George Washington National Forest - Trout Pond Campground

A hidden gem away from the hustle. The permanent campground host was great with helping answer questions and talk about the local area. The camping spots are nice and well kept. A few with electric hookup and the rest are primitive. There is an rv dump station, but potable water spigots are located up in the campground loops (which blocks traffic in the campground loops while filling). Beware…..the road to get here is small and twisty. Many times there are blind corners and not enough room for 2 cars to pass at the same time while towing. Washed out shoulder and boulders/guardrails in spots. For reference our trailer is 33’ long and we took it nice and slow so there weren’t any surprises with oncoming traffic.

I hesitate to say much because its soooo nice and secluded right now but this is a fabulous campground. Clean showers, great beachy atmosphere at Rockcliffe lake, multiple bath houses, running water, great trails and views (if you're in shape enough to walk 1 mile straight uphill). Each camp site has parking at the site, a picnic table and a metal fire pit with built in grill. The sites are level and terrain is easy to drive through. The beachy atmosphere at the lake attracts a lot of tourists but it's well secluded from the campsite.

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are stunning, and Trout Pond Campground is wonderfully located within all that natural beauty. However, if you’re hoping for mountain views right from the campground, you might find it a bit disappointing, as the immediate surroundings are mostly forested. I really enjoyed the Trout Pond Trail — it’s an easy, beautiful hike surrounded by lush green trees, perfect for a peaceful walk. One important tip: don't underestimate the rain in this area. During one visit, we got caught in a severe downpour with extremely poor visibility on the winding mountain roads. After waiting for nearly an hour for the weather to clear, we had to turn back for safety. Overall, it’s a lovely campground if you’re looking for tranquility and easy nature walks — just be prepared for sudden weather changes!

The campgrounds were clean and well maintained. The bathrooms had hot water for showering. The parking pads are level with good drainage and each space comes with a fire pit and grill grate plus a camp bench. There are a lot of trails right off the grounds with some nice views (photos attached). NOTE: There is no firewood for sale on-site, but you can get local wood just off the road before turning at the Trout Pond sign.

This was our first camping trip as a family and the first my wife and I have had since having our second child. Overall the experience was great. Having a flush toilet, shower, and very nice pads in a spot where you're completely disconnected from technology and screens was great. The weather could have cooperated a little better, but we had an excellent time and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nice outdoor getaway.