Bolar Mountain Rec Area, Warm Springs, VA

Bolar Mountain Rec Area is located in the Warm Springs Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest (2 hrs north of Roanoke, VA) with an elevation of 1,614 feet. There are a total of 125 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the beginning of September. 113 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. 9 sites have electric and water hookups. 21 sites have electric hookups. 2 sites have water hookups. Fees range from $16.00 to $85.00.

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37.98361, -79.96694
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(540) 279-4144 (Information)
(540) 279-4144 (Reservations)
$16 - $85

Campsite Reviews (125)

3.7 out of 5

5 star		33%
4 star		28%
3 star		18%
2 star		12%
1 star		9%

@RaymondP525607 · Camped on Sep 2, 2024 at Campsite #1

Nice we were just the only ones there

@LisaN8400495 · Camped on Sep 2, 2024 at Campsite #63

The area is gorgeous and the campground was deserted the last 3 days of the 2024 season.

@ThomasE4870862 · Camped on Aug 28, 2024 at Campsite #35

I had a wonderful time tenting at Lake Moomaw the week before Labor Day. Few visitors and the lake was all mine! I kayaked for hours, enjoying the fog blotting the water and mountains in the morning and the evenings. Too much eye candy to bother fishing. It gets pretty muddy accessing a kayak when the water level is low, but the hot showers and clean restrooms more than compensate. I always take the back roads between Moomaw and the IGA at Hot Springs for provisions. Traveling along the adjacent brooks feeding the lake is always a joy! I watched a bear cub meander across my path with little urgency by the Marina (closed). Later, leaving the campsite to retrieve more firewood from IGA, a Mom and cub crossed the road immediately before the entrance shack. A few minutes later a Linx? Bobcat? strolled ahead of my Jeep near McClintic Point campground. Driving adjacent Hot Springs Run, I stopped to watch two of the most peculiar 'deer(?)' I have ever seen! Too tall from my experience, standing in the water 40-feet away, staring at me for at least 60-seconds. Both stood face to face with 6- and 10-inch tall, very thick blunt spikes, covered heavily with velvet. I have never seen any deer like these before and I'm 71-years old. I've camped in Moomaw and the surrounding campgrounds for more than four decades. Visitors seem to be on the decline and that may be a good thing. Exceptional beauty and peace awaits those who care to seek out this more distant and difficult to find campground. Do arrive by way of Richardson Gorge Road, but BEWARE, albeit a well maintained single lane gravel roadway, it hangs on a cliff cut into the mountain. I have sighted much wildlife crossing this road and the river valley below. Perfect for passenger rubbernecking - but the driver MUST keep his eyes on the road for oncoming vehicles and blind turns. Otherwise choose Bolar's Draft Rd SR600. Give Moomaw a try next year when it opens once more. You'll be glad you did.

@AshleyT0FAB749 · Camped on Aug 27, 2024 at Campsite #8

Very clean and spacious sites. Love that each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms and showers were cleaned daily and stocked with soap and toilet paper. We will be returning next season!

@MichaelL540355 · Camped on Aug 18, 2024 at Campsite #27

Bolar Mountain Recreation Area is a beautiful place that is being terribly managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Our campsite was #27. The first thing I saw upon arrival was the overgrown vegetation all around. My second big surprise was the latrined. When I opened the door a swarm of flying insects rose up out of the many gallons of human excrement. I closed the door and went into the Womens toilet. It was slightly better but not enough for a return trip. From that point forward I relieved myself behind a tree. Some of the buildings were in need of paint. The signage was lacking. I will also add that we drove by to after hours host camper but never found anyone there not even a note. I spoke with a man at a local store who told me that despite there being 30 employees at the site the county was constantly being called upon for assistance with weed whacking. Shame on the Forest Service for your lack of concern and utter disrespect for such a lovely place

@JEFFREYC949418 · Camped on Aug 16, 2024 at Campsite #26

Nice camp sites and clean vault toilets. This campground is remote with no cell service. There is no firewood available at the campground, so grab some on your way in. Nearest town was 30 minute drive. Be bear aware - keep food stored safely. Lake water is super clear, we enjoyed spending the day at the beach.

@DawnaCA292C7BD · Camped on Aug 11, 2024 at Campsite #56

Take toilet paper. There is no camp house in campground 2. Was out of paper from Tuesday till midday Wednesday.

@BradleyL566964 · Camped on Jul 28, 2024 at Campsite #27

After the month of June the water is extremely low and you must walk a good distance from your campsite to get to it. Sites 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 etc are not premium water front sites after the month of June. There should be an added alert on water levels prior to booking so others traveling a good distance know this information.

@ReeceB2871174 · Camped on Jul 21, 2024 at Campsite #5

Nice campground. Sites are decent size. Bathrooms are very clean. It would be nice if there were more employees at the campground. This was our first visit and when we arrived there were no maps of the campground /hiking trails available. Our host in our circle wasn't present until our last day so we never did find out about the hiking trails. Water levels at the reserve are very low especially in the swimming area.

@LisaC6980823 · Camped on Jul 19, 2024 at Campsite #88

Beautiful lake and campground

@BruceB1766538 · Camped on Jul 7, 2024 at Campsite #35

No water, power or bathroom for 3 days.

@THOMASA5851804 · Camped on Jul 7, 2024 at Campsite #57

This lake and campground is a hidden gem

@JeffM1730911 · Camped on Jun 17, 2024 at Campsite #51

This was our second summer camping at Bolar Mountain. We really enjoyed ourselves in 2023, but it was clear then that staffing issues were impacting services. It appeared to us that this summer those staffing issues have largely been resolved. Camp sites and services were well-maintained and staffed. We normally reserve a lake-side camp site, which are wonderful. Definitely our go-to summer camping destination.

@DebbieR5838287 · Camped on Jun 16, 2024 at Campsite #71

Lake was beautiful and our campsite was clean. Our water was turned off one day for repairs but nothing to crazy. The store is still closed so there is nowhere close to pick up supplies such as ice or gas. All campgrounds are still missing boat docks which each campground use to have. So, no easy access for handicap or elderly guest to access their boats. No cell service which is a safety concern.

@RonC4506391 · Camped on Jun 13, 2024 at Campsite #35

Lake Moomaw is a beautiful lake and the campgrounds have wonderful tall trees that supply ample shade while camping. I do wish however, that the state would take better care by picking up and prepping the camp sites before the campers arrive. I had to move large cut trees and branches to park my camper and vehicle. I would also like to see the camp store & gas pumps open again; they have been closed since COVID.The boat dock is in need of repair and re-opened. The state of Virginia needs to put more effort into the beautification of this gem.

@RichardP563677 · Camped on Jun 12, 2024 at Campsite #48

There were some people in a campsite nearby who played loud music in the afternoon, which we do not care for. But, the loud music was no longer noticeable in the evening or after 10 PM. The camp host was very friendly and helpful. Bathrooms were clean and functional.

@RichardB341941 · Camped on Jun 9, 2024 at Campsite #32

The trip was good but the water situation there needs attention . You could not drink the water, someone needs to do something about that . The district manger Ronald Lewis seem to be dragging his feet over this. I hope somebody can relay this message to him.

@MarjorieH9F76D · Camped on Jun 9, 2024 at Campsite #55

Everything would have been perfect, but there was no water at our campground the first day and half we were there. We're used to that though, the same thing has happened the last several years we've camped there, so we were prepared. Other than that, everything was great.

@LauraC7322672 · Camped on Jun 7, 2024 at Campsite #20

Bolar Recreation Area is location in beautiful spot on a lovely mountain lake, but the campground and facilities were in very poor condition. We stayed on Site 20, and that part of the campground did not have ANY potable water, not even at the bathhouse! We should have received an email about this in advance advising us to fill up our water tank before arriving. There wasn't anyone at the check in booth and we didn't see any signs of campground hosts we could contact if we had questions. The campsites were not well-maintained, and everything from the roads to the bathhouses felt very neglected. Also, there were no maps of any kind available anywhere in the campground. We saw signs to show that there were some hiking trails in the area, but without some sort of map, we didn't want to take the chance of hiking on those trails. Because the area had NO cell service, we couldn't go online to look for maps and information there. It's really a shame that a recreation area in such a beautiful area with so much potential has been neglected and allowed to fall into disrepair.

@KathleenG34460 · Camped on May 24, 2024 at Campsite #79

This was a beautiful campground. It is well maintained, away from it all, and has easy access to the lake. A large storm came in our final night, downing trees across the road and the campground lost power. The only forest tec. on the forest was out on the road, clearing up the mess with a local volunteer. They drove through all the campsites to make sure everyone was good. This was lucky for us because, at the same time, my car battery died, and they were able to give us a jump (FYI, keeping the drunk door of a Subaru open runners the battery). If you want a campground with no cell phone reception, a beautiful atmosphere, and well-maintained... this is your spot!

@LynnA9322783 · Camped on May 23, 2024 at Campsite #2

Campground was clean and ready for the campers

@JessicaH9897C6 · Camped on May 17, 2024 at Campsite #23

Went opening weekend and the experience was great! Lots of rain, but plenty of chances to fish and go hiking.

@BenjaminM67514 · Camped on May 10, 2024 at Campsite #31

Beautiful primitive campground right on the water. There are no cell towers near the lake so don't expect cell service. I'm going back asap

@JuanitaP988181 · Camped on May 9, 2024 at Campsite #19

Lake Moomaw is a beautiful lake nestled in the mountains that is off the grid. We stayed in May when the campground was beginning to show signs of life after the winter season. No issues with amenities, except that water is not potable so campers need to be prepared with drinking water. It is not an RV resort, but campsites are spaced relatively well and there is plenty of tree coverage. There is a lot of access to the Lake itself. We were hoping to rent a boat, but the marina is not operational. There is still not an operational campstore and camp hosts are sparse. There is no firewood for sale and the nearest store for gas/ bait/small amentities is about 20 minutes away. That said, it is a beautiful area and a great place to truly get away from it all if you are self-sufficient. Ps. There is plenty of firewood to be found on the ground!

@SuzanneW467238 · Camped on May 6, 2024 at Campsite #30

Beautiful location!!

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