RE: Cave Mountain Lake Campground?

[Lablover]

 
Has anyone camped at the campground in the Cave Mountain Lake Rec Area of the George Washington Natl. Forest in Western Virginia? We are thinking about this for our stop on the way to Eastern Rally at RJ Ranch Resort next week. We are also interested in a public campground near Staunton Va. for the return trip after rally. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
                                                         Sandy and the gang

[Gone-Camping]

 Lablover
Not sure about Cave Mountain, but a couple of nice campgrounds in the Staunton area are [link=http://www.gonecamping.net/images/dsc00217.jpg]Sherando Lake (USFS)[/link], very nice, but electric only, about 15-20 mins from Stuanton on the edge of the Blue Ridge (but still down in the Shenandoah Valley)... Nice swimming beach!!! I stayed there 2 weeks ago, took the picture in the link then (my new rig)...
 
 For full hook-up s I d recommend the KOA in Verona (one or two exits north of Staunton), water, sewer, electric, catv, pool, gameroom, modem port.
 
 Also, a little further off the beaten path is Douthat SP, electric and water, nice campground but unless you re heading west on I-64 this may be a bit out of the way for you.
 
 I visited Walnut Hills Campground 2 weeks ago, but didn t care for it. You d have to draw your own opinion on this place...

[Lablover]

 Lablover
Thanks Cliff, you are right about Sherando. We have been there as well as Douthat and Walnut Hills. We are looking for a campground that we have not been to, rustic is ok and inexpensive as well. Are you familiar with any other camping areas in the GW or Jefferson NF? Hook ups are not necessary. Thanks,
                                                                                       Sandy

[Gone-Camping]

 Lablover
I ve been to just about all of them up on BRP and Skyline. They are very rustic, and some of them don t even have showers. One of the problems I found along the BRP is that most of the campsite s were designed for tents, and not all that suitable for trailers. Peaks of Otter was extremely nice campground, but site s are too far from the parking area, and not " trailer friendly" , ditto for Otter Creek and the one near Roanoke.
 
 The first campground north on Skyline would work well with PU s though, it s called Loft Mountain Campground (NPS), no hook-up s and showers are at the campstore only, bear rules are in effect at this campground too. Big Meadows Campground (a little further north is larger and about the same amenity wise, and Bear rules are also in affect here too)

[vjm1639]

 Lablover
never been to this one, but this is what I have on it....
 
 GLENWOOD/PEDLAR RANGER DISTRICT
     
     Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area is located in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 8 miles south of Natural Bridge. This recreation area is open for public use May 1 thru the first  weekend in November.  
 Attractions: Wildcat Mountain Trail, 4 mile loop, Panther Knob Nature Trail, one-half mile long, Cave Mountain Lake for swimming and exploring (no boating), campground hosts for information and assistance, short drive to: Natural Bridge, Blue Ridge Parkway, and James River.  
 Elevation: 1100 feet.  
 
 Climate: Summer days are warm (70 - 80 s), but large trees in the area keep it from being hot. Evenings are usually cool.  
 
 Family Camping Area  
 
 42 camping units. Each unit has parking spur, wooden picnic table, tent pad, and lantern posts. Recreation vehicles up to 22 feet can be accommodated.
 Three sites are designed for tents only, with access on foot.
 Flush toilets, central water hydrants, trailer waste disposal station, central garbage containers.
 Fee: $10 per unit per night. (includes access to day-use area).
 

[Lablover]

 Lablover
Thanks a bunch Vicki and Bill, I think we will give it a shot.
                                                                    Sandy and the gang

[vjm1639]

 Lablover
Did you guys stay at Cave Mountain and if so, what did you think? We stayed in Lynchburg at a Thousand Trails campground over the long 4th of July weekend but drove to look at Cave Mountain Lake...Wow...it was beautiful. No hook ups, and it looked like many of the sites would be interesting to try to get into []  but wow..even on a busy holiday weekend when others we looked at were booked solid, Cave Mountain Lake still had several empty spaces and at least seemed to be nice and quiet.
 
 

[Lablover]

 Lablover
We thoroughly enjoyed this campground for 2 nights on our way to the rally. The sites are private and we camped alongside a rushing stream that lulled us to sleep. The lake was nice and a short walk from the campground. We liked it so much that I bought both the Jefferson Natl. Forest and George Washington Natl. Forest detailed maps. If you dont mind no hookups and available water spigots for access to water as well as flush toilets with no elect (so take your flashlight or lantern at night) this is right up there as one of the most relaxing and easy access campgrounds that we have camped in. Even better though was a campground in GWNF NW of Staunton called the Todd Lake Rec. Area. Improved and level sites without hookups and same bathhouses as above. The lake was a short walk from campground with a beautiful beach and swimming and picnic area. If you go, take the trail that goes off of the beach area to the earthen dam and look back at the lake. A beautiful sight with mountains in the background and good spot to catch the sunset. We like remoteness and peacefullness when we camp and both of these campgrounds were camping at its finest. Warm days and cool nights. Since we have 2 girls 8 and 11 we like to be in a campground for meeting new friends. I would not call these 2 campgrounds primitive. Instead I would say basic but clean. It is the natural setting that we look for and these rank right up there in our book. You cant beat $10-$12 per night. Within these 2 parks(JNF and GWNF) you can camp for free up to $20 per night.

[vjm1639]

 Lablover
That sounds super! No..I certainly don t mind no electricity...heck, flush toilets are a plus for some of the camping we do! We ve done tent camping for years ---just bought the PU less than a month ago----- We also rent primative log cabins for a week in the Shenandoah mountains every year for the past several...cabins you hike into carrying everything you have in your backpack...dehydrating our own food, getting your water from a spring and filtering it, only an outhouse--or a shovel when you re hiking  [], cutting your own firewood for any heating and cooking, candle lanterns for your lights....ahhhhh...I really do love the primative " little house on the prairie"  stuff too!!!   Just driving through Cave Mountain made me fall in love with the place. We ll definitely have to check out Todd Lake!
 
 Thanks Lablover and I m glad your family had such a great time!