Getting Oriented
Smoke Hole Canyon cuts through the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, in Grant and Pendleton counties, where the South Branch Potomac River has carved a gorge roughly 20 miles long. County Route 2, the Smoke Hole Road, runs in along the river from the north and ends at Big Bend Campground. The canyon has been part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area since 1965.
Trail Overview
The road is gravel and pocked with potholes, with the last mile into Big Bend paved. It is narrow in spots and hugs the river, so watch for oncoming traffic and high water. This is an out-and-back; the road dead-ends at the campground and the lower canyon below it is roadless. Figure a slow hour each way with stops.
Points of Interest
- The South Branch Potomac wraps almost all the way around Big Bend, one of the more distinctive campground settings in the state.
- Smoke Hole is trout and smallmouth water, and the river is the reason most people come.
- Rock walls and the old Smoke Hole cave country give the canyon its name.
Where to Camp
Big Bend Campground sits at the end of the road on a hill inside the river bend, with developed sites, tables, and vault toilets. It is a reservation campground in season.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Watch the river. The South Branch rises fast, and the road and campground sit low.
- The gravel is rough. Take it slow and mind your tires on the potholes.
- There is no cell service in the canyon and no services past the last town. Come stocked.
- The road is a dead end. Turn around at Big Bend.
Fuel and Water
Fuel and supplies are in Petersburg and the surrounding towns before you drop into the canyon. Nothing inside. Carry water; the campground water is seasonal.
Nearby
Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, are within the same recreation area to the south. The Monongahela National Forest guide covers campgrounds and hiking across the rest of the forest. Petersburg has fuel, food, and lodging.
