Bolar Mountain COE CG, Virginia

Added Bolar Mtn stop as #14 on my Summer trip journal

avan wrote:
bukhrn: Not sure where Lanexa is. Bolar is really isolated both in location, distance to anything, driving difficulty to anything, zero cell service, zero TV and 1 radio station (NPR). I don't mind that much isolation but in small doses - like maybe 3-4 days. My last couple of days I was driving the difficult 20 miles to Hot Springs for dinner and for cell service (nearest) so I could catch up on news, stock market, email etc.

I found Goose Point Park COE to be more to my liking. It wasn't busy when I was there but there was some human activity and I didn't feel like I lost touch with the world. The last 5 mile drive up to the Goose Point Park cg gave me a good feeling of being away from the world but once back out of the 5 mile entry drive, one could again feel civilized.

I am now at Robert C. Craig COE between Elk Garden and Keyser, WVA. Though I didn't come that way, it doesn't look like it'd be a difficult drive from Winchester VA, west on Rt 50. The COE cg itself is fantastic. Large, level paved sites with 30/50 amp service. Numerous potable water outlets throughout. Long level clean dump station area - nicer than those seen in most comm'l parks. Lots of trees with brush removed at the campsites with lots of sun available through the tree canopy. Good cell service but pretty much only PBS for TV.

Lanexa is roughly 3 1/2-4 hours East of Bolar Mtn, SE of Richmond, it sounds like some place we'd like to spend a little time, we don't need some of the things you mentioned and others like, Cell, WIFI, TV, as we have about 200 DVD's, and we almost never go out to eat when camping.
Bolar sounds a lot like one of our favorites in WV, Trout Pond, in the mountains & completely isolated, but absolutely gorgeous.

bukhrn: Not sure where Lanexa is. Bolar is really isolated both in location, distance to anything, driving difficulty to anything, zero cell service, zero TV and 1 radio station (NPR). I don't mind that much isolation but in small doses - like maybe 3-4 days. My last couple of days I was driving the difficult 20 miles to Hot Springs for dinner and for cell service (nearest) so I could catch up on news, stock market, email etc.

I found Goose Point Park COE to be more to my liking. It wasn't busy when I was there but there was some human activity and I didn't feel like I lost touch with the world. The last 5 mile drive up to the Goose Point Park cg gave me a good feeling of being away from the world but once back out of the 5 mile entry drive, one could again feel civilized.

I am now at Robert C. Craig COE between Elk Garden and Keyser, WVA. Though I didn't come that way, it doesn't look like it'd be a difficult drive from Winchester VA, west on Rt 50. The COE cg itself is fantastic. Large, level paved sites with 30/50 amp service. Numerous potable water outlets throughout. Long level clean dump station area - nicer than those seen in most comm'l parks. Lots of trees with brush removed at the campsites with lots of sun available through the tree canopy. Good cell service but pretty much only PBS for TV.

avan wrote:
Just left Bolar Mountain after 6 nites. Really enjoyed it and the surrounding areas - Hot Springs, Warm Springs, White Sulphur Springs, dam, etc. Good eats at Lindseys Bar in Hot Springs (cash only). Very unhappy with the overcharges at Cuccis (restaurant) in Hot Springs - pretty sure they were intentional. Shortcut to Hot Springs - head northerly past the marina about 5-6 miles and go over the 1 lane concrete bridge. Take Richardson Gorge road about 10 miles (road is gravel, very narrow 1.5 lane - must cooperate with oncoming traffic) to Jackson River Road. Turn right about 3-4 miles to Main. Turn left about 2 miles into town. Cuts about 11 miles off the trip. 17 yr hatch of cicadas in the park area at the time and it was very loud.

Heading to Robert C. Craig COE near Keyser, WVA.

Don't forget to add a current review to RVparkreviews.com. Been thinking of this area also, but haven't made it there yet.

Just left Bolar Mountain after 6 nites. Really enjoyed it and the surrounding areas - Hot Springs, Warm Springs, White Sulphur Springs, dam, etc. Good eats at Lindseys Bar in Hot Springs (cash only). Very unhappy with the overcharges at Cuccis (restaurant) in Hot Springs - pretty sure they were intentional. Shortcut to Hot Springs - head northerly past the marina about 5-6 miles and go over the 1 lane concrete bridge. Take Richardson Gorge road about 10 miles (road is gravel, very narrow 1.5 lane - must cooperate with oncoming traffic) to Jackson River Road. Turn right about 3-4 miles to Main. Turn left about 2 miles into town. Cuts about 11 miles off the trip. 17 yr hatch of cicadas in the park area at the time and it was very loud.

Heading to Robert C. Craig COE near Keyser, WVA.

Thank you KD4UPL for all the info. Appreciate it. Hiking Hunter - maybe will see you there if you're there in the first week or so of June. I'll post my reactions to you RoyB

That's campground and Lake Moomaw are my favorite destination with the boat. It's very isolated and peaceful. Be sure to bring everything with you. There's a little store at the marina but their selection is very limited. Cell phone service sometimes creeps into certain "magic spots" but mainly don't expect to have service. FM radio reception is limited to just a few stations including 96.3. TV reception will be limited or non-existent. None of this matters to me but I know some people consider it important.
There are 4 camping areas. Sugar loaf is the newest and has some great elevated views of the lake. Loop 1 is the only section that has any electric sites. Loop 2 and 3 are further down the road and neither have electric.
In the spring the campgrounds have nice floating courtesy docks to temporarily park your boat. In the summer and fall the lake level is usually low enough that the docks are high and dry.
Nearby attractions (which is kind of relative) include: the Homestead resort, Douthat State Park, C&O Railroad museum in Clifton Forge, Cass Scenic Railroad in WV, Greenbank radio observatory in Greenbank, WV, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley railroad in Durbin, WV.

Here you go.

This is actually a U.S. Forest Service campground - a little different than a COE park. We have reservations there in June. Haven't been there either. Only one recent report, but it looks pretty good although isolated.

Looks like a great spot. Gotta be close to the WV line... Have had good reviews from that area but Haven't gone there yet myself...


I see it has electric and non electric sites...

Let us know how you do there.... Always looking for more off-road places to go to...

Looks like this adjoined several campgrounds at roughly the same location...

Roy Ken