Free Dispersed Camping on Abes Run Rd, Monongahela NF, WV

This is a free dispersed and primitive camping area in the Monongahela National Forest off of WV Route 28 and Abes Run Road (Forest Road 51), in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. There are 4 distinct boondocking campsites, all with fire rings and one with a picnic table. The East Fork Trail bisects this dispersed camping area. All the campsites have a view of the East Fork of the Greenbrier River. There is no AT&T or Verizon cellular service at this location. Grid coordinates for the Abes Run Rd Dispersed Campsites are: 38.61788, -79.6765
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[@JourneyontheTrail]

Got to check out these sites this last weekend. Camped at the first site on the left after you cross the river. It was awesome!! Definitely one of the best sites we've been too with lots of room for a couple tents. Very few people out mid April. Thanks for sharing!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Great to hear! This is why we make our videos. Lou

[@broncoal6066]

I’ve watched just about every video of yours on WV and PA off grid camping video you have. This location is the first one we will visit once we get our teardrop. Thanks for all the time and effort you put in on these videos!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Bronco - You just made my day! This type of feedback encourages us to keep making our video. Lou

[@broncoal6066]

@@LivingOurDreamNow Another great place you should check out is Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland for small campers and tents. It’s not free but it’s only $10 a night. Site 65 is probably the best one.

[@ninafairhurst7500]

We may never get to these campsites, but I want to thank you for bringing us here through the magic of your videos. So peaceful hearing the water and all the quiet of the forest...

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Nature makes us whole. Abes Run Road was a great experience for my son and I. RV travel is our mainstay, but this campsite was too sweet to pass up. Thanks for following our channel Nina. Lou

[@myownpeace]

As an Ohio boy these "east side" finds are truly appreciated!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

What beautiful roads you took at the beginning. What a beautiful park up by the river. So tranquil. Loved this video 🍻

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching! Lou

[@gonfern1987]

These videos are awesome. Glad I found your channel. I like to ride down from the DC area on my adventure motorcycle and go enjoy those wonderful roads exploring the beautiful forests you got there in WV. If you could point out more secluded ten sites off the beaten path, I’m sure all of us that don’t need trailer space would appreciate it. Good stuff sir. You are providing a great service 👍

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Welcome aboard! More videos are in the works. Be on the lookout for free campsites in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

[@samsmom1491]

I used to camp a lot when I was a kid and once again about 7 years ago. Have really been craving the peace and quiet out in nature lately and the spots you've been highlighting are absolutely beautiful. I hope to camp at one of them soon. This spot is one of my favorites so far, although I'm leaning more towards the one with the cavelike feature nearby, unless there's rain in the forecast. Lovely, lovely spots. Thank you for doing the legwork and taking us there with you.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Feedback like this encourages us to keep making our videos. Lou

[@pjdemario1328]

I love these campsite tours. Thank you 🌞

[@prattsgreenhousefarm9473]

I think this may just be our choice for this falls adventure to the area. I bounced back and forth between this and Island campground but as you say this just looks too sweet to pass up. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[@TheBestLineBacker1]

Just wanted to say thanks for helping show these amazing spots and making planning my trip much easier!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching. Lou

[@brockmannwells]

So glad I found your channel, hard to find any of these on an actual map. Just picked up a new camper last week. Excited to hit some of these up this summer.

[@wcrvadventures9489]

Wow! That used to be such a nice truck! Lol Hope you didn’t sustain much water damage. Beautiful site. Quality time with your son - priceless!!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Thanks 👍

[@bobreeder6738]

best site is the one just across the stream on the right with the rock outcropping.great area thanks

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Thanks for watching Irene! Lou

[@NewLife-qj9mx]

Great find, thank you 😌🙏

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Lou

[@michaelgentile634]

Thanks for the videos really enjoy your channel, you have given me some great insight into the national forest. Differently will keep these sites in mind possibly a journey into the forest next spring hopefully once again thanks

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Really appreciate your feedback. This is exactly why we make our campsite review videos. Thanks for watching!

[@exploringquests]

Hey there, came across your channel recently and have been checking out a few videos. We will be receiving our 21’ travel trailer in a few weeks and I’ve been researching dispersed sites. I’m in the process of watching and marking all of the sites for dispersed camping in the Monogahela NF series you did 3 years ago. Quite a few great sites. Do you know if these areas are still available? Hopefully they haven’t been shut down. Thanks again for your time and effort on these videos!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

As far as I know nothing has changed. Please do give me an update if you put boots on the ground. Lou

[@exploringquests]

@@LivingOurDreamNow Thank You!

[@anyacreate]

Wow! I just found your channel and am really happy I did. Some of the hardest thing about camping is knowing what kind of privacy, access and habitat of a camping area, especially with forest/free/ affordable camping. You have made it possible! I am wondering how you find these sites and take us through them- without any loud interruptions or group activity! Whats your secret?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Welcome aboard! Abes Run Road was a great campsite. Catch the companion video on how to find free dispersed camping in the national forest. We camp on the banks of the West Fork of the Greenbrier River here on Abes Run Road in that video. Thanks for watching. Lou

[@SheldonGoff]

I could get my pop up camper into those.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Yep - Everything is a trade-off in the world of RV camping and this is where a small camper excels.

[@SheldonGoff]

@@LivingOurDreamNow it's 17ft long when closed up, sits high so I can get it places like this. Towed with a 4Runner. Spots like this are why we don't have a big camper.

[@ggggg4030]

Nice find! Assuming little to modest rain potential, are these dirt roads generally navigable for a stock 4Runner with typical road/highway tires?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

I made it fine across the river in my 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4

[@ggggg4030]

@@LivingOurDreamNow I put new touring tires on last fall. Now I’m wishing I bought ATs 🤣

[@sttraveler2593]

You are letting go of the best kept secrets in W. VA. Thanks. Dispersed camping noob here. Two quick question though, when you are exploring these remote dispersed camp sites are there any signs of Black Bears being around? This was one of my concerns when considering tent camping along this road. What does a camper do about firewood in these remote locations?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Firewood is aplenty at most dispersed campsites or nearby. I carry bear spray and food goes in a bear-proof container used for backpacking. Be sure to activate the notification bell, I have more videos on West Virginia camping publishing soon. Lou

[@sttraveler2593]

@@LivingOurDreamNow Thanks for the reply - can you please do a short video of how you store your food in the containers to prevent bears from nosing around?

[@DisgruntledUSA]

Do you have any idea if it gets much traffic in June? I'd like to go there, but I'd be driving from Michigan and I would hate to get there only to find myself with nowhere to stay. I know that's kind of the chance you take with dispersed camping, but I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth the gamble.

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

There are plenty of free camping opportunities in this area. Visit our West Virginia playlist for other camping areas in West Virginia that may serve as an alternate camping location.

[@waynetetreault4658]

Is this close to bear heven and will you be doing a video of it. Thanks for your videos they are great

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

I hear you brother. Bear Haven is on my list for an onsite visit. It is a reasonably priced federal campground in close proximity to the both Stewart Recreation Area and Elkins, WV.

[@W2IRT]

I will be heading down to the region in a few days and hope to find at least one of these spots vacant. Are these generally free mid-week in the summer or is that asking too much, do you think? Incidentally, the reason there's no cell service is you are in the National Radio Quiet Zone, and very close to the radio telescope at Green Bank. Absolutely no radio transmissions of any kind are allowed anywhere nearby, including cell service. Close to the dish itself, only diesel vehicles are allowed due to spark plug electrical noise!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Middle of week would be best considering there are only 4 campsites here. There are cheap national forest campgrounds in the area if you can't find a spot. I've done videos on those too! Lou

[@jeepersdelight]

Jason from Maryland here Great vid! That one site @ 17-20 mins in, perfect for me and my Jeep buddy! Would share coords on that's spot or no? Cheers!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Hi Jason. I provide the grid coordinates for this camping location in the video description on KZbin. Those coordinates will suffice for all 4 campsites which are no more than 100 yards apart. If you are using a mobile device, click on the video and then just click on the down arrow at the upper right of the video title to view the video description. Be sure to subscribe. I spent an overnight here with my son, and I'm publishing a primitive tent camping video tomorrow that will focus specifically on that awesome campsite on the East Fork of the Greenbrier River.

[@jeepersdelight]

@@LivingOurDreamNow That's so great! Me and my bud won't publicize. Nice little nook to have restful stay. Thanks again!

[@bibianhuynh]

Which type of GPS are you using?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Hi Lily. I primarily use Google Maps, but I also use two other GPS as needed.

[@lisecsheehan]

Hi, thanks this is great! Can u tell me, after this one, which is the next closest to green bank area?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Lake Sherwood Dispersed Camping Area is the closest after Abes Run. It is now reopened and here is the link for the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bourmXati9Oma7M

[@lisecsheehan]

I’m watching your other vids now. I went to Sherwood before. It seems much further than the little river area u showed, no?

[@lisecsheehan]

I’m confused I always thought w dispersed nf camping, u could camp anywhere w in certain feet of the road, not only in these specific sites?

[@lisecsheehan]

What about just over the va line? Any dispersed close there?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

@@lisecsheehan One size does not fit all. Each Forest Supervisor has the authority to create rules and orders specific to the national forest unit they supervise. The Forest website will generally contain these locally issued rules and orders.

[@angelaharebottle2607]

Have you towed your RV up there and camped in it yet?

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Angela Harebottle Wouldn’t recommend taking a fifth wheel trailer to the Abe’s Run Road Dispersed Camping Area.

[@samurban9782]

Why do people feel the need to spot burn everywhere they go??? These areas are not meant to be known to the world and overcrowded come summer time. The best part of exploring is finding these places for your own!

[@LivingOurDreamNow]

Have at it. Find these places on your own. I share what I find! Lou

[@samurban9782]

You share what you find and next time your back it's more trashed and busy...