Lost River Campground

The Great Outdoors

Less than an hour's drive away when RV camping at Lost River Campground, you'll find yourself in the heart of 1.8 million-acre George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, one of the largest in the eastern United States under public ownership. Occupying Virginia's Appalachian Mountains and even stretching into parts of West Virginia and Kentucky, the forest offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and ample opportunities for fishing. If you're into bird watching, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing, this colossal outdoor playground has you covered.One of the most visited sites here is the Cascades Day Use Area, where you'll find a four-mile scenic loop trail, and for those keen to sink a line, a native trout stream. Have your camera on hand for the dramatic Cascade Falls tumbling over a 60-foot vertical cliff. For a dip in the sandy beach of a spring-fed lake, carve time out for the Sherando Lake Recreation Area, one of the beautiful destinations in the Blue Ridge Mountains.For a peek beneath the rolling hills of West Virginia, take your Lost River camper rental for a visit to the mesmerizing Smoke Hole Caverns. Named for how the Seneca Indians used the cave to smoke wild game, the caverns were formed over millions of years of constant, trickling flow of mineral-carrying water, filling it with stalactites and stalagmites, and secluded rooms where, thanks to a clean cold stream underground, "moonshine" (illicit corn whiskey) was produced. Learn how the process worked in an original still on display.Campsites near the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia enable day trips to the postcard beauty of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in the Monongahela National Forest. Used as a training ground for the U.S. Army during World War II, the area now is a serene place where unique rock formations and stunning mountain views leave the visitor awestruck.Feathered visitors, in particular, flock to the area as the Dolly Sods plateau acts as a rest stop for raptors and other birds taking the eastern Appalachian migratory flyway. Follow the nearly 50 miles of hiking trails that wind through the wilderness area and soak up the varied scenery. And keep an eye out. Due to its past use by the military, this is one place where it pays to stick to the well-trodden path.

Exploring the Area

Get a feel for the town with an introductory stop at the Lost River Museum. Here you can browse artifacts and exhibits highlighting Lost River Valley's early history, as well as fine arts, folk arts, and crafts handmade locally using centuries-old techniques. For a more immersive experience, mark your calendar in September and book a rental motorhome near Lost River for the Hardy County Heritage Weekend. Tours of historic home tours, Civil War re-enactments, and a vintage tractor and automobile show are just some of the activities during this multi-day affair.While in town, don't forget to visit the Lost River General Store, built in the late 19th century, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's now an inn and a restaurant named on the list of "Unique Places to Dine in West Virginia." Other historical places in Hardy County include the John Mathias Homestead in Mathias; the Lee Cabin in Lost River State Park; and the Old Hardy County Courthouse in Moorefield (first built in 1792), where a battle of the same name occurred in August 1864.West Virginia is not called "mountain mama" for nothing (although legend has it that it's not the Mountain State that inspired John Denver's massive hit). If you want to be in the middle of it all and still enjoy a few small-town comforts and pleasures with a generous dose of history, book a camper rental in Hardy County and find RV parks in Lost River for one unforgettable adventure.