Jefferson National Forest

Frolic through the fields, hike through the forests, and swim through the streams—you can do it all (and more!) at the Raven Cliff Recreation Area Campground. Plus, with only 20 spots available at the primitive campground, things stay cozy and quiet after the day-use crowd leaves. Oh, and don’t pack up the tent before you’ve gotten the chance to t Read more...

So you’ve hiked up Iron Mountain and now you’re 3800 feet above the sea, and guess what? You’re dead tired. What’s better than hiking back down? Pitching a tent at the Comers Rock Recreation Area, a campground in Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest near the border with North Carolina. Small, primitive, and extremely secluded, these mountaintop si Read more...

What do you get when you combine refreshing mountain streams, superb trail hiking, and unparalleled views of surrounding peaks? Raccoon Branch Campground, of course! Pro tip: try to snag a spot at this campground in the fall for some major leaf peeping when the trees start to change color. And don’t forget your fishing rod; big ol’ trout are easy Read more...

We hope you’re not scared of heights—because you’ll need your wits about you as you tackle the tough climb up Mount Rogers to the 3,800-foot peak. The campground in Grindstone Recreation Area gives you easy access to Mount Rogers, plus the area offers great birding and hiking—and a chance to beat your buds in a round of campground volleyball. Read more...

Even if you task yourself with imagining the most scenic campground ever, chances are you can’t conjure up Hurricane Campground. Shaded by lush hemlock and rhododendron, and situated near a picture-perfect mountain stream, the breathtaking campground gives you easy access to the Appalachian Trail, and a host of other trails as well. But don’t just Read more...

Stony Fork Campground doesn’t fuss with any of your typical campground add-ons—nestled in the dense wood of Virginia’s enormous Jefferson National Forest, this camp’s biggest draws are pure tranquility and beauty. At the foot of Big Walker Mountain and adjacent to the Big Walker Scenic Byway, it has the east fork of the Stony Fork River running th Read more...

Looking for a super affordable alternative to sleeping on the ground in Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest? Stony Fork Cabin is a charming little log cabin option with one bedroom and all the comforts of home, yet you can go to sleep knowing you’re in the middle of one of the northeast’s largest expanses of wilderness. Spend your days hiking or Read more...

Located just 7 short miles south of the West Virginia border lies the Walnut Flats campground in Bland County. Small and pleasant, this campground sits at an altitude of 2,400 feet in the densely forested dream lands of Appalachia. Hanging on the crunchier side of well done, the campsites are clustered together around a small clearing perfect for Read more...

Unplug for a weekend at one of Virginia’s most off-the-grid campgrounds, Beartree Recreation Area. The namesake lake, surrounded by beaches and dunes, allows only non-motorized boating, and the campsites here tend to attract more tent campers, due to their lack of hookups (don’t fret if you brought the retro souped-up Airstream on the trip, though Read more...

They say Virginia is for lovers, and nowhere is this more true than at the private cabins you can rent within Jefferson National Forest. Blue Springs Gap Cabin is one of the more rustic of them, with no running water for drinking or showers, but three bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and flushable toilet. Heat is provided only by the large stone fi Read more...

Peacefulness? Seclusion from society? Nature? Bring it on. White Rocks Campground is the postcard image of the ideal “getaway” spot. You’ll enjoy an abundance of wildlife, a calming creek, and plenty of trails to investigate. You can even catch a glimpse of the famous Appalachian Trail through these parts. Read more...

Have you ever thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail, then realized you couldn’t go a week without sleeping in a real bed? Then the Sunrise Cabin at Jefferson National Forest is the spot for you. This rentable unit located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is a two-story house that sleeps eight, with gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Read more...

Fox Creek Horse Campground is all about an ah-mazing location. Hop on your horse and head toward the super scenic Mount Rogers High Country region via a trail that leads straight out of the campground! Can’t get more convenient than that. Fishing, hunting, and hiking are popular in this area as well. Read more...

Looking to throw a memorable party, host a family reunion, or just get 50 of your closest friends together for a day of fishing and a night of story-telling by the fire? Look no further than Virginia’s Caldwell Fields Campground, located in Jefferson National Forest. The two sister fields that make up this area, Milton and George, are both mowed a Read more...

It must be opposite day every day at Boley Fields Group Campground—here in the heart of Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest, the main attractions are Poverty Creek and Poverty Trail, both of which provide no shortage of recreation opportunities. Easily accessible from Boley Field, the 17-mile path offers hikers and mountain bikers a taste of the Read more...

Y’all listen up now and head on over to Bark Camp Recreation Area in the pristine Jefferson National Forest. Laying in the shadows of the rugged Appalachian Mountains and pressed smack dab again a 45-acre lake, the views will blow you mind, and the fishin’ will fill your stomach. The campsites themselves are well developed and within easy reach of Read more...

Pinned right in the heart of Appalachia, High Knob Recreation area will have nature folk grinning like a possum eating a sweat potato! Coming in at 3,800 feet, the campground is the highest in the Clinch Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forest and in turn offers some of the best views your likely to find. Rustic and quaint, the campground Read more...

Virginia truly is for lovers; both of one another, the gentle beauty, and rugged splendor the ol’ dominion so graciously provides. The only developed campground at North Fork of Pound Lake, Cane Patch Campground sits within walking distance of a slue of radical activities! We reckon a refreshing dip in Phillips Creek swimming area, some pickup vol Read more...

The morning dew-swept grass dances in passing breezes amongst a secondary-sunrise; a crispy, clean aroma envelops the area. And no scented candle or plug-in type “refresher” can duplicate it’s moniker scent. Craig Creek Recreational Area, while brushed by the biotic color pallet formerly described, is known for the snaking creek that slithers alon Read more...

If you appreciate unique character, you’ll love trekking out to Cave Mountain Recreation Area. It’s nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers an awesome array of things to enjoy, including access to the Natural Bridge and sand dunes to explore. Need some civilization for a day? It’s in close proximity to historic Lexington!Read more...

Crouched in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, is Cave Mountain Lake Recreational Area. Inundated by the area’s namesake freshwater body, this beguiling area has mass generational appeal. Lucky for you and your family (or closest 30 friends), Cave Mountain Lake Group Camp is the perfect base to explore it all. Enjoy fishing, swimming, beach bum Read more...

The best things in life can be shared—and camping’s no different. Hoppers Creek Group Campground offers it’s visitors a rustic, frill-free experience, geared toward aligning those minimalistic backpackers with the natural beauty around them. And, after a long day of hiking through the area’s leaf littered trails, be sure to grab a bag or two of ma Read more...

Prettier than a glob of butter meltin’ on a stack of pancakes, Cave Springs Recreation Area sits smack dab in the middle of the postcard-worthy farming community of Olinger Gap. One of the largest campgrounds in the Jefferson National Forest, Cave Springs invites you to take a plunge into the lake, hike up to expansive overlooks or have a picnic o Read more...

We love the benefits of camping near a creek. Things like the view, the sound, and the fish, to name a few. When you head out to North Creek Campground, you’ll get just that. The site is located along the edge of the creek, so you can cast a steady line from the banks, or simply put your feet up and listen to the cool rush of the water. Read more...

Steel Bridge Campground is baffled by just a few gravel-paved campsites. But, what the area lacks in availability, it more than makes up for in terms of game fishing; Steel Bridge Campground is situated near trout-stocked Potts Creek. Read more...

Jeepers’ creepers, let's hit the trail in the Jefferson National Forest! A true hotspot for Jeep enthusiasts, The Pines Campground sits adjacent to some of the more challenging 4-wheeling the Old Dominion has to offer. Fixed amidst a woodland backdrop, the campsites are a bit on the crunchier side, but provide easy access to a network of trails an Read more...

Head out to Little Fort for a lotta fun. This minimally developed recreation area, believe it or not, was once a rest stop for a stagecoach line and has been totally reimagined as a family-friendly site withplenty to offer. Get this: they offer the largest OHV complex in the state of Virginia, so you can start the day off with some thrills and end Read more...