Most of the Monongahela National Forest is open year-round, closing only when access roads are snow-covered. But some developed campgrounds, picnic areas and both visitor centers routinely close from late fall through mid-spring. The following information outlines the closing dates for recreation sites across the Monongahela National Forest:
Cheat-Potomac Ranger District in the Elkins and Parsons areas:
• Bear Heaven Campground – Dec. 1
• Bickle Knob Observation Tower – Closes when roads are snow-covered.
• Horseshoe Recreation Area – Sept. 14
• Lower Glady Dispersed Camping – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1
• Olson Observation Tower – Closes when roads are snow-covered.
• Stuart Recreation Area – Oct. 13
Cheat-Potomac Ranger
District in the Petersburg
and Seneca Rocks areas:
• Big Bend Campground – Nov. 1
• Dolly Sods Forest Roads 19 and 75 – Jan. 4, 2027
• Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1
• Gatewood Group Campground – Oct. 13
• Jess Judy Group Campground – Nov. 1
• Red Creek Campground – Dec. 1
• Seneca Rocks Discovery Center – Oct. 17
• Seneca Rocks Picnic Area – Dec. 1
• Seneca Shadows Campground – Nov. 1
• Spruce Knob Lake – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1
• Spruce Knob Lake Campground – Oct. 13
• Spruce Knob Observation Tower – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1
Greenbrier Ranger District:
• Gaudineer Knob Picnic Area – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1
• Island Campground – Dec. 1
• Lake Buffalo – Lake open year-round. Toilets close Dec. 1
• Laurel Fork Campground – Dec. 1
• Middle Mountain Cabins – Dec. 1
• Old House Run Picnic Area – Dec. 1
• Stonecoal Campground – Dec. 1
Gauley Ranger District:
• Big Rock Campground – Dec. 1
• Bishop Knob Campground – Dec. 1
• Cranberry Campground – Dec. 1
• Cranberry Mountain Nature Center – Oct. 15
• Cranberry River Developed Dispersed Campsites – Area open year-round (except when roads are snow covered). Toilets close Dec. 1
• North Bend Picnic Area – Oct. 5
• Red Oak Fire Lookout – Dec. 1
• Summit Lake – Lake open year-round. Toilets close Dec. 1
• Summit Lake Campground – Dec. 1
• Williams River Developed Dispersed Campsites (Sites #1 – #20 located downstream of Tea Creek Campground) – Area closes when snow-covered. Toilets closed Dec. 1.
• Woodbine Picnic Area – Nov. 2
Marlinton-White Sulphur
Ranger District:
• Blue Bend Recreation Area – Nov. 11
• Blue Meadow Group Campground – Oct. 12.
• Day Run Campground – Oct. 31
• Highland Scenic Highway – Road closes when snow-covered
• Hopkins Mountain Fireman’s Cabin – Nov. 30.
• Lake Sherwood Recreation Area and Campground – Pine Run, Meadow Creek, and Cales Knoll Camping Loops close Sept. 8. West Shore Camping Loop closes Oct. 31; access to boat launch and trailhead is available year-round
• Pocahontas Campground – Oct. 12
• Rimel Picnic Area – Dec. 1
• Tea Creek Campground – Campsites 1-18 close Oct. 31; Campsites 19-28 close Dec. 1.
• Williams River Developed Dispersed Campsites – Area closes when snow-covered.
For more information about recreation opportunities on the Monongahela National Forest, please visit us on the web.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology – and rooted in communities – the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities.
The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
