Elizabeth Furnace

Location: Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground, George Washington National Forest, VA.	Date: 9/05/2002
Miles Towed: 175	Weather: H mid 80's L mid 40's

Friends have been talking about this campground to us for a long time now. Why was it we have never made it until now?

Part of the George Washington National Forest, Elizabeth Furnace is the site of an 1800's era iron furnace. Now it is a wonderful recreation opportunity in a serene wooded atmosphere.

The campground only has 32 sites, and the majority of them are best suited to a tent and vehicle rather than a pop up and tow vehicle. But, for $13 a night you get a level crushed stone campsite , lantern post and a fire ring.

The sites are generally open, but are surrounded by tall trees. Most sites have sufficient under story to shield you from the neighboring site.

Two bathhouses service the campground with additional vault toilets to keep the midnight walk to a minimum. These bathhouses are Forest Service basic structures. The showers (1 men's and 1 women's at each bathhouse) are open to the sky - a beautiful site on a nice day a bit of a downer on a rainy day. Plus, with the pitch of the roof, the showers tend to accumulate leaves and small twigs. The showers are of the push button variety, giving you 10 to 15 seconds of water for each push. If you wait a few minutes it will get warm, but not hot.

A central open field provides 2 horse shoe pits and sufficient space to get up a baseball game. Other than that recreation is up to you. The campground is surrounded by wonderful hiking opportunities and I highly recommend them.

There was an onsite volunteer camp host as well as regular patrols by the forest service rangers. The main gate to the campground is locked at 9PM and does not open until 8 AM - don't be late!