Smith Ridge Harper&#x27;s Ferry

Nice campsite. A bit off the beaten path which is a plus in my books. Host was accommodating with firewood requests and options for stays and alternate open sites. Just stay weary of your comfort zone with everything. Welcoming words to some, can be interpreted much more than your intentions, so be verbally clear on that. What you invite in, is what you accept.

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· August 2026

Exactly what we were looking for!

Tent ·

This spot was awesome!! We were looking for somewhere private but not *too* remote and this was just right. There was plenty of space to setup, the fire pit was in great shape, and there’s a cute little stream that runs next to the site. Matt was great - super communicative whenever we reached out and offered to supply firewood as well. 10/10, we would stay again.

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· August 2026

Tent · With kids ·

My son and I had a great time and Matt was very responsive.

Mixed feelings

· August 2026

Never Trust People With Your Gear

Tent ·

The beer cans on the floor and the dirty bathroom left something to be desired. We also had the pleasure of staying next to a compound that seemed to be doing some sort of karaoke until 11 at night. The main reason for the poor review is that when we pulled up a man insisted on having us load our gear into his atv’s cart to pull it to the site - which we learned was only a short walk away uphill. He took a different path and by the time he got there two bags had fallen off the cart into the woods. One was a cot, which we later recovered. The other had all of my clothes and toiletries and we never found that one. The man fell down a few times in front of us and even jammed his atv into a tree, so maybe he was under the influence - but I lost some expensive clothes, my safety razor, electric toothbrush, etc.

Recommends

· July 2026

Nature, nature all around. Matt's hospitality is top knotch. This space is a great to detach and unwind. Can't wait to visit again!

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· July 2026

Highly recommend!

Super friendly amd welcoming hosts. Pleasant cabin surrounded by nature.

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· June 2026

Nice Site & Great Host

Tent ·

My son and I met at Smith-Ridge for a weekend camping get-away. The site suited our needs and was close to areas where we could explore the river. Matt is a great host. Communication was good and he was able to provide us with enough split wood for our campfires. We really appreciate his efforts to make our stay enjoyable.

Recommends

· June 2026

Solid site! We recommend.

Tent ·

The campsite includes a metal table and four metal chairs, a fire pit, and a small cooking grate. The site is level once you got there with a steep walk over a small steady bridge. The parking spot was close to the site. It was easy to find with the pin drop map directions. Matt met us on our way into the campsite and helped orient us to the space. We enjoyed the location as close enough to Harper’s Ferry and yet far enough to be out of the tourist hub and has reasonable privacy. The site is deeply wooded and felt like camping.

Recommends

· June 2026

With pets ·

Gracie’s Place was great! Beautiful and peaceful view. Matt was super friendly and helpful! He met us when we got there and showed us around and helped us out with a few things we forgot! The shower in the cabin warms up immediately and was easy to use. The bed was quite comfy, and the little porch out front of the cabin was divine. The cabin was as described, just off of the host’s cabin but still a lot of privacy and peace and quiet. The trail to the cabin from the parking area and portajohn took a little getting used to, so definitely a good idea to plan your bathroom trips if you can. We were very close to state parks, town, and Harper’s Ferry Brewing, which provided fantastic drinks and views! Just enough amenities for a quick and spontaneous trip with our dogs (who loved exploring around the cabin with us). We will definitely be back!

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· June 2026

Great place for glamping! Matt was really nice and provided stuff that we needed.

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· June 2026

Tent · With pets ·

The host was very helpful and accommodating! Will be staying in the future.

Recommends

· June 2026

Tent ·

Matt was super accommodating. My site was perfect, and he personally delivered more firewood upon request!! I will for sure. Be camping here again.

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· June 2026

Lower Camp, Great Vibes

Tent · With pets ·

Smith Ridge upper camp

I stayed at Smith Ridge, Lower Camp. I was looking for a site in the mountains and woods, and this was perfect! Access is by a winding gravel road but no 4-wheel drive required. The land was made into camping lots in the 1950s, so it has a long history of vacationers — less than 90 minutes from Washington DC, 15 minutes from Historic Harper’s Ferry, and less than a mile from the Appalachian Trail by gravel road and through the woods. The gravel roads in the area of the campsite are great for short walks. There was a tranquil spring-fed creek next to the camp site. A permanent homemade rock fire circle also had a small grate with it to barbecue. The tree canopy of oak and hickory provided almost complete shade throughout the day. There was a nearby porta-potty disguised as a woodshed equipped with TP and hand sanitizer. The host, Matt, showed up about an hour after we arrived on a 4-wheeler. He had a great vibe, and on our second night gave us free venison wild-caught on the property and foraged mushrooms, which we cooked up on the fire circle barbecue for a local treat. My dog got to play with his girlfriend’s dog and we shared some time in the outdoor seating by his cabin. My rating for Smith Ridge, both the campground and the experience, is 5 stars out of 5 stars, and I’m also interested in “Gracie’s Place” Cabin with a bed and shower. I would recommend this campground as a hideaway for anyone looking to spend some time in the woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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· May 2026

Smith Ridge lower camp

We loved the camp , Matt was great helped with the woods and everything, had fun highly recommended

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· May 2026

Awesome campsite!

Tent · With pets ·

We loved this spot! The woods and campsites were beautiful. Matt was super personable and really kind. He answered all our questions and went out of his way to help us out and make us comfortable. We also purchased firewood from him and had enough for cooking 3 meals over the fire with plenty left over, which was amazing! The sites were far enough away that it felt more private than at a state park campground, and the nearby area was super fun to hike and explore. We would definitely stay here again!

Recommends

· April 2026

Tent · Group trip ·

Matt is a very friendly and super accommodating host. The camping site location was convenient and spacious. Perfect start to my camping season!

Mixed feelings

· April 2026

Tent ·

Matt was great, met me at the spot and very helpful. Spot itself was very close to porta potty and main road and other campsite so it was a noisy and smelly night.

Recommends

· March 2026

Great spot just outside of Harper's Ferry! Matt was awesome and very accommodating (he definitely helped me with a few things I forgot to bring). Fun little cabin with windows showing off all the scenery. He even has coffee in there which is always important. I would absolutely stay here again!

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· February 2026

Me and my friend loved the cabin at Gracie's ! beautiful spot! Great service/help if needed! Cool host, Thanks for sharing Matt!

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· December 2025

The cabin was very well heated for hours in 30 degree and below weather. Well stocked with supplies, and Matt was helpful in providing freshly chopped firewood, lighter, and a grill! A big supply of drinking water and coffee. Had a great time having a bonfire the whole night. Porta potty was pretty decent too. Matt seemed like a cool host in general, and gave us great suggestions for hiking! Would recommend to anyone and I would probably hang out with him if he invited us.

Recommends

· December 2025

Tent ·

We had a great time here! Matt was attentive and was fast to great us! We would definitely visit again!

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· December 2025

Winter Camping

Tent · Group trip ·

This was my group’s second time camping at Smith Ridge, hosted by Matt. This time I had a bigger group (7 people, 5 tents, and room for more). We had a great time again, and the onsite firewood we were able to purchase kept us warm during the 25 degree weather! Another plus was the porta-potty across from where we parked so we didn’t have to dig a hole in the snow. My group will 100% keep returning to camp here!

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· November 2025

Great spot for a last second trip to the mountains and very close to the Appalachian trail. Matt made sure I had everything I needed for my stay and I will definitely try to make another trip here soon!

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· November 2025

Tent · Group trip ·

Smith Ridge upper camp

I loved camping at Smith Ridge! Matt was a gracious host and very accommodating. He brought us firewood and even upgraded our campsite when the first one didn’t fit our needs. The camps grounds are very beautiful and it’s such a special place. This visit was my second time at Smith Ridge and I’m excited to stay again in the future!

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· November 2025

This spot was a cute and comfy respite from every day life and had everything we needed. Waking up to the rain surrounded by trees, warm and cozy in bed was such a treat. We definitely plan to return!

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· November 2025

Group Tent Camping

Tent · Group trip ·

Smith Ridge lower camp

Would definitely camp here again. It’s great for large groups, and Matt the host was very welcoming. We especially appreciated the onsite firewood. $20 got us a beautiful fire burning from 3pm to midnight. Tables and seating were also on site so we were able to prepare our dinner to roast over the fire without haven’t to balance anything on our laps. To top the experience off, there was a spotless porta-potty at the edge of the camp’s boundary. Overall, this site was very well maintained and in a beautiful location.

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· November 2025

Camping

Tent ·

Smith Ridge upper camp

Matt was hands down the greatest host we’ve ever had. He was incredibly hospitable and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. We even invited him to hang out with us, and he showed us an amazing time. Couldn’t have asked for a better experienced, I highly recommend staying with him!

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· October 2025

Beautiful location. Excellent and friendly communication with owner.

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· October 2025

Great stay

With kids ·

The cabin was exactly as advertised. Matt was a great host and ensured we were well accommodated for during our stay.

Recommends

· October 2025

Tent · With pets ·