I'm looking for a decent place to ride and camp this summer in Maryland/VA , with some of my friends who are as sick of college as I am, I know a few places that are Mt. bike heaven, ie. Elizabeths furnace, Avalon, Signal knob, DragonsBack in Blacksburg...etc... but the problem is I have ppl comming on this trip that dont ride. Normaly I wouldnt deal with such lazy basterds but I'm seeing little choice as one of them is my Girlfriend and shes bringing her sorority sisters. So my question is this, Does anyone know of a decent place to camp, where the campsites are kinda isolated, so rangers and other campers dont bug you, has a lake for the girls, and some good trails. If you know of such a place Please fill me in. I'm at a loss.

shes bringing her sorority sisters.
they're welcome to use my backyard.......:p

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/greenbrier.html

South of Elizabeth's Furnance there is a primative camping area called Powells Fort. Just keep going south past the trailheads, past the developed camping and after a few miles you'll see a sign for it on your right. Very isolated and my favorite spot (turn right at the sign, turn right into Powells Fort and its on your right - best directions I can give, sorry) has a mountain creek running through it that will keep a keg nice and cold for a few days.
The only downside is I don't know of a swimming hole near by.

You could also primative camp in the GWNF near Todd Lake west of Harrisonburg. This area has some of the best riding around (home to the Shenadoah Mountain 100), there is developed camping at Todd Lake, primative camping just about everywhere else, and I'm pretty sure you can swim at the lake.

Greenbrier has good riding and a lake, but I'm pretty sure it is all developed camping and the lake area is packed with families during the summer.


I'm looking for a decent place to ride and camp this summer in Maryland/VA , with some of my friends who are as sick of college as I am, I know a few places that are Mt. bike heaven, ie. Elizabeths furnace, Avalon, Signal knob, DragonsBack in Blacksburg...etc... but the problem is I have ppl comming on this trip that dont ride. Normaly I wouldnt deal with such lazy basterds but I'm seeing little choice as one of them is my Girlfriend and shes bringing her sorority sisters. So my question is this, Does anyone know of a decent place to camp, where the campsites are kinda isolated, so rangers and other campers dont bug you, has a lake for the girls, and some good trails. If you know of such a place Please fill me in. I'm at a loss.

You could also go to Douthat State Park. There's good riding in the park, other rides nearby that you could drive to, and there's a lake with a sandy beach. It's probably an hour or so north of Blacksburg.

http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/douthat.htm

Thanks for your help, yeah I kinda messed up on the posting, my computer froze..and well things got ugly. But thank for the link, I will def. check it out, it looks promising.

Ha hows the riding?

GWNF has a developed, though kind of primitive (has toilets, but no showers), campground called Camp Roosevelt, near Kennedy Peak and Duncan Hollow trailheads (technical, but fun mt biking). Also good hiking, I think. http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/gwj/lee/forest/recreation/camping/camp_roosevelt.shtml

It hasn't opened yet for the season, but should soon.