Blue Springs Gap Cabin, Rural Retreat, VA

Blue Springs Gap Cabin is located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest (1 hr 21 min south of Bluefield, WV) with an elevation of 3,774 feet. The site is normally open from mid May to the end of November. There is a fee of $45.00 per night.

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Campsite Reviews (24)

4.1 out of 5

5 star		46%
4 star		17%
3 star		21%
2 star		0%
1 star		8%

@CharlieS557438 · Camped on Jul 9, 2024 at Campsite #1

So peaceful and fun! Sat on the porch and watched the day go. Quiet, pretty comfortable. Highly recommend. So many great hikes reachable from the cabin in an hour or less!

@RobertP6375002 · Camped on Sep 24, 2023 at Campsite #1

WARNING: The fireplace has been closed by the USFS for some time & with no date for reopening for now. While there were two electric heaters you may want to bring a couple due to cabin size.The good:We would stay again. This and 2 nearby cabins will be having price increases next year so stay now.Nice huge 3 bedroom cabin with huge porch to match. Bunk beds with dresser in 2 bedrooms & 1 queen with dresser in last all with curtains. Electricity. Has fans no ac.Has fridge, sink that drains, stove/oven microwave. Has dishes, pots, pans, glasses silverware. 6 place dining table.Has shower/tub but must use solar shower since no water. Flushing toilet except November when porta potty is used.Picnic table with fire pitWe have Verizon & were able to get 4 bar 4G LTE but went down to 1 bar at times.Saw no mice but saw evidence in utility room which needs to be cleaned. Huge metal box in here & the fridge great for mice proofing items.There is a locked gate & we had no visitors. Others have not been as lucky. Always make sure you bring your OWN locks if away at any USFS cabin.Bring humming bird food seasonally as that seems to be a thing.It's reported this used to be a hunting cabin with airstrip nearby. Supposedly it was also a drug distribution center & was seized by the gov. Could not verify this but when you stay look for the hidden "room". FUN!The bad:Overall clean upon arrival except floors & toilet. We have stayed at many USFS cabins & the bigger they are the messier they are upon arrival.The queen mattress is SUPER firm. Bring a pad or air mattress.No ax or maul if you bring wood for fire pit.Don't expect a view if it is cloudy. Trees & brush have grown so much that you may need to hike to a better spot for view. Maybe better when leaves fall off.Porch swing is in utility room. Maybe the USFS will reinstall some day.Some light bulbs out or missing.Beware of huge paper hornet nest on tree at nearby pond.

@GeraldN6627439 · Camped on Jul 24, 2023 at Campsite #1

Very nice cabin and beautiful surroundings. We got in late and mostly just slept here but found everything we needed to make a very comfortable night. In the morning we made coffee and hummingbird food and enjoyed watching the hummingbirds for a bit before we left for our next adventure. I wish we had taken the time to spend another night at this cabin.

@PhilipM3845838 · Camped on Nov 3, 2022 at Campsite #1

This is a nice location. We did a day of mountain biking in the area. We got rained out, but the storms coming through the gap were better than anything on TV.

@Alexander18435 · Camped on Oct 14, 2022 at Campsite #1

Great place, bring your water, peaceful, water available at Comers Rock Campground.

@CharlesP147608 · Camped on Sep 9, 2022 at Campsite #1

I like it. Does what it needs to do and is great for that purpose

@PeterF7272337 · Camped on Jul 15, 2022 at Campsite #1

As always a great time. This cabin is an incredible value and in a beautiful location. Visit it if you can.

@TomE1777758 · Camped on Jun 30, 2022 at Campsite #1

Cabin is well maintained. The Ice Trays in the Freezer were a Special Treat. We have gone 2021 & 2022 with our three grandchildren. Went to Hale Lake once or twice a day for kayak fishing, hiking and tadpole, crawdad & minnow observation. it seems like guests leave behind "gifts" that make the stay more enjoyable. Books and Jigsaw Puzzles were new this year.

@EdgarB3896650 · Camped on Apr 21, 2022 at Campsite #1

The night after Easter it snowed about 2 inches, which was a surprise. The next 2 days were very cold and windy. Daytime temps, with the wind chill factor hovered at 17 degrees. So, we were mostly confined to the cabin. The mice were back in full force, leaving droppings everywhere, including on the counter tops, kitchen table and on top of the fridge. In spite of these issues, the cabin was still cozy and welcoming.

@Katherine80258 · Camped on Apr 14, 2022 at Campsite #1

This is my first visit to the cabin during the early spring. The mice were very active. I think if the NFS would fix the back door and the gap in the from door the repairs would help control the mice population. I hope some government funding comes their way to make repairs to the doors and leaking roof. I like the bear bones offering of the cabin as it gets me off the grid.

@SarahM1574964 · Camped on Aug 26, 2021 at Campsite #1

Cabin was occupied. We were unable to stay there.

@SarahM221 · Camped on Aug 26, 2021 at Campsite #1

Cabin was occupied. We were unable to stay there.

@EileenY730 · Camped on Aug 18, 2021 at Campsite #1

We were not able to get there this time but enjoyed our last visit tremendously

@TomE575 · Camped on Aug 15, 2021 at Campsite #1

Very peaceful cabin experience. We continuously found little benefits that made the cabin better than advertised on the website. Three Grandchildren asked us to reserve the cabin again next summer, but for a longer stay.

@DavidD665 · Camped on Aug 8, 2021 at Campsite #1

This was our 20th vacation at Blue Springs Gap cabin since 2001, and a very relaxing, peaceful visit as usual. If a mountaintop cabin with total privacy and lots of interesting things to explore in the adjacent woods and fields appeals to you, this is the place. We highly recommend bringing water in large vented jugs with spigots--we use 6 7-gallon Reliance jugs plus a couple army surplus 5-gal. jugs--plenty for 2 people for a week without ever having to leave to refill. From the entries in the cabin journal, most people who stay here return again and again, as we have, for good reason. It is a very special place that will keep calling you back.

@KatherineO773 · Camped on Jul 3, 2021 at Campsite #1

Watch for rattle snakes on trails during the summer. Someone left sparklers in the cabin--please respect the no fireworks policy. Before booking a cabin on public land read the policies. If you are unable to respect the policies for using these public resources reconsider if this is the right experience for you. I love how bare bones this cabin is. To help mitigate the mouse problem I threw away food people left behind. The NFS keeps the grass well cut. I suggest the window screens be repaired; open windows help circulate the air in the summer. There is plenty of adventure to be found in the area. If you can afford it please shop at local businesses. The Food City in Independence is closed for the time being, plan accordingly. The cabin is a lovely no frills respite.

@CharlieK567 · Camped on Jun 28, 2021 at Campsite #1

This is a breathtaking place with a gorgeous cabin. It's well kept, clean and the beds are hard but adequate. The only reason we wouldn't rate it 5 stars is the lack of a shower...even without one, it's still a wonderful family vacation spot.

@SamanthaB176 · Camped on Apr 1, 2021 at Campsite #1

The cabin has a mouse problem. We removed one and saw others. There were mouse droppings everywhere. Nothing I haven't experienced before like sleeping in the Appalachian Trail shelters, but just a heads up to others. We were the first ones there this season and were greeted by a blizzard and temps in the teens. We were very thankful for the 3 space heaters. The campground had not opened yet so we filled out water buckets at a natural spring coming out of the side of the hill walking up to Hale Lake. We visited Grayson Highlands one day, mountain biked the rarely driven FS roads and trails another day, we soaked up the sun in the large yard of the cabin, etc. Bottom line: we would definitely go there again!

@EdgarB565 · Camped on Nov 25, 2020 at Campsite #1

Stayed 10 days. Second time there. Loved it, as usual.

@JamesA223 · Camped on Jun 18, 2020 at Campsite #1

This was my 3rd time staying here. There are some positives, and some negatives. Positives first. It is a great location. No worries of anyone being near you. It is so quiet, and peaceful. There are lots of wild animals around you (hummingbirds, rabbits, coyotes, skunks, deer, & bear). Sunrises, and sunsets are breathtaking. Cabin has been pretty well kept up. Thanks to the elevation it stays a pretty cool temp. I do recommend opening up the windows, and inserting screens to get fresh air. Now the negatives. This isn't 5-star accommodations. It is rustic. Bring water, and/or an outdoor shower. Cabin does have a bit of old smell, but that's why you need to open the windows (no a/c). Be prepared to kill bugs. Also be prepared to deal with mice. Do not take the forest road due east towards US 21 unless you have a 4wd. Even if you do, it will take you likely every bit of 35-45 minutes to travel 5-6 miles. You are better off coming up or down the road from the south towards Comer's Rock Road. Still, it is pretty narrow at places. The views from the cabin looking north towards Rural Retreat are not what they used to be. Trees & shrubs on the slopes of the mountain have grown up. They badly need to be cut. All said, this place is a hidden gem.

@MasonF448 · Camped on Nov 10, 2019 at Campsite #1

The location was beautiful and the cabin was cozy. It was a little chilly at night, but the portable heaters they left for us helped a lot. It is a beautiful area but be prepared to travel a while to get food or groceries. We drove ~25 minutes down the mountain to get gas and eat dinner at the restaurant next door. However, the restaurant had very odd hours and was not open. We ended up driving another 35 minutes to a Cracker Barrel.

@BronwynC435 · Camped on Oct 10, 2019 at Campsite #1

The location is beautiful, and the cabin sits on top of a little hill. The cabin is basic and rustic and charming. Our experience was marred by the fact that it was hunting season and all the land that surrounds the cabin is open to hunters, and there were hunters shooting all day while we were there. We felt wary of playing outside and could not walk the surrounding areas as we wished because of the prevalence of hunters.

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