Horseshoe Recreation Area
Horseshoe Recreation Area is located in north-central West Virginia, 7 miles from the town of St. George. The campground is tucked in a valley along Horseshoe Run, providing excellent opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and relaxing beside the creek in the beautiful Monongahela National Forest. The campground offers 21 campsites total. Sites 7 through 12 are reservable below, while sites 1 through 6 and 13 through 21 are available on a first come, first served basis.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in West Virginia · first-come in West Virginia · reservable in West Virginia · pets allowed in West Virginia · group sites in West Virginia
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 6 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
| Host/management | 8 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
8 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 007 | HORS | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 15/30/50/15 amp | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 008 | HORS | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 15/50/30/15 amp | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | HORS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 15 amp | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 010 | HORS | Electric | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | 15/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 011 | HORS | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 15/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 012 | HORS | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 15/30/50 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 001 | PAVI | Group Shelter Electric | Gravel | Partial | 15 amp | 75 / 25 | Yes | ||||
| 002 | PAVI | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Partial | No | – / No | 20 / 8 | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | There is a $7.00/night fee charged for Electric Sites in addition to the $18.00/night use fee. This $7.00 fee is not discountable. Interagency Pass and Access Pass Daily Rates for Electric Sites in Loop A will be reduced to $17.00 per day for holders of these passes. |
| Accessibility | Sites XXX, 001 are listed accessible |
Each site offers picnic tables, grills, and waste receptacles and standard sites have electric hookups. There are accessible vault toilets and non-accessible flush toilets. Hand pumps and a drinking fountain with faucet are available. The camp store sells firewood and ice. The two group picnic shelters are accessible. The large electric pavilion has an occupancy limit of 75, and the small non-electric pavilion has an occupancy limit of 10.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | Monongahela National Forest |
| Booking | Some campsites are reservable, as is one small and one large pavilion. |
| Fees | Camping Fees Sites with electricity (Loop A) - $22/night. Sites without electricity (Loop B) - $17/night. Walk-in sites - $15/night. Pavilion Rental Large picnic pavilion - $85/day. Small picnic pavilion - $20/day |
| Rules | Maximum length of stay is 14 days. Check-out time is 1:00 p.m. Picnic area is limited to day-use only. Dogs are permitted if on a leash at all times. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Parsons, take State Route 72 northeast to State Route 5 to St. George. In St. George, turn south on State Route 1. Follow State Route 1 to the intersection of State Route 7. Turn left on State Route 7 and continue past the YMCA Camp Horseshoe to the Horseshoe Recreation Area entrance.
| Nearest town | Parsons, West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 39.1803° N, 79.6006° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 7.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 13.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
(4K UHD) REVIEWING EACH CAMPSITE @ Horseshoe Cove Campground! | Baker Lake | Mt. Baker-Sno
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miMcKinley Run Trail1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miTwo Camp0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miLosh Trail2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miDorman Ridge Trail1.4 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
Otter Creek Wilderness begins about 9.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.5 miOtter Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,705 acres
- 9.6 miCanaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 19,024 acres
- 14.3 miDolly Sods Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 17,777 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- St. George AcademyBuilding · St. George · 5.4 mi
- Buxton and Landstreet Company StoreBuilding · Thomas · 5.7 mi
- Davis Coal and Coke Company Administrative BuildingBuilding · Thomas · 5.7 mi
Natural features
Within the recreation area, open fields are mowed and gravel roads are maintained along the river. The Monongahela Forest extends over the north central highlands of the state, straddling many of the region's highest peaks. Elevation ranges from 1,000 to 4,863 feet above sea level. Variations in terrain and precipitation have created one of the most ecologically diverse national forests in the country.
Recreation
Day hiking options include the 1.8-mile Losh Trail, the Dorman Ridge Trail at 1.3 miles, and Two Camp, a short 0.3 mile hike. Fishing for trout is a popular pastime and hunting is allowed in an area about a mile beyond the recreation area.
Nearby
Take a scenic drive throughout the forest. Fall brings incredible foliage colors to the region.
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 ForestJohnny Molloy, 2022Find 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 Horseshoe Recreation Area?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
There is a $7.00/night fee charged for Electric Sites in addition to the $18.00/night use fee. This $7.00 fee is not discountable. Interagency Pass and Access Pass Daily Rates for Electric Sites in Loop A will be reduced to $17.00 per day for holders of these passes.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Horseshoe Recreation Area open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Horseshoe Recreation Area have?
16 sites, including 6 standard sites with power, 1 group shelter electric, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Horseshoe Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
There are accessible vault toilets and non-accessible flush toilets.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Horseshoe Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Maximum length of stay is 14 days.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
Sites XXX and 001 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Horseshoe Recreation Area?
Day hiking options include the 1.8-mile Losh Trail, the Dorman Ridge Trail at 1.3 miles, and Two Camp, a short 0.3 mile hike. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation