No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 9 tracked reservation dates (May 1 – May 3, 2027): 9 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
Load status
May 1 – May 3, 2027Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 3 fall on weekdays and 6 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
May 2027 – May 2027May holds the most room. 9 of 9 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 3 shelters| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by shelter
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Shelter 1 Big Branch Day Use Area | 3 |
| Shelter 2 Guyandotte Point | 3 |
| Shelter 3 Visitor Center and Dam Overlook | 3 |
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.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts May 1, 2027. That is about 180 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before May 1, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The reservation dates shown on this page describe May 1, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Reservation dates
All 3 shelters with current availability
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter 1 Big Branch Day Use Area | 3 | 3 dates | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| Shelter 2 Guyandotte Point | 3 | 3 dates | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| Shelter 3 Visitor Center and Dam Overlook | 3 | 3 dates | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
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.
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.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
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: 9 of 9 tracked reservation dates are open (100%), though availability can change. 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 Nov 2, 2026 16:20 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.
Which month has the most availability at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters?
May 2027, with 9 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 9.
When is the next open date at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters begins May 1, 2027 — about 180 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before May 1, 2027.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at R.d. Bailey Lake Group Shelters.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.