Virginia Campgrounds

Staying at the campgrounds is like bringing the nature trails to you! It is one of the most rustic mountain vacation experiences you can get. There don’t have all the modern conveniences of home, but an endless slew of outdoor activities and outdoor recreations trumps the need for cable. After all, the remoteness of the campgrounds makes them some of the most popular camping sites in the region.

Blowing Springs

Route 39
7698 Mountain Valley Road
Warm Springs, VA 24484
For information, contact the Warm Springs Ranger District: 540-839-2521
Operated by the US Forest Service
For those who enjoy getting back in touch with nature, the Blowing Springs recreational area offers a more primitive camping experience. Visitors will be amazed by the phenomenon for which this site is named—a unique geological feature creates a duct that blows air out of the rocks at a constant 58 degrees, which may feel warm or cool depending upon the season. And what this area lacks in modern conveniences, it makes up for with its slew of endless activities. Campers can enjoy fishing in Back Creek, swimming, whitewater paddling and hiking all while embracing wilderness at its best. Blowing Springs is open year round. There is a camping fee of $10. First-come, first-serve only.

Dominion Back Creek Recreational Area

Route 600
316 Power Station Drive
Warm Springs, VA 24484
The Dominion Back Creek recreational area is located adjacent to the world’s most powerful pumped storage generating station, a Dominion-owned property that provides electricity for millions of homes across six different states. This 325 acre public recreational area contains two lakes that are open on a seasonal basis located just downstream from the lower dam. This area is a popular destination for fishing, non-power boating, picnicking, swimming, hiking and camping.

Douthat State Park

14329 Douthat State Park Road
Millboro, VA 24460
540-862-8100
Visitor Services Specialist: 540-862-8117
Reservations: 540-933-PARK
douthat@dcr.virginia.gov
As a traditional family park for more than 70 years, Douthat is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because its design influenced the development of parks nationwide. Located amid some of Virginia’s most breathtaking mountain scenery, visitors enjoy miles of stream fishing, a 50 acre recreation lake stocked with trout, a sandy swimming beach, boat and bicycle rentals, a camp store, miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding trails, cabins, campgrounds, picnic areas and a Lakeside Restaurant.

Hidden Valley Dispersed Recreational Area

1531 Hidden Valley Road
Warm Springs, VA 24484
For information, contact the Warm Springs Ranger District: 540-839-2521
Operated by the US Forest Service
Situated in a remote area of the George Washington National Forest, Hidden Valley is rich in both history and natural beauty. With over 6.5 miles of the Jackson River and nearly 24 miles of trails, Hidden Valley offers excellent opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking and camping. When exploring the rustic nature of Hidden Valley, visitors flock to Poor Farm, one of the most popular fishing, hunting and dispersed camping spots in the Warm Springs Ranger District. Hidden Valley is also home to the antebellum Warwickton Mansion built by Judge James Wood Warwick in 1848, which now operates as the Hidden Valley Bed and Breakfast. Warwickton Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was also the shooting set for the 1993 post Civil War film Sommersby starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster. Visitors can view the mansion from the river but reservations are required to enter the gate to the Inn.

Lake Moomaw/Bolar Mountain Recreational Area

Route 600
756 Twin Ridge Drive
Warm Springs, VA 24484
For information, contact the Warm Springs Ranger District: 540-839-2521
Operated by the US Forest Service
Lake Moomaw and the Bolar Mountain recreational areas are among the most popular developed recreation areas in the George Washington National Forest and provide an endless array of activities including boating, fishing, hiking, biking and camping. The Grouse Point Overlook and the Island Overlook are also two popular vista locations in the Bolar Mountain region which offer a scenic panoramic view of Lake Moomaw.

Peaceful River Campground

42 Peaceful River Road
Millboro, VA 24460
540-996-4256
Peaceful River Campground is a private campground situated on the beautiful Cowpasture River, just two miles west of Millboro on Route 39. The facilities offer tent camping with or without lights and spaces for camper hookup. For the not-so-rustic camper, a bath house with hot showers is available. Guests also have access to the privately-owned stretch of Cowpasture River during their stay. Spaces are available to rent nightly, weekly and during the weekend. Advanced reservations are required.