Bishop Knob Campground, near Cowen, West Virginia, is a solid spot for those looking to escape into nature without too much fuss. With a mix of tent and RV sites, it’s designed for a laid-back camping experience where you can kick back and enjoy the great outdoors.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, including vault toilets and picnic tables, making it a comfortable choice for families and friends. Visitors have mentioned the friendly camp host and the well-kept grounds, which add to the welcoming vibe. One camper noted, “The camp host was super friendly and the vault toilets were clean,” which is always a plus when you’re out in the wild.

If you’re into fishing, you’ll want to keep in mind that while there are fishing opportunities nearby, you’ll need to drive a bit to get to the water. The area around Bishop Knob is beautiful, with plenty of trails and spots to explore along the Cranberry River. Wildlife sightings are common, so keep your eyes peeled for signs of critters roaming around.

For those seeking a quieter alternative to busier campgrounds, Bishop Knob is a great backup option. It’s perfect for a peaceful getaway, especially if you’re looking to unwind and enjoy some time around the campfire. Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or just a day visit, this campground offers a nice slice of nature to recharge your batteries.

A 60-unit wooded, semi-primitive campground centrally located on a ridgetop between the Cranberry and Williams Rivers. Located off Forest Road 101 in Webster County. Approximately 13 miles from Richwood, WV and 3 miles from Dyer, WV.

Bishop Knob Campground

Are you in need of a campground near Camden-on-Gauley, WV? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Camden-on-Gauley is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

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spectacular area to camp. it is a dirt road in and out, the camp host was super friendly and the vault toilets were clean. 

I love the area, so beautiful. Good campsight as well. We were a bit worried about bears, but we kept all food and garbage in the car and never saw one

Beautiful area with a nice camp sight 

Bishop Knob Specific...

Visited the camp site Columbus Day weekend and it was empty but for one RV camper.  I imagine this site is a good back up if the Big Rock, Cranberry Campgrounds are full or you just wanted a spot that was quieter.   Very well kept and had all the basics, water, toilet, picnic table, lantern hook, and fire pit.  

  

The second loop was closed (presumably for the rest of the fall/winter season). The Monogahela National Forest website lists there being fishing nearby, but as far as i could tell you still have to drive to get to the water.  We wanted to fish off our campsite so we did not stay over night at Bishop Knob.  

  

Monogahela - Gauley Ranger District... 

I found all three campgrounds easy to find and the signage from Forest Road 76 was suffiecient.  We rarely had GPS on the back roads and mountain area in WV so be sure to print directions jic.  Had service in Richwood though, which I recommend checking out if you have a rainy day or you need last minute camping supplies.  They have an outfitter, Four Seasons Outfitter, that we purchased our firewood from (it rained so "dead and down" wasn't gonna help).  They might sell fishing license too but we bought our fishing licenses from a different outfitter in Marlinton, WV.  Marlinton is also a good pit stop.   

  

This area of Monogahela was lovely, there were tons of great spots along the Cranberry River to explore.  We heard and/or saw some wildlife/signs of wild life.  No bears which is good I guess, we were careful not to attract them to our campsite.  I was surprised not to see or be visited by a ranger while were at Monogahela (two nights) especially given that it was a holiday weekend.

Quiet on Columbus Day Weekend

This mountain top ground, located between the Cranberry and Williams Rivers, has 60 sites located along a circle. The openness of the ground would allow for multiple families to camp with access to one another but they're not so close that it's intrusive.

Mountain Top Serenity

We stayed at Bishop Knob Campground for two nights in July and absolutely loved it. During our entire stay there was only one other camper, which made the campground feel quiet, peaceful, and almost private. Even better, the sites were only$8 a night, making this an incredible value for a national forest campground.  
  

We stayed in the last site on the loop Site 33, which looks to be the old camp host site. It’s a great spot with flowers and plants planted around the site entrance, and the wooded area behind the site has been cleared out, giving it a more open and usable feel than many of the other sites.  
  

One really interesting feature of this campground is that the second loop appears to have been closed for years. You can still walk through the old loop, and it was neat to see the overgrown sites and roads slowly being reclaimed by the forest. It adds to the sense that this campground doesn’t get a lot of use.  
  

We walked around and checked the site tags left behind in the open loop, and many of them were dated several months earlier, which really shows how lightly used this campground is. If you’re looking for a quiet, uncrowded, back-to-nature camping experience in the Monongahela National Forest, Bishop Knob is a great place to stay. We would absolutely camp here again.  
  
Check out our 360° drive through the campground, see all the sites and get a real feel for the campground.  
  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI3qYdYxGzo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI3qYdYxGzo)

Photos of Bishop Knob Campground

Real photos from real campers