Where can you find some of the best primitive river tubing in West Virginia, the type that requires a minimal amount of both cash and effort for the maximum amount of fun? Big Bend near Petersburg, West Virginia, that’s where!

When mountains and rivers meet, as they do so frequently in West Virginia, there's bound to be some big bends involved.
George Fletcher / Google Maps
Take the big bend in the South Branch of the Potomac River near Petersburg, West Virginia, for example. Home of the Big Bend Campground, this particular river curve that winds through Smoke Hole Canyon in the Monongahela National Forest is the perfect spot for some family friendly summer swimming... and some epic, bucket-list worthy primitive tubing.
ExRIGuy / TripAdvisor
How does it work? For the swimming, there's a nice sandy river beach with plenty of shallow water just offshore.
ExRIGuy / TripAdvisor

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And for tubing, you'll need to bring your own tube or other flotation device. Launch off from the upstream end of the bend and enjoy an easy float down the lazy river, past beautiful rock cliffs, thick forests, and abundant wildlife.
Raphael Tisch / Google Maps
The river will curve around, circling the Big Bend Campground as seen on this image from Google Maps. As the curve turns inward, hop on out with your tube and hike the short trail back to where you can put in again, upstream!
Google Maps
The entire river loop is nearly a mile long, and can take up to an hour to float ... but the hike at the neck of the bend is only a few hundred yards, meaning you can do laps and laps of floating around the Big Bend peninsula with very minimal effort.
To extend the fun, reserve a campsite at Big Bend Campground and stay the night.
Bobby O / TripAdvisor
To get to Big Bend Campground from Petersburg takes about one hour. Head south on U.S. Route 220 until you reach County Route 2. Turn right and follow County Route 2 for 10 miles, past Shreve's Country Store, until the road dead ends in Big Bend Campground.
Chris Morales / Google Maps

Have you ever tubed Big Bend? To learn more about Big Bend Campground or reserve a campsite to extend your swimming and tubing experience, visit the USDA Forest Service website. For another family friendly activity in the area, try a tour of Smoke Hole Caverns.

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Big Bend Campground, 12 Prowler Dr, Cabins, WV 26855, USA