Stuart Recreation Area
The Stuart Campground and Recreation Area is set in a mixed forest along the banks of the Shavers Fork River. The river provides excellent fishing and is regularly stocked with trout. Hiking trails lead to outstanding overlooks, local caves and Blackwater Falls. It is comprised of one campground, one group campground and a day-use area. The campground has 26 (25 single, 1 double) camping units with electric hookups, fire rings, lantern posts, picnic tables and paved spurs. In addition, there is a developed host site equipped with electrical, water, and sewage hookups. Most of the campground sites and facilities within it are ABA accessible.
More like this: electric hookups in West Virginia · reservable in West Virginia · big rigs in West Virginia · pets allowed in West Virginia · group sites in West Virginia
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 26 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 2 |
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
| Group sites | 1 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 19 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
31 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Cabin | Cabin | Cabin | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 30 amp | 6 / 2 | No | ||
| Alpena | DAY USE | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Gravel | Full | No | 25 / 10 | Yes | |||
| Large Picnic | DAY USE | Group Shelter Electric | Paved | Full | 30 amp | 100 / 40 | Yes | |||
| Small Picnic | DAY USE | Group Shelter Nonelectric | Paved | Full | No | 50 / 20 | Yes | |||
| GS1 | OVERNIGHT | Group | Gravel | Full | No | 40 / 10 | Yes | |||
| 010 | RCDB | Electric | Back-in | 99 | Paved | Full | 30 amp | 16 / 4 | ||
| 001 | STUA | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 30 amp | 8 / 1 | ||
| 002 | STUA | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 30 amp | 8 / 1 | ||
| 003 | STUA | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 30 amp | 8 / 1 | ||
| 004 | STUA | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 30 amp | 8 / 1 |
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 11:00 AM.
The site records list no campfires. The campground description says sites have fire rings.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Sites Alpena, Large Picnic, Small Picnic, XXX and 4 more are listed accessible |
The campground lies on a single loop with long spurs. Drinking water and accessible flush toilets and showers are provided, with a dump station is on-site. Each site comes with a campfire ring, tent pad, lantern post and electric hookups. The day-use area has three picnic pavilions with maintained fields and a beach on the riverfront.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Mid-April to beginning of October |
| Forest | Monongahela National Forest |
| Booking | Camp sites 7-15 are reservable, as are the pavilions. Reservations can be made online or by calling (877) 444-6777. Individual picnic sites in Day Use Area are not reservable. |
| Fees | Day-use entry: Single day - $5/car. Season Pass - $40/car. Camping fees: Single Sites - $30/night. Campground Double Site - $50/night. Campground Group Site - $65/night. Pavilion reservations: Large Picnic Pavilion - $130/day. Small Picnic Pavilion - $75.day. Alpena Picnic Pavilion - $55/day |
| Rules | Maximum length of stay in campground is 14 days. Check-out time is 1:00 p.m. Dogs are permitted if on a leash at all times. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Elkins, West Virginia: Take Highway 219 to Highway 33. Travel east for approximately 4 miles, turn north on old Route 33 and travel for 2 miles. Turn left at Highway 6 (at the Stuart Recreation Area directional sign) and drive.25 miles to entrance.
| Nearest town | Parsons, West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38.9175° N, 79.7711° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The group campground is not accessible.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dumping Station ↗ | 18.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 19.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
STUART RECREATION AREA - MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miRiver Loop Trail1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miMiddle Point3.5 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
This campground sits inside Monongahela National Forest.
- inMonongahela National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,703,725 acres
- 5.6 miOtter Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,705 acres
- 9.7 miLaurel Fork North Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,048 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Gov. H. Guy Kump HouseBuilding · Elkins · 3.8 mi
- Randolph County Courthouse and JailBuilding · Elkins · 3.9 mi
- Warfield–Dye ResidenceBuilding · Elkins · 4 mi
Natural features
The campground is perched along a bend on the Shavers Fork River. Shavers is a tributary of the Cheat River, a popular rafting river with rocky rapids. Stuart is in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. The Monongahela Forest extends over the north central highlands of the state, straddling many of the region's highest peaks. Elevations here range from 1,000 to 4,863 feet above sea level.
Recreation
Day Hiking - There is a hiking trail in the recreation area: River Loop Trail - #119 which is 2 miles in length. Mountain Biking - There is a hiking trail in the recreation area: River Loop Trail - #119 which is 2 miles in length. Picnicking - Stuart offers tables, grills, and waste receptacles for picnicking. There are three reservable pavilions - the large electric, small non-electric, and the Alpena - are available for family outings. Pavilion reservations must be made at least 5 days prior to your arrival or can be made 360 days in advance. Group Picnicking - Stuart offers tables, grills, and waste receptacles for picnicking. There are three reservable pavilions - the large electric, small non-electric, and the Alpena - are available for family outings. Pavilion reservations must be made at least 5 days prior to your arrival or can be made 360 days in advance. River and Stream Fishing - Catch and release fishing is allowed in the Shavers Fork River.
Nearby
The town of Elkins is a 14-minute drive from the campground. An annual Mountain State Forest Festival takes place here every October.
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 Stuart Recreation Area?
Sites at Stuart Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Camp sites 7-15 are reservable, as are the pavilions. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Stuart Recreation Area?
Day-use entry: Single day - $5/car. Season Pass - $40/car. Camping fees: Single Sites - $30/night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Stuart Recreation Area?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Stuart Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Mid-April to beginning of October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Stuart Recreation Area have?
50 sites, including 26 standard sites with power, 2 group shelter nonelectric, 1 cabin with power, and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Stuart Recreation Area?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Stuart Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Stuart Recreation Area?
Drinking water and accessible flush toilets and showers are provided, with a dump station is on-site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Stuart Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Stuart Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Stuart Recreation Area?
Sites Alpena, Large Picnic, Small Picnic, and XXX are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 8 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Stuart Recreation Area?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Stuart Recreation Area?
Day Hiking - There is a hiking trail in the recreation area: River Loop Trail - #119 which is 2 miles in length. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation