U.S. Forest Service · Monongahela National Forest · West Virginia

Bishop Knob

A 60-unit wooded, semi-primitive campground centrally located on a ridge-top between the Cranberry and Williams Rivers. Located off Forest Road 101 in Webster County. Approximately 13 miles from Richwood, WV and 3 miles from Dyer, WV.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Campsite at Bishop KnobBishop KnobBishop Knob
Photos courtesy of Forest Service, Jason Pratt (CC BY 2.0) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups49
Shelters5
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

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1StandardBack-in54GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
2StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
3StandardBack-in62GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
4StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
5StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
6StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
7StandardBack-in52GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
8StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
9StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2YesStandard
10StandardBack-in55GravelPartialNo / –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

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$8 single sites; $16 double sites

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonEnd of April to end of November
ForestMonongahela National Forest
FeesCamping fee Single Site - $8/night. Double Sites - $16/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 Bishop Knob20°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, 9 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

Coordinates38.3378° N, 80.4897° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Arrowhead Trails Rx

    37 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 ↗22.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗23.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Bishop Knob Campgrounds

  • 0.2 mi
    Bishop Knob Loop Trail
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Cranberry Ridge Trail ↗
    5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Adkins Rockhouse Trail
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3 mi
    North-South Trail ↗
    16 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 3.8 mi
    Hinkle Branch Trail
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.1 mi
    Barrenshe Trail ↗
    4.5 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 4.8 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 →

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 Bishop Knob?

Sites at Bishop Knob 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 Bishop Knob?

$8 single sites; $16 double sites

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bishop Knob?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Bishop Knob open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season End of April to end of November.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Bishop Knob have?

54 sites, including 49 standard sites without power and 5 shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Bishop Knob?

Bishop Knob is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Bishop Knob?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bishop Knob. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Bishop Knob?

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 if Bishop Knob is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cranberry Campground (2.7 mi), Cranberry River Campsites (3.3 mi), and Big Rock (3.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby