Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234220
When R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters reopens
R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
2
Openings · last 90 days
2
Only 2 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026 · of 3 monitored sites
Of the 39 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 29 open for online reservation · 4 reserved · 6 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
25.6% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 29 of 39 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Not open online25.6%
Open reservation dates29 / 39
Reserved (of online inventory)4 / 33
Weekday openings21
Weekend openings8
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 21 fall on weekdays and 8 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 29 of 39 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 3 shelters| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by shelter
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Shelter 2 Guyandotte Point | 11 |
| Shelter 3 Visitor Center and Dam Overlook | 10 |
| Shelter 1 Big Branch Day Use Area | 8 |
The 3 shelters with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSun · Sep 20
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable date is Sep 20; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
29 available reservation dates across 3 shelters at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 3 shelters with current availability
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter 2 Guyandotte Point | 11 | 11 dates | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| Shelter 3 Visitor Center and Dam Overlook | 10 | 6 dates | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| Shelter 1 Big Branch Day Use Area | 8 | 5 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters
Overview
Choose from three day-use picnic shelters at R.D. Bailey Lake, a scenic reservoir with views of the surrounding tree-topped mountains.
Recreation
The lake is best known for boating and fishing for largemouth, smallmouth, striped bass and channel catfish.
Hunting enthusiasts can hunt small game such as rabbits and turkey in-season.
Head to the Visitor Center for interesting exhibits, educational programs and tours of the dam and intake structure. There's also an impressive observation deck with viewing telescopes.
Facilities
Each shelter has a playground, flush toilets, drinking water and plenty of grassy space for sports. All three are near excellent shore fishing areas as well.
Big Branch Shelter
Big Branch is close to the headwaters of the lake. It has the most space of the three shelters, with substantial room for extra cars and enough tables to seat 100 guests. Horseshoe pits, basketball and volleyball courts, and the largest, newest playground can be found here. The site is equipped with two grills and electric hookups.
Guyandotte Point Day Use Shelter
Guyandotte Point sits at the lake's headwaters, just a quarter mile past the Big Branch Recreation Area. This is the best location for those who plan to go boating, as it's the only location with a boat ramp. Electric hookups and a large charcoal grill are onsite.
Visitor Center Day Use Shelter
The Visitor Center Shelter is nearly 400 feet above the dam, offering spectacular views of the glistening lake. The shelter is, as named, right by the Visitor Center, which is worth a visit. It's also at the trailhead of two popular hiking trails and the Below Dam Fisherman's Access. Horseshoe pits are by the shelter. No electric hookups are available.
Natural Features
R. D. Bailey Lake Group Shelters are on the Guyandotte River in West Virginia, about three miles east of the town of Justice.
The R. D. Bailey Dam reaches 310 feet high, and the lake's surface area in summer is 630 acres. The region of the Appalachian Mountains boasts an abundance of oak, hickory and beech trees.
3 monitored sheltersDay use3 shadedMax party 50
Getting there
Big Branch From Charleston: Take U.S. Route 119 south to Logan, then take state Route 10, then State Route 80 to Gilbert. Turn left at the 3-way stop in Gilbert onto U.S. Route 52 South and travel approximately seven miles and turn left onto State Route 97. Travel Approximately two miles and turn left onto Coal Mountain Road(6/2). Take the Second Left to get to Guyandotte Point. Guyandotte Point From Charleston: Take U.S. Route 119 south to Logan, then take state Route 10, then State Route 80 to Gilbert. Turn left at the 3-way stop in Gilbert onto U.S. Route 52 South and travel approximately seven miles and turn left onto State Route 97. Travel Approximately two miles and turn left onto Coal Mountain Road(6/2). Take the Second Left to get to Guyandotte Point. Visitor Shelter From Charleston to the Visitor Shelter: Take U.S. Route 119 south to Logan, then take State Route 10 passing through Man to State Route 80 in Gilbert. Turn left at the 3-way stop onto U.S. Route 52 and travel approximately five miles. Take the second R.D. Bailey entrance to the left, and drive 1.1 miles to the Visitor Center Area.
P.O. Box Drawer 70, Justice, WV 24851
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHuntingWater SportsWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234220 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234220 · R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters · Justice WV3 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters?
Reservations for R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 29 of 39 tracked reservation dates are open (74.4%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 2 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the shelter on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters?
Campsite Sniper detected 2 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters?
September 2026, with 29 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 39.
When is the next open date at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Pick dates
Choose the reservation dates you want at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters.
Watch
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.