Elizabeth Furnace

About

Elizabeth Furnace Campground occupies a scenic stretch of the Shenandoah Valley along Passage Creek, a tributary of the North Fork Shenandoah River. The 32-site family campground operates on a first-come-first-served basis year-round, with payment handled via the Scan & Pay feature on the Recreation.gov app or cash/check at the Iron Ranger station. Peak season rates run $20 per night, dropping to $10 during the off-season. The campground offers vault toilets year-round, with flush toilets and showers available seasonally from May through October. Potable water is accessible via hydrants and a hand pump near the campground entrance throughout the year. The surrounding George Washington and Jefferson National Forests protect diverse Appalachian hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests, supporting over 60 mammal species and 200 bird species. Recreational opportunities include hiking the Pig Iron and Charcoal interpretive trail to learn how iron was historically mined and smelted in the area, as well as the trail to Buzzard Rock. Passage Creek is seasonally stocked with trout. A swinging bridge provides access to view a historic cabin, and the adjacent day-use area offers picnic facilities.

Directions

From I-81: Take exit 296 and turn east on VA 55 for 1.4 miles. In center of Strasburg at the traffic light, turn left to remain on VA 55. After 5.0 miles, turn right onto SR 678 in the community of Waterlick. The recreation area is on your left in about 3.5 miles. The family campground entrance is the third entrance, past the group campground and day use area entrances. From I-66: Take Exit 6 (Front Royal) and proceed south on SR 340/522 for 1.3 miles to the stoplight. Turn right onto VA 55 West for 5 miles to Waterlick. Turn left onto SR 678 and go approximately 6 miles. Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground will be on your left.