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To purchase a print of this drawing or other animals
found in Western North Carolina,
by author/artist
Lee Pantas, visit
Cherry Orchard Studio
Given the vast amount of wilderness area
in the Western North Carolina mountains, one would expect to find a
staggering array of campgrounds and camping facilities. Indeed this
is exactly the case and it is beyond the scope of this guidebook to
present all of the camping options available. Rather this chapter
presents some general resources and information about the six
popular camping regions: the
Blue Ridg e Parkway,
Pisgah National Forest,
Nantahala National Forest,
the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
and the
Appalachian Trail; and three campgrounds close to Asheville: The
Davidson River Campground, the North Mills River Recreation Area and
the Lake Powhatan Recreational Area.
It is highly recommended that if you know of a specific area in the
mountains in which you plan to go camping that you visit one of the
outdoor stores or outfitters listed. There you will not only get
knowledgeable advice but also pick up maps and specific guides to
the area you plan to visit. Resource websites are also listed for
each region as well. 
If you are looking for RV camping
facilities near Asheville or Hendersonville, check out
Asheville Campgrounds or
Hendersonville Campgrounds.
Campgrounds Close To
Asheville
Davidson River Campground
About: Located at the entrance to Pisgah National
Forest in the Brevard area. The Davidson River is a premier
trout stream. Located nearby is the
Cradle of Forestry.
Address: 1 Davidson River Circle, Pisgah Forest NC 28768
Telephone: 828-862-5960, 877-457-4023
Reservations: 877-444-6777, or online at
www.recreation.gov
Open: Year round
Fees: Yes, Federal Interagency Pass, Senior
and Access discounts accepted.
Sites: 160 spacious shaded sites, singles and doubles.
Sites with river access.
Facilities: Hot showers within walking distance of
each site.
Directions: From I-26, take Exit 40 (US 280 to
Brevard), right on US 276. Enter Pisgah National Forest, one
mile on 276, turn left into Davidson River Campground. |
North Mills River Recreation Area
About: The North Mills River runs through this
recreation area and camping facility. Each campsite is only
a short stroll from the river. Swimming, fishing and river
tubing. Located between Asheville and Hendersonville.
Address: 5289 N. Mills River Road, Mills River NC 28742
Telephone: 828-890-3284, 877-457-4023
Reservations: 877-444-6777, or online at
www.recreation.gov
Open: Year round with limited service November thru
March.
Fees: Yes, Federal Interagency Pass, Senior
and Access discounts accepted.
Sites: 32 primitive sites, including 9 double sites. No
hooks up available.
Facilities: Restrooms close to sites.
Directions: From Exit 40 on Interstate 26, travel
west on US 280 past the airport six miles to traffic light
at North Mills River Road. Turn right and travel five miles
to the North Mills River Recreation Area. |
Lake Powhatan Recreational Area
About: Located just minutes from Asheville, Lake
Powhatan offers peace, quiet and solitude on the border of
Bent Creek. Camping , swimming, fishing, hiking trails.
Beach and fishing pier.
Address: 375 Wesley Branch Road, Asheville NC 28806
Telephone: 828-670-5627, 877-457-4023
Reservations: 877-444-6777, or online at
www.recreation.gov
Open: April through October
Fees: Yes, Federal Interagency Pass, Senior
and Access discounts accepted.
Sites: 98 sites, singles and doubles. Limited hook-ups
available.
Facilities: Modern facilities with hot showers.
Directions: From I-26, take Exit 33 onto US 191.
Travel south on US 191 approximately 2 miles to traffic
light, turn right to the Lake Powhatan entrance. |
Blue Ridge Parkway
There are six campgrounds open to the public on the Parkway in North Carolina
from May 1 through October or into early November, depending on weather
conditions. Facilities are limited in winter. Fees are charged and length of
stay may be limited. Camping is permitted only in designated campgrounds.
Drinking water and comfort stations are provided; shower and laundry facilities
are not. Sites in each campground are designated for trailers but none is
equipped for utility connections. Campgrounds have sanitary dumping stations.
Each campsite has a table and fireplace. Limited supplies may be purchased at
most Parkway gasoline stations and camp stores. For further information, call
the Blue Ridge Parkway headquarters at 828-298-0398.
Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds:
Milepost 241.1: Doughton Park
Milepost 297.1: Julian Price Memorial Park
Milepost 316.4: Linville Falls
Milepost 339.5: Crabtree Meadows
Milepost 408.6: Mount Pisgah
Milepost 418.8: Graveyard Fields
Resource Websites:
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway Association
National Park Service/Blue Ridge Parkway
Pisgah National Forest
The
Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls and heavily forested
slopes. It is an ideal place, as are all of the national forests, for outdoor
recreation. Located on two sides of Asheville, the forest is
more than 490,000 acres and spreads over 12 western North Carolina counties. The
forest is more or less divided in half by the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the
Appalachian Trail runs along its border with Tennessee. The Mountains-to-the-Sea
Trail crosses through the forest. Pisgah National Forest contains three
wilderness areas, Middle Prong, Linville Gorge and the Shining Rock section, and
is divided into four districts: Pisgah District, French Broad District,
Grandfather District and Tocane District. The Pisgah District of the forest borders the Asheville/Hendersonville
area. This magnificent forest is easily accessible from many points
and offers wonderful camping facilities. Keep in mind that there are
some rules governing camping in national forests. You can pitch your
tent just about anywhere providing you are 100 feet or more from all
water sources, at least 1,000 feet from the road and there are no
signs prohibiting camping. Pets must be under control and on a leash
when you are near people or a campground. For more information about
camping in the forest, call 828-257-4200.
Resource Websites:
National Forests in North Carolina/Pisgah National Forest
US National Forest Campground Guide: Pisgah National Forest
 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky
Mountains, which lie along the common border of Tennessee and North Carolina,
form a majestic climax to the Appalachian Highlands. With outlines softened by
a forest mantle, the mountains stretch away to remote horizons in sweeping
troughs that recede to evenness in the distance. And shrouding the peaks is a
smoke-like mist that rises from the dense plant growth. The mountains get their
name from this deep blue mist.
The park’s boundary wraps around 800 square miles of mountain wilderness, most
of it virtually unspoiled. Many peaks rise above 6,000 feet. A great variety of
trees, shrubs, herbs and other plants are nourished by the fertile land and
heavy rainfall and rushing streams. The Great Smoky Park contains more than 700
miles of rivers and streams, over 200,00 acres of virgin forests, and over 850
miles of trails. It is the most visited national park with over 9,000,000
visitors a year.
Resource Websites:
National Park Service/Great Smoky Mountains Camping
 Nantahala National Forest
The 526,798-acre
Nantahala National Forest located to the west of Asheville offers family
camping, boating, fishing, horse trails and miles of hiking trails.
Nantahala is home to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, one of the
nation’s most impressive preserves of old-growth forest, and has
over eight districts, all of which offer excellent camping.
Resource Website:
US National Forest Campground Guide: Nantahala National Forest
 Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail
is a 2,167-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia which follows the ridge tops of
the fourteen states through which it passes. Each day, as many as
two hundred backpackers are in the process of hiking the full length
of the trail. More than 250 backcountry shelters are located along
the Appalachian Trail at varying intervals, as a service to all
Appalachian Trail hikers. A typical shelter, sometimes called a
“lean-to,” has a shingled or metal roof, a wooden floor and three
walls and is open to the elements on one side. Most are near a creek
or spring, and many have a privy nearby. Hikers occupy them on a
first-come, first-served basis until the shelter is full. They are
intended for individual hikers, not big groups.
Resource Website:
National Park Service/Appalachian Trail
Maps
Maps of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, and other wilderness areas,
can be ordered from the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive
Association
Forest Place Store.
Their address is The Forest Place Store, 66 South Broad St., Brevard, NC 28712.
800-660-0671.
Outdoor Stores &
Outfitters in the Asheville-Hendersonville Area:
Backcountry Outdoors: 49 Pisgah Highway, Suite 6, Pisgah Forest
NC 28768, 828-884-4262.
Black Dome: 140 Tunnel Road, Asheville NC 28805, 828-251-2001.
Diamond Brand Outdoors: 2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden NC
28704, 828-684-6262.
Frugal Backbacker Outdoor Outlet: 2621 Hendersonville Road,
Arden NC 28704, 828-209-1530.
Mast General Store: 15 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville NC 28801.
828-232-1883.
Play It Again Sports (Second-hand): 611 Tunnel Road, Asheville
NC 28805, 828-299-1221.
REI: 31 Schenck Parkway, Asheville NC 28803, 828-687-0918.
Second Gear (Second-hand) 444 Haywood Road, Asheville NC 28806,
828-258-0757.
Ski Country Sports: 1000 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville NC 28804,
828-254-0901.
Outdoor Stores &
Outfitters in the rest of Western North Carolina:
Bryson City:
Nantahala Outdoor Center: 13077 Highway 19W, Bryson City NC,
888-905-7238.
Cashiers:
Highland Hiker: 47 Highway 107 South, Cashiers NC 28717.
828-743-1732.
Fontana Dam:
Fontana Village Adventure Center: Highway 28 North, Fontana Dam NC 28733, 800-849-2258.
Hot Springs:
Bluff Mountain Outfitters: 152 Bridge Street, Hot Springs NC
28743, 828-622-7162.
Murphy:
Appalachian Outfitters: 104A Tennessee Street, Murphy NC 28906, 828-837-4165.
Pisgah Forest:
Looking Glass Outfitters: 90 New Hendersonville Highway, Pisgah
Forest NC 28768, 866-351-2176.
Robbinsville:
Cherohala Outfitters: 260 Snowbird Road, Robbinsville NC 28711.
828-479-4464.
Valle Crucis:
Mast General Store: Other locations in Boone, Waynesville,
Hendersonville and Asheville. Highway 194, Valle Crucis NC 28691.
828-963-6511.
West Jefferson: Mountain Outfitters:
102 South Jefferson Avenue, West Jefferson NC 29694. 336-246-9133.
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