Warning
GeneralWe are currently replacing the Bolar Mountain wastewater treatment plant and are uncertain how this project will affect our 2026 recreation season offerings. Sugar Ridge Campground and Campground 1 at Bolar Mountain Recreation Area will initially open for first come first served camping to begin the 2026 recreation season. The Beach Area will initially open as well. There will be limited amenities and port-o-potties will be utilized. Morris Hill Campground will be open and reservations can be made through recreation.gov. The Picnic Pavilion will remain closed. The facilities are tentatively scheduled to open on May 15th. We will communicate any changes that may occur due to ongoing construction and improvement of these recreation sites. Please contact the James River and Warm Springs Ranger District office at 540-839-2521 if you have questions.
About Bolar Mountain Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 85
Campground Amenities
-
Potable Water
Sites & Availability
85 Sites Available
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Site Details
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85 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (191)
What Guests Are Saying
Bolar Mountain Recreation Area offers a beautiful and serene environment with clear waters perfect for swimming and fishing, attracting many returning visitors. Camp sites are spacious and well-maintained, and the bathrooms are generally clean. However, some reviewers noted issues with overgrown vegetation, maintenance of facilities, and limited access to firewood and supplies, suggesting areas for improvement. Overall, visitors appreciate the area's natural beauty and the peaceful camping experience it provides.
What Guests Are Saying
Bolar Mountain Recreation Area offers a beautiful and serene environment with clear waters perfect for swimming and fishing, attracting many returning visitors. Camp sites are spacious and well-maintained, and the bathrooms are generally clean. However, some reviewers noted issues with overgrown vegetation, maintenance of facilities, and limited access to firewood and supplies, suggesting areas for improvement. Overall, visitors appreciate the area's natural beauty and the peaceful camping experience it provides.
Review Summary
Larry J
VerifiedAugust 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 49-Double, Loop: 2
Did a lot of kayaking around the island, it was fun taking the grand kids exploring the island. The hike on campground 3 was slightly strenuous but the view at the top was worth it.
Larry J
VerifiedAugust 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 50, Loop: 2
Bring in your supplies, there’s no local store open at this time. There’s absolutely no cell service, for me that was perfect. Was able to completely disconnect. My hole family went,15 of us. We kayaked, swam and hiked.
Chris B
VerifiedAugust 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 61, Loop: 3
Campground 3 needs repairs to doors and two some of the showers that won’t shut off and pour out hot water. Campground hosts were going between sights and clearing up underbrush which makes it too visible from site to site. No privacy without some sort of underbrush growing.
Rebecca D
VerifiedAugust 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 59, Loop: 3
If someone is visiting my campsite, It really is a shame they have to pay to come. I had # of guests to cover them staying with us. The beach area should be free since there are no bathrooms open and no water.
Crystal F
VerifiedAugust 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 46, Loop: 2
My overall review is definitely 4 Stars. With the Marina shutdown, it does put on damper on boating and options for Ice. We have been coming to Bolar for several years. There seems to be an issue with keeping good Camp Hosts. I will say the Temp Camp Host in Loop 2 this year was amazing. Very nice and communicated well. My biggest complaint is the Reservation System. Only being able to book 1 day at a time is ridiculous. It makes it very hard to plan any time off due to the fact that you many book one day and the next could be booked by someone else.
Dmitrii V
VerifiedAugust 14, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: 1
Just paradise
Tara S
VerifiedAugust 11, 2021 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: 1
Campsites need paved. Better bathing facilities. Need to sell ice have gas. Open marina
Alicia R
VerifiedAugust 10, 2021 • Stayed at: 29, Loop: 1
I am curious if others have experienced mysterious cases of food poisoning this year?
My friends and I both came down with severe cases on separate trips within two weeks of each other. We have reason to believe that our illness may be related to consuming the ice we purchased at Mountain Grove General Store. I do not intend to harm the livelihood of this business but given the remote nature of this campground and the severity of illness we experienced, I felt it was something that folks should take into consideration when purchasing ice here. Please note: only those of us who consumed the ice got sick.
Diane D
VerifiedAugust 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 37, Loop: 1
First trip to Lake Moomaw, we had a wonderful time. It was a last minute trip and the campground was full, so we had to move each day. Great place and the lake is beautiful!
The campground hosts were fantastic, always working, and extremely helpful assisting us with available cancellation spots so we could extend our stay. Five stars for them!
Have to hold back one star for overall rating, as the dumpsters were overflowing in all three campgrounds. We were camping in a small travel trailer, so it wasn’t a huge deal for us and our puppy, but I imagine it might have been concerning for some of the tent campers with small children and dogs with sites in close proximity to dumpsters. Understand that they are suffering budget constraints, unfortunate because the lake makes this campground a great destination.
There were more than a handful of sites booked and no show, but fortunately for us we were able to move, and even lucked out with one night waterfront.
We will definitely return!
Theodore R
VerifiedJuly 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: 1
Much better experience this year!
Location Bolar Mountain Recreation Area
Address:
756 Twin Ridge Drive
Warm Springs, VA, 24484
United States
Know your route ahead of time, cell service will be intermitten if available at all.
From Covington, take 220 North to Hwy 39 and turn left on Hwy 39. Take Hwy 39 to Hwy 600 (Bolars Draft Road) and turn left on Hwy 600 towards the campgrounds. After about 7.5 miles turn right on Twin Ridge Drive for all campgrounds. Stay straight to head towards the store & marina, an overlook of the lake and McClintic Point.
**GPS often routes vehicles to take Richardson Gorge rd. via the Jackson River tpk. This route is NOT SUGGESTED for travel, especially when towing. It's a narrow dirt road with steep soft edges. Multiple accidents occur on this road each year.**
Latitude & Longitude: 37.9836 / -79.9669
Elevation: 491 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Additional first-come, first-served sites may be available |
| General |
Full RV hookups are not available |
| General |
Click here for more information on George Washington and Jefferson National Forests |
| General |
Check out the forest's campground description for specific information to Fish Your National Forest |
| General |
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more. |
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralWe are currently replacing the Bolar Mountain wastewater treatment plant and are uncertain how this project will affect our 2026 recreation season offerings. Sugar Ridge Campground and Campground 1 at Bolar Mountain Recreation Area will initially open for first come first served camping to begin the 2026 recreation season. The Beach Area will initially open as well. There will be limited amenities and port-o-potties will be utilized. Morris Hill Campground will be open and reservations can be made through recreation.gov. The Picnic Pavilion will remain closed. The facilities are tentatively scheduled to open on May 15th. We will communicate any changes that may occur due to ongoing construction and improvement of these recreation sites. Please contact the James River and Warm Springs Ranger District office at 540-839-2521 if you have questions.