Hawk Recreation Area
Open — Open seasonally from April through mid-January. First-come, first-served with no reservations. No trash service; campers must pack out all waste.
Wind Advisory issued December 30 at 12:34AM EST until December 30 at 12:00PM EST by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 45 to 50 mph. There may be a lull in the wind gusts between 3 AM and 7 AM, but winds will increase again later Tuesday morning before gradually subsiding during the afternoon. * WHERE...In Maryland, Washington County. In Virginia, Clarke and Frederick VA Counties. In West Virginia, Hampshire, Hardy, Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties. * WHEN...Until noon EST today. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
About
Hawk Recreation Area sits nestled in the Alleghany Mountains within George Washington National Forest, offering 15 primitive campsites in a spectacular natural setting. The campground provides free first-come, first-served camping with vault toilets and picnic tables at each site, though campers must bring their own water and pack out all trash. The location provides direct access to the Tuscarora Trail, making it an ideal base camp for hikers and mountain bikers exploring the surrounding forest. Each campsite includes a fire pit and picnic table. The campground is particularly popular in fall when it serves as a quiet retreat for hunters staying in the nearby Wardensville Wildlife Management Area, though hunting is prohibited within the developed campground itself. Access requires traveling on gravel Forest Service roads (FR 502 and FR 347), so visitors should be prepared for mountain driving conditions. The peaceful setting features the sounds of wind through trees and local wildlife, offering an authentic backcountry camping experience without hookups or modern amenities.
Directions
From I-81, take exit 296 and turn west on VA 55. Drive 14.5 miles and cross into West Virginia at top of mountain (VA 55 becomes WV 55). Descend for 1.0 mile and make a sharp right turn onto Forest Road 502 (gravel road). After 2.7 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 347. Camp entrance is on the right.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (540) 984-4101 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| Hawk Recreation Area | |
| View on Recreation.gov |
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