Campsites at War Ridge/backus Mountain Campground (2026 Guide)

If you've camped along the New River before, you know most sites put you right on the water. War Ridge/Backus Mountain Campground does the opposite - it sits on a ridgetop near Backus Mountain, roughly 1.5 miles up a gravel road. That elevation buys you something the river sites can't offer: cooler breezes in summer, less humidity, and a perspective on the gorge you won't get from river level. As of 2026, it remains free and first-come, first-served, with no reservations accepted. For the full picture of what's around, the complete visitor guide covers trails, fees, and logistics across the park.

Eight drive-in sites on a ridgetop

The campground has exactly eight drive-in sites. Each can handle a tent, small RV, or camper, with one catch: the park recommends vehicles under 25 feet. The access road is gravel, and the turns near the top are tighter than they look on a map. If you're pulling anything longer than a standard pickup truck bed camper, measure twice before you commit.

Sites are primitive - no water, no hookups, no dump station. Vault toilets are available, but that's it for facilities. There's a reason the fee is zero. Rangers will tell you the trade-off is worth it: quieter nights, fewer neighbors, and a campfire view that looks out over the Backus Mountain ridge rather than across a riverbank.

Most visitors underestimate how quickly the eight spots fill. Friday afternoons from May through October, especially holiday weekends, you'll want to arrive before 3 PM. The park service runs this campground on a strict first-come, first-served basis - no holds, no call-aheads. If you show up at 8 PM on a Saturday in July, expect to find every site occupied and the gravel lot at the entrance taken by overflow vehicles.

Why this campground is different

Every other campground in the park - Brooklyn, Meadow Creek, Stone Cliff, Thayer, Glade Creek, Army Camp, Grandview Sandbar - sits along the New River. War Ridge is the exception. The ridgetop location changes the experience in practical ways.

The temperature difference matters. On a July day when the gorge floor pushes past 90°F, the ridge runs 5-8 degrees cooler. By evening, that gap widens. You'll sleep better here than at river level, especially if you're not used to Southern Appalachian humidity. The breeze also keeps mosquitoes lighter - not absent, but noticeably less aggressive than the riverbank sites.

The trade-off is distance. You're roughly 20 minutes from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, and nothing is within walking distance. Stock up on firewood, ice, and water before you head up Backus Mountain Road. The nearest store is in Prince or Danese, both small towns with limited hours. Cell service drops out at the campground - not entirely, but enough that streaming music or checking email will frustrate you. Download your maps and podcasts before you lose signal on the gravel road.

Getting there and setting up

From Beckley, take Highway 41 to McCreery, cross the river, and continue toward Danese. Turn right onto Backus Mountain Road. Drive roughly 1.5 miles, then turn right at the gravel road (SR 22). The campground entrance is another quarter-mile on the left.

The gravel road is maintained but can get rough after heavy rain. Low-clearance vehicles will scrape - take it slow. If you're in a car rather than a truck or SUV, you'll manage, but consider parking at the bottom and walking up to scout the road first. The park service doesn't plow or grade it frequently.

Sites are dispersed along the ridgetop with enough space between them that you're not on top of your neighbors. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard. No bear lockers - you'll need to hang food or use a portable canister. Black bears are active in this area, and rangers report occasional site raids from raccoons that have learned to unclip bungee cords. Keep your food in the vehicle or a proper bear container.

What to do from here

War Ridge sits within striking distance of the Grandview area, which offers the best overlooks in the park. The Grandview Rim Trail - 3.1 miles out and back - starts about 10 minutes by car. It's the highest point in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and from this overlook you can see a horseshoe bend of the river that stretches nearly a mile across. The trail surface is mostly dirt path with some exposed rock sections. Early morning is your best bet for clear views before haze builds.

For trail runners, the Endless Wall Trail (60-120 minutes round trip) follows the cliff edge and gives you that same gorge perspective from a different angle. The Little Laurel Trail runs 4 miles round trip on crushed rock terrain - strenuous, but significantly quieter than the more popular routes. If you're mountain biking, the park offers over 50 miles of trail. The Arrowhead Bike Trails system is about 25 minutes away near Fayetteville.

Hunting is permitted on the preserve side of the park. Fall and winter are the active seasons. If you're camping at War Ridge during October or November, wear blaze orange when hiking. The preserve boundaries aren't always clearly marked on the ground, and hunters aren't expecting campers on the ridgetop trails.

What the park website doesn't mention

The gravel road to the campground also serves as a logging road for the surrounding forest. You'll occasionally see logging trucks early in the morning. They move fast on the downhill sections. Pull over and let them pass - the road isn't wide enough for two vehicles side by side in most spots.

Another thing: the ridgetop is exposed. If wind is forecast over 25 mph, your tent will take a beating. Stake everything down, including rain flies. Several sites lack natural windbreaks, so choose one with tree cover on the west side if a front is moving in.

The camping area is open year round, but winter visitors should expect snow and ice on the gravel road. The park service does not plow it. Four-wheel drive with good tires is strongly advised from December through February. Temperatures can drop into the teens at night, and there's no heated restroom or warming hut. Come prepared to be self-sufficient.

Practical Takeaways

• Arrive early. Sites fill by late afternoon in season. No reservations, no exceptions.
• Keep your rig short. Vehicles over 25 feet will struggle with the turns on the gravel road.
• Bring water. There's none on site. Plan for at least 1 gallon per person per day.
• Check the weather. The ridgetop is windy. Secure your gear and bring extra stakes.
• Download offline maps. Cell service is unreliable. GPS navigation apps won't work unless you've cached the area.
• Know the hunting season. Wear blaze orange in fall and winter if hiking.
• Leave no trace. Primitive camping means you pack out everything, including trash and food scraps. The vault toilets do not accept garbage.

For a broader look at where to pitch a tent in the park, the all campgrounds page compares amenities, fees, and access across every option in New River Gorge.

Final thoughts

War Ridge won't suit everyone. If you need hookups, level paved sites, or easy access to water, pick a developed campground. If you value solitude, cooler temperatures, and a view that doesn't include the backs of other people's RVs, this ridgetop spot is worth the drive up the gravel road. Eight sites, no fees, first-come first-served - and a quiet that the river campgrounds can't match. Pack in what you need, take out what you brought, and you'll leave the ridge better than you found it.