North River Campground
This open area campground was originally constructed as a CCC camp. Evidence of the original sites and logging trails still remain today. North River Gorge is a popular hiking, biking, and fishing area with a swinging bridge spanning the North River. Close proximity to Wild Oak National Recreation Trail, Stanton Dam Day Use Area and Elkhorn Lake provide multiple recreational options that are easily accessible within a few miles.
More like this: first-come in Virginia · tent only in Virginia
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Camping: $5.00 per site per night. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | early-March to late-December |
| Forest | George Washington & Jefferson National Forest |
| Fees | Camping: $5.00 per site per night. |
| Rules | Campsites are limited to one RV or two tents, no more than two vehicles, and no more than eight persons per site. |
George Washington & Jefferson National Forest recreation page ↗
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 38.3394° N, 79.2072° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Paradise Energy Solutions, LLC ↗ | 18.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miNorth River Gorge ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miBear Draft1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miTrimble Mountain3.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miShaffer Hollow0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miLittle Skidmore1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miFlat Run2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Ramseys Draft Wilderness begins about 5.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5.1 miRamseys Draft Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,577 acres
- 10.9 miMonongahela National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,703,725 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Mt. Zion SchoolhouseBuilding · Mt. Solon · 4.4 mi
- North River High SchoolBuilding · Moscow · 7.1 mi
- Long Glade FarmBuilding · Mount Solon · 8.4 mi
Guidebooks for Virginia
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at North River Campground?
No. North River Campground 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 North River Campground?
Camping: $5.00 per site per night.
Source: Forest Service
Is North River Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season early-March to late-December.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to North River Campground?
North River Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if North River Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Todd Lake Campground (1.8 mi, first-come), Hone Quarry Campground (9.4 mi, first-come), and Brandywine Campground (17.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby