U.S. Forest Service · George Washington & Jefferson National Forest · West Virginia

Hawk Recreation Area

Hawk Campground sits nestled in the Alleghany Mountains surround by a spectacular nature setting. Experience an exciting hiking experience with easy access to the Tuscarora Trail right from the campground. In the fall, this inviting location offers hunters a secluded environment to stay overnight. Fall asleep to the mellow sounds of the trees gently swaying overhead and the simple harmony of nearby crickets.

Open nowFirst-come, first-servedFreeTents only

More like this: first-come in West Virginia · free in West Virginia · tent only in West Virginia

Hawk Recreation Area
Photo from the area. Justin.A.Wilcox (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesNo Fee

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonLate April through mid-December
ForestGeorge Washington & Jefferson National Forest
FeesNo Fee
RulesAlcoholic beverages prohibited.

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Hawk Recreation Area30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.74 inches of precipitation, 7.9 inches of snowFebruary: 2.34 inches of precipitation, 9.6 inches of snowMarch: 3.59 inches of precipitation, 2.7 inches of snowApril: 3.64 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowMay: 3.96 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.41 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.20 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.28 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.94 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowDecember: 2.92 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.9°F averageFebruary: 33.8°F averageMarch: 40.8°F averageApril: 52.0°F averageMay: 60.4°F averageJune: 69.0°F averageJuly: 73.3°F averageAugust: 71.7°F averageSeptember: 64.8°F averageOctober: 53.2°F averageNovember: 43.2°F averageDecember: 34.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Star Tannery, 4 miles from the campground at 950 feet, station USC00448046 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 40 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 25 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates39.1164° N, 78.4992° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗16.1 mi
Outdoor gearMountain Trails ↗21.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

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Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Guidebooks for West Virginia

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Camping Virginia and West Virginia
    Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best tent camping
    Johnny Molloy, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Paddling Virginia and West Virginia
    Charli Kerns, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Hawk Recreation Area?

No. Hawk Recreation Area is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Hawk Recreation Area?

Nothing. Hawk Recreation Area is listed as free. No Fee

Source: Forest Service

Is Hawk Recreation Area open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Late April through mid-December.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Hawk Recreation Area?

Hawk Recreation Area is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Hawk Recreation Area is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Elizabeth Furnace Group Camp (16 mi), Elizabeth Furnace (16 mi), and Wolf Gap (16.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby