Camping at Wilderness Canoe Campground

Our first review will be of a fairly local campground: Wilderness Canoe Campground in Natural Bridge Station, Va.
Ed discovered this sweet little treasure in 2011 in an attempt to find suitable camping close to Roanoke, Va. We stumbled on it on the web, looked at their pictures and made a reservation.


Our expectations were definitely exceeded! Located along the James River, the campsites are situated right along the riverside.  There are only 7 sites to choose from, and the prices start at $30 a night. Each site is large enough to hold a large group of people and their vehicles and tents.

You can access the water right from your campsite!

Plenty of Space and privacy!

Group Camping never felt so spread out!

River access and fire pit!

 In summer, you can walk right from your campfire into the river to swim. There is a great field nearby to watch the stars, and plenty of room to explore!

If sitting and absorbing the scenery isn't your thing, then you'll find plenty to do:

Dick and Charlie, the super AWESOME guys who run Wilderness Canoe Campground, also provide canoe, tube, and kayak rentals and a shuttle service up and down the James River.

Also nearby, you'll find your way into the Jefferson National Forest and the endless selection of hiking trails and recreation areas. Our favorite spot nearby is Devil's Marbleyard, a massive rock slide that one can hike up to and scramble on. It's a bit strenuous, but not a very long hike. Pack your water and food in for a very pleasant day trip!


The time will pass MUCH too quickly during your stay at Wilderness Canoe Campground. There's a few rules to follow: Keep it Clean, and don't chop down any trees!


A few thing to note:

• This is Primitive Camping. 
• There is no running water (besides the river). Bring your own drinking water
• There are port-a-potties available, and they are kept clean. No flushing toilets.
• No other camping amenities are available, but there is a general store nearby for supplies.
• This is a functioning farm. Be respectful of the owners and assorted farm animals.
• There is a dumpster available for your trash, so clean up your messes!
• There is firewood available for sale.

Wilderness Canoe Campground can be reached at: 540-291-2295 to make reservations!
Don't miss out on this gem!

Welcome to Happy Campers!

Autumn has descended upon us, and I am reluctantly washing the smell of campfire from my belongings, putting the canoe on it's rack, and unhappily unpacking my duffel bag. My family and I spent more than 30 nights camping outside this year, and the love of it lingers in my soul. The thought of not camping again (because I live in Virginia and it's COLD) until April wears on my heart. So! I shall spend the cold dark winter dreaming of spring, and pouring out my camping thoughts into this new blog.
I will include campground reviews, camping guides, camping supply lists for those just discovering the joy of camping.
My family and friends are seasoned car-campers. We're not so hard-core that we scale towering peaks to sleep dangling from the edge of sheer precipices, supported by nothing but a carabiner, nor yet those who pack their gear in on their back for 50 miles. We're HAPPY campers with kids and coolers and air mattresses and dreams of retiring to become camp-site hosts.