found almost exclusively in remote areas of Appalachia. This denomination does not use musical instruments so they have a song leader who chants a line of the hymn, with the congregation repeating a more elaborate version. It's a mournful-sounding form of worship called"line-out hymnody" which dates back to the 1700's. There are a few samples on YouTube which sound like remnants of some ancient Celtic church service.
Guide to Wilsondale
Cabins and campsites near Wilsondale, West Virginia cater to overnight stays from April through October, with most facilities closing during winter. The region spans elevations from 650 to 1,200 feet in the Appalachian foothills, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions. Water levels at nearby Dewey Lake fluctuate seasonally, affecting access to some primitive sites and creekside camping areas.
What to do
Explore hiking options: The Heritage Trail offers accessible hiking for pets and families. At Chief Logan State Park Campground, the Coal Mine Trail preserves industrial remnants. "I hiked the Coal Mine Trail with remnants of the coal industry decaying in the forest, then continued on the Wilderness Trail which gives you a nice view of the surrounding mountains," notes Jennifer B.
Visit wildlife exhibits: Several parks maintain wildlife viewing areas with native species. "The wildlife exhibit is a fun detour ($2/person). We saw a water slide, putt-putt, and enjoyed the restaurant at the lodge. They have tours for the local elk there too," reports Raquel R. at Chief Logan State Park.
Water recreation: Fishing opportunities vary by season with trout stocking typically occurring in spring. At Paintsville Lake State Park Campground, water activities dominate summer stays. "The lake is really calm. There are boats coming in and out but not 'traffic' per se, no issues at all kayaking and we went out several times. Fishing was good with rooster tails and panther martin spinners (silver), 1/8 and 1/16 oz," explains Kelley K.
What campers like
Creek access for cooling off: Streams and creeks provide natural cooling spots during summer heat. At Falls Campground, campers enjoy water features. "The sites are nice and most have direct access to the creek and beach area. Privately owned so not ruled to death like some state park campgrounds," writes Hank M.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds in the region offer well-spaced sites. At Yatesville Lake State Park Campground, "the campsites are a LONG distance from each other. You won't even hear your neighbors," according to Carrie J., who adds that "a lot of the sites back up against the lake so you have easy access for swimming."
Off-trail vehicle access: Direct trail connections make this region popular for ATV users. "Campground is located right next to the East Lynn outlaw trails. The owner and staff very friendly and even set us up with a local group to show us around," notes a camper at Pappy's Creekside Camp, adding that "they also offer parking and you don't have to worry about any one messing with your stuff because there is always some one there."
What you should know
Limited services nearby: Most campgrounds require advance planning for supplies. At Cabwaylingo State Forest, Jeffrey A. notes, "There are no good gas stations or markets in the immediate vicinity so definitely plan accordingly!"
Variable cell service: Connectivity fluctuates throughout the region. Jennifer B. found that "I was surprised that I had phone service high on the hill, thanks to an AT&T tower on a nearby ridge," while other campgrounds offer WiFi only near specific facilities.
Weather impacts: Spring rainfall can affect camping conditions significantly. "Heavy rains can cause the creek to partially flood the campground and the moderate rains we experienced turned some of the sites into a soggy mess," warns Jeffrey A. about Spruce Creek Campground at Cabwaylingo State Forest.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's facilities. "Kids can be seen from all spots, all over the campground. Very family friendly. Clean. Fantastic staff," shares Vanessa D. about Falls Campground, adding that "they also have a fantastic Halloween themed October."
Water safety precautions: Lake access requires planning for child safety. At Paintsville Lake State Park, "There is some access right at the campground for littles to get in the water. I really recommend water shoes as there are some hooks/lures in the water," advises Kelley K.
Food storage requirements: Wildlife encounters necessitate proper storage. Kelley K. also warns that "There are raccoons who like to eat so be sure to put your food up at night" at Paintsville Lake State Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: Water connections vary by campground with some requiring extra-long hoses. At Jenny Wiley State Park, Frances F. notes "Campsites are set up where the water hookups at in front of your camper. Bring long water hose."
Seasonal closures: Many full-service campgrounds operate April through October only. At Cabwaylingo, Jeffrey A. reports, "The campground is small, tucked into a side hollow just off the main road through the State Forest with tiny Spruce Creek flowing right through it."
Site leveling requirements: Terrain varies throughout the region. Chris M. notes at Yatesville Lake State Park that "On top of the hill there is camper sites with full hook ups which is actually quite spacious and spaced out from other sites compared to other campgrounds, but some sites are better than others of course."
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