Blue Bend Recreation Area
Blue Bend Recreation Area is a quaint wooded area filled with plenty of hiking, picnicking and camping opportunities. Constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the rustic wood tables and shelters appeal to many day and overnight visitors. The recreation area, along Anthony Creek, has a selection of single family campsites and 2 picnic shelters. The large group picnic shelter accommodates 75 people and can be reserved in peak season.
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, no hookups | 18 |
| Standard with electric | 2 |
| RV with electric | 1 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
23 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | BLUE | Group Shelter Electric | Gravel | Full | No | 75 / 10 | |||
| 001 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 002 | BLUE BEND | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | BLUE BEND | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Full | No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 9:00 AM, checkout 6:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 60 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Fees are reduced when water system is shut down in the fall each year in mid October and then raised again in teh spring when water systems are turned back on. Water system availabiliy is based on weahter conditions and varies between mid April and early May. |
Flush toilets and showers are available in summer, and vault toilets can be used through the spring and fall seasons. Running water is also seasonal, but a hand pump is available through spring and fall. Each site is on a parking spur with a picnic table, campfire ring, trash bin and lantern post.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Late March to November/Possibly September |
| Forest | Monongahela National Forest |
| Booking | Individual picnic sites are not reservable. |
| Fees | Campground Fees Single Site - $16/night. Single Site with Electric - $20/night. Double Site with Electric - $40/night. Pavilion Rental $25/day. Available May - October |
| Rules | Campground maximum length of stay is 14 days. Campground Checkout time is 2:00 p.m. No saddle, pack, or draft animals allowed on Blue Bend Trail #614. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From White Sulphur Springs, travel 8 miles north on State Route 92. Turn left (west) at Alvon, West Virginia, onto State Route 16. Travel 4 miles to the recreation area.
| Coordinates | 37.9203° N, 80.2711° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedArrowhead Trails Rx
44 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 gear | Appalachian Sport ↗ | 23.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | MT Joy RV ↗ | 41.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Blue Bend Recreation Area and Campground, Monogahela National Forest, West Virginia.
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miBlue Bend Loop Trail #614 ↗5 mi trail · hiking
- 1.2 miAnthony Creek Trail # 6183.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.1 miSouth Boundary Trail # 615 ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
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 George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
- inGeorge Washington and Jefferson National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,487,961 acres
- 0.4 miBig Draft Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,147 acres
- 7.2 miSpice Run Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,037 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
At an elevation of 1,860 feet, the campground is in a pleasant, wooded valley facing Round Mountain in the Monongahela National Forest. The forest comprises about a million acres of forest that attracts 1.3 million visitors each year. A variety of animals make their home here, including black bear, coyote, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, bobcat, fisher, otter and mink.
Recreation
Swimming is nice and refreshing in Anthony Creek, and anglers can find trout here. The Blue Bend Recreation Area provides access to the BIg Draft WIlderness. A popular excursion into the wilderness is the 5-mile Blue Bend Loop Trail, which connects to the Anthony Creek Trail. Blue Bend Loop Trail offers 3 scenic overlooks.
Nearby
Nearby attractions include the Greenbrier River Trail, and the town of White Sulphur Springs.
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 Blue Bend Recreation Area?
Sites at Blue Bend Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Individual picnic sites are not reservable. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
Fees are reduced when water system is shut down in the fall each year in mid October and then raised again in teh spring when water systems are turned back on. Water system availabiliy is based on weahter conditions and varies between mid April and early May.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
Check-in 9:00 AM, checkout 6:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Blue Bend Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late March to November/Possibly September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Blue Bend Recreation Area have?
23 sites, including 18 standard sites without power, 2 standard sites with power, 1 RV site with electric, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
The longest site here provides 60 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 Blue Bend Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
Flush toilets and showers are available in summer, and vault toilets can be used through the spring and fall seasons.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Blue Bend Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
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. Campground maximum length of stay is 14 days.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Blue Bend Recreation Area?
Swimming is nice and refreshing in Anthony Creek, and anglers can find trout here. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Blue Bend Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Blue Meadow (1.2 mi, partly first-come), Lake Sherwood (15.4 mi), and Morris Hill Campground (16.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby