Thayer Campground
The Quick Take
Thayer is the campground you pick when you want to feel like you discovered something the guidebooks forgot. With only four walk-in tent sites perched along the New River, this is about as close to backcountry solitude as you can get without actually shouldering a pack for miles. There are no showers, no potable water, no camp store -- just you, the river, and the sound of trains rolling past on the nearby tracks. The drive in is an adventure itself, winding through the old coal town of Thurmond on roads that turn to gravel before depositing you at a quiet bend in the river. The alcohol ban and bare-bones setup keep things peaceful. This is the right campground for experienced tent campers who want riverside access without the social scene of a developed campground, and who know how to pack in everything they need -- including their own water.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 4 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. There are no wheelchair accessible campsites or restrooms at this location. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Fires:•Use existing fire rings for campfires.
- Generators:•Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
- Bear Safety:Dispose of trash in a bear-proof trash receptacle.
- Stay Limit:•Camping limit of no more than a total of 14 days per 28-day period in any park campground.
Pro Tips
Bring all your own water -- there is no potable source at Thayer. Plan on at least a gallon per person per day, and bring extra if you are staying through a hot summer stretch along the river.
The unpaved section of Route 25 past Stonecliff can get rough after heavy rain. A high-clearance vehicle is not required in dry conditions, but check recent weather before committing, especially in spring when the gorge gets its heaviest rainfall.
With only four sites and year-round availability, Thayer rarely fills up midweek. But weekend slots during peak fall foliage season in October can get snapped up -- reserve early if you want a Friday-Saturday stay when the gorge is at its most dramatic.
Photos
NPS photoGetting There
Directions
Take Route 25 from Glen Jean for six miles towards Thurmond. Turn right at the intersection just before the bridge across the river and continue towards Stone Cliff. At Stonecliff, cross the New River bridge and continue upstream on Route 25 (which becomes unpaved at this point) towards Thayer. At Thayer Church, turn downhill off Route 25 to the bottom. Cross the railroad tracks and turn left towards the campground.
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