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Steel Bridge Group Campground provides old-fashioned, rustic group camping for those that require few amenities. There are three well shaded camping sites for available for small group camping.
Steel Bridge Group Camping provides old-fashioned, rustic group and family camping. Visitors enjoy splashing in the cool water of Potts Creek that edges the campground. Potts Creek is a stocked trout stream and has a small swimming hole as well as many rock ledges and small falls to play in.
There are three color coded campsites -- Red, White and Blue. "Red" and "Blue" have a maximum occupancy of 25 people and 10 vehicles per site. Larger groups must reserve more than one site. "White" campsite has a maximum capacity of 10 people and three vehicles. There is no minimum occupancy at any site. All camping must be within the designated campsites. Tents, vehicles, etc., cannot be outside the boundary of your campsites. The area adjacent to the entrance gate is for day-use only. It is open to ALL permit holders of the three reservable campsites and is not for overnight use. Each group area contains a group fire ring and picnic tables. Two primitive toilets are located within the campground. There is no potable water and no hookups.
The campground is set in a narrow valley, flanked by National Forest land. Potts Crees lies adjacent to the campground.
Steel Bridge is located 5 minutes from Paint Bank, VA, and 25 minutes from New Castle, VA.
Directions: From I-81: Take Exit 141 onto SR 419 north to SR 311. Travel north on SR 311 36 miles to Paint Bank. Take right on SR 18, and then go 3.5 miles to campground on right. All roads are paved until you reach the campground. Driving distance from I-81 is about 40 miles; estimated driving time is 1 hour.
Nice to camp behind a locked gate. This place looks like it was once a party spot with lots of camp sites. The Forest Service has narrowed the number of group camping spots down to 3. The campground is in ear shot of the road but not much traffic.
When I arrived at the campsite with my group, the gate code I was given in my confirmation email did not work on the lock. We drove over 5 hours to find out we had to find somewhere else to set up camp and pay another campsite even more money. I tried calling 3 different service numbers two days prior to our scheduled date and had no response. This campground is a waste of time unless you get a 100% guarantee on the lock code.
This was once one of the nicest campgrounds in the state. There were plenty of campsites that offered good creek access and privacy. Most of the campsites were closed by the forestry dept. which means they cut trees across the sites and removed the tables. This is now an eye sore with downed trees everywhere. The campsites were "improved" with gravel so large they are a tripping hazard, don't even think about letting your children walk barefoot. The three existing sites are reservation only designed for group camping. If you want to stay you need to make reservations well in advance. The plus side is less traffic if the gate is locked. Several times I have been fishing and the gate was open. The creek is beautiful and makes the negatives worth the stay. If I didn't know how nice the campgrounds once was I would rate it higher. Gone are the days of impulsive overnight camping trips. The transformation of the campground is a terrible shame but still better than no campground.
If you want to get off the grid, this is the place. Reservations are through the State of VA recreation site. Just a few campsites along Potts Creek. Pack out your own trash. Enjoy camping and leave nothing behind. Paint Bank General Store and Swinging Bridge Restaurant are nearby .
