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

Walnut Flats Campground

This small, primitive campground is well suited for tent camping but also accommodates small recreation vehicles. It has shaded sites clustered around a grassy opening surrounded by forest. Flat Top Mountain Trail System, the Appalachian Trail, Dismal Creek (a stocked trout stream), and the Falls of Dismal are close by.

Open nowFirst-come, first-servedFreeTents only

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

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesNo Fee

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril 1 to December 7
ForestGeorge Washington & Jefferson National Forest
FeesNo Fee

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Walnut Flats Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.18 inches of precipitation, 4.7 inches of snowFebruary: 2.67 inches of precipitation, 4.6 inches of snowMarch: 3.56 inches of precipitation, 2.3 inches of snowApril: 3.59 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowMay: 3.99 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 3.96 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.85 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.47 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 3.17 inches of precipitation, 3.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.2°F averageFebruary: 35.8°F averageMarch: 42.6°F averageApril: 52.3°F averageMay: 60.7°F averageJune: 68.3°F averageJuly: 72.0°F averageAugust: 70.6°F averageSeptember: 64.5°F averageOctober: 53.8°F averageNovember: 43.7°F averageDecember: 36.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Pulaski 2 E, 11 miles from the campground at 2,080 feet, station USC00446955 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 40 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 16 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, April 1 to December 7.

Getting there

Coordinates37.1981° N, 80.8864° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearTrail Hiking Supplies ↗12.2 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗17.3 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗52 mi

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

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.4 mi
    Standrock Branch
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Hoof & Hill
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Pearis Thompson
    3.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Dismal Falls
    0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.9 mi
    Ribble
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.5 mi
    Deets
    2.8 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

Kimberling Creek Wilderness begins about 8.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Virginia

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

  • Best Tent Camping: Virginia
    Randy Porter, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Virginia and West Virginia
    Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best tent camping
    Johnny Molloy, 2014
    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 Walnut Flats Campground?

No. Walnut Flats 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 Walnut Flats Campground?

Nothing. Walnut Flats Campground is listed as free. No Fee

Source: Forest Service

Is Walnut Flats Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season April 1 to December 7.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Walnut Flats Campground?

Walnut Flats Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Walnut Flats Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are White Cedar Horse Camp (1 mi, first-come), Boley Field Group Campground (20 mi), and Stony Fork Campground (20.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby