U.S. Forest Service · Monongahela National Forest · Richwood, WV

Big Rock

Small, wooded 5 unit campground adjacent to the Cranberry River. Located on Forest Road 76, approximately 7 miles north of Richwood, WV.

More like this: reservable in West Virginia · pets allowed in West Virginia

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Campsite at Big Rock CampgroundBig Rock Campground Monongahela NFInformation board at Big Rock CampgroundCranberry River
Photos courtesy of Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups5
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

5 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1Back-in31GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
2Back-in40GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
3Back-in51GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
4Back-in67GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
5Back-in50GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 04:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$10 for single sites; $20 for double sites

Hand pump for water, vault toilet, trash receptacles. At each campsite you will find paved spur, picnic tables, lantern post, and fire ring.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril to November
ForestMonongahela National Forest
FeesCamping fee Single Site - $10/night. Double Sites - $20/night
RulesMaximum length of stay is 14 days. Check-out time is 2:00 p.m. Dogs are permitted if on a leash at all times. Leash must be 6 ft. or shorter. Food storage order applies to pet food also. Single site limit is one wheeled camping unit only, defined as motorhome or travel trailer; no more than 8 people; no more than 2 vehicles.

Monongahela National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Big Rock20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 4.32 inches of precipitation, 26.1 inches of snowFebruary: 3.95 inches of precipitation, 21.9 inches of snowMarch: 5.29 inches of precipitation, 16.0 inches of snowApril: 4.77 inches of precipitation, 5.3 inches of snowMay: 5.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 5.16 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 5.99 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.38 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.57 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowNovember: 3.87 inches of precipitation, 7.5 inches of snowDecember: 4.54 inches of precipitation, 22.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.7°F averageFebruary: 31.1°F averageMarch: 38.8°F averageApril: 49.6°F averageMay: 58.3°F averageJune: 65.0°F averageJuly: 68.7°F averageAugust: 67.7°F averageSeptember: 62.5°F averageOctober: 52.6°F averageNovember: 42.0°F averageDecember: 33.6°F average0 in10 in20 in30 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Richwood 1Sse, 6 miles from the campground at 3,090 feet, station USC00467513 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 56 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 100 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Richwood travel one mile east on State Route 39/55, then 6 miles north on Forest Road 76.

Nearest townRichwood, West Virginia
Coordinates38.2961° N, 80.5239° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Arrowhead Trails Rx

    34 mi from the campground · 195 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearAppalachian Sport ↗23.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗25.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

Big Rock Campground White Mountain National Forest - CampgroundViews.com

  • 0.9 mi
    Barrenshe Trail ↗
    4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Hinkle Branch Trail
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.8 mi
    Cranberry Ridge Trail ↗
    5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.9 mi
    Bishop Knob Loop Trail
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3 mi
    Fork Mountain Trail ↗
    21.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.4 mi
    Adkins Rockhouse Trail
    2.2 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 →

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest begins about 2.8 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 →

Natural features

Near the Cranberry River.

Recreation

Fishing is allowed in the adjacent Cranberry River. A valid West Virginia State Fishing License is required, along with a National Forest Stamp a Conservation stamp, and a trout stamp.

Nearby

Cranberry River, Cranberry Wilderness, and Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.

Guidebooks for Monongahela National Forest and West Virginia

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

  • Five-Star Trails: West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest
    Johnny Molloy, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Virginia and West Virginia
    Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Paddling Virginia and West Virginia
    Charli Kerns, 2019
    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 Big Rock?

Sites at Big Rock are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Big Rock?

$10 for single sites; $20 for double sites

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Big Rock?

Check-in 04:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Big Rock open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to November.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Big Rock have?

5 sites, including 5 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Big Rock?

Yes, pets are allowed at Big Rock. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Big Rock?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum length of stay is 14 days.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Big Rock?

Fishing is allowed in the adjacent Cranberry River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Big Rock?

Richwood, West Virginia. Cranberry River, Cranberry Wilderness, and Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.

Source: Getting there

What if Big Rock is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cranberry River Campsites (0.4 mi), Bishop Knob (3.4 mi), and Cranberry Campground (4.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby