Chopawamsic Backcountry Map (click to enlarge)

There are eight primitive campsites in the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area of Prince William Forest Park. The campsites are available year-round. Permits are required, and they are available up to six months in advance at Recreation.gov. Camping is technically free, but there is an $8 service fee for using the reservation system, and you can only get permits at Recreation.gov. If you just want to hike in the backcountry, a permit is still required, but these can be obtained at the Visitor Center for free during normal business hours.

All campsites are located along the Chopawamsic Trail, a 2.5-mile loop that is accessed via a .3-mile connector trail from the backcountry parking lot on Joplin Road. The parking lot is 3.5 miles from the Visitor Center.

Parking lot for the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area at Prince William Forest Park

Campsites 1 through 5 are most quickly reached by hiking in a counterclockwise direction around the loop, while sites 6, 7, and 8 are best reached by hiking in a clockwise direction. Actual camping areas vary in distance from the trail, anywhere from 50 to 250 yards.

Each campsite can host up to two tents and four people. No group camping is allowed—use the Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground. For complete rules and regulations, visit the National Park Service’s official Chopawamsic Backcountry Area web page for Prince William Forest Park.

As mentioned, the campsites in the Chopawamsic Backcountry are primitive, which means they are nothing more than clearings in the forest where you can pitch a tent. There are no toilets, water, or electricity. There is a fancy outhouse—what Jed Clampett would call a portable toilet in a permanent building—at the parking lot for those who don’t mind walking up to 1.3 miles one way (depending on your campsite location), otherwise bury human waste outside the camping area and away from water sources. Toilet paper must be carried out with all other trash. There are no picnic tables, fire pits, or grills, and no open fires are allowed. All cooking must be done on a camp stove.

Restroom in the parking lot for the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area at Prince William Forest Park

I always think of backcountry camping in conjunction with backcountry hiking, where you hike all day and pitch a tent in the evening, pack up in the morning and continue hiking. There are no backcountry trails here, so the point of backcountry camping at Prince William Forest Park is lost on me. I suppose there are those who just want to spend time in the woods, and the campsites are ideal for those who plan to spend the weekend fishing at the Breckenridge Reservoir, but ultimately, not many people use the Chopawamsic Backcountry. According to a park Ranger, the campsites have never filled up. In fact, rarely does the National Park Service issue any more than four hundred permits in one year, and that includes to both campers and to those who visit just for the day to hike.

You must pick a site when you get your permit, which isn’t a great way to do things if you have never camped in the backcountry. However, the following information should help you to make a more educated decision.

Campsite 1

Location: 1.3 miles from the parking area (counterclockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 100 yards inside the loop
Terrain: It is an easy hike to the camping area from the main trail, but the terrain is sloped where you pitch your tent.

Campsite 2

Campsite #2 in the Chopawamsic Backcountry at Prince William Forest Park

Location: 1.1 miles from the parking area (counterclockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 175 yards inside the loop
Terrain: The camping area is at the top of a very steep hill. I’d hate to have to hike back and forth up this hill to my campsite every time I decide to go somewhere.

Campsite 3

Location: .9 mile from the parking area (counterclockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 25 yards outside the loop
Terrain: Flat, open forest floor, and close to Chopawamsic Creek. This campsite would be my first choice.

Campsite 4

Campsite #4 in the Chopawamsic Backcountry at Prince William Forest Park

Location: .9 mile from parking lot, 50 yards from Campsite 3 (counterclockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 250 yards outside the loop
Terrain: Steep downhill hike to the bottom of a ravine where the trail crosses a creek, then heads steeply uphill to the actual campsite. Like Campsite 2, I’d hate to have to hike back and forth to this place. The trail has nearly disappeared, so use the yellow blazes painted on the trees to find your way.

Campsite 5

Location: .8 mile from the parking area (counterclockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 50 yards inside the loop
Terrain: Easy to reach along a level path from the main trail. The camping area is also level.

Campsite 6

Location: .5 mile from the parking area (clockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 50 yards inside the loop
Terrain: The path to the campsite is level and the site is flat, but the camping area it is not very big. If you plan to pitch two large tents, avoid this site.

Campsite 7

Campsite #7 in the Chopawamsic Backcountry at Prince William Forest Park

Location: .6 mile from the parking area (clockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 100 yards inside the loop
Terrain: You must climb a minor hill to reach the site. There is a level area for one tent, but a second tent might have to be placed on sloped terrain.

Campsite 8

Location: .9 mile from the parking area (clockwise direction)
Distance from the main trail: 75 yards inside the loop
Terrain: Level path to the campsite, which is also on level ground

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