Hello, we were wondering if anyone had suggestions for a campground in the NC/SC mountains. We are looking for a campsite right on a creek or lake, but with some breathing room away from other campers (on most maps we have seen sites look right on top of each other) We would like to fish and tube and hike, waterfalls nearby would be great.
Thanks!
Check out Deep Creek Campground and Tube Center in Bryson City, NC. They have a few RV sites right on the creek, not spacious but you have room to put out your slides and awning. I don't think you'll find many in that neck of the woods with lots of room. They rent tubes on the property and there's a state park just a few miles up the road with hiking trails and waterfalls.
Joe and Dakota, the wacko cat
2006 Dodge 3500 QC CTD SRW Jacobs Exhaust brake
2006 Heartland Bighorn 3600RL, MorRyde suspension, TrailAir pinbox http://happykayakers.com/blogger/
There's a private CG right outside Dupont State Forest, near Brevard, NC. Never been there, and can't recall the name. But DSF has many miles of hiking, and waterfalls. I've heard that the CG is right across Cascade Lake from Hooker Falls. Brevard is in an area known for its waterfalls.
I believe Handbasket is referring to Cascade Lakes. It is nice. We also really like Davidson River CG in the Pisgah National Forest. It is close to Brevard. There are riverfront sites, and you are very close to all the PNF and Blue Ridge Pkwy have to offer. The only drawback is that most of the sites don't have hook ups. Standing Indian near Franklin, NC is beautiful, but again no hook ups. We also like Yogi in the Smokies near Cherokee. In SC you don't have the altitudes of NC, but Devil's Fork State Park is on a beautiful lake.
'06 Keystone Cougar Fiver
'03 Ford F250
DH, DD-11, DS-8, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Me (Mom)
Transylvania County, NC, where Brevard is located, has so many beautiful waterfalls. Although we usually stay in Maggie Valley when we visit the mountains, we have taken day trips and found some of these waterfalls.
Here is the site that has a map showing the location of all of them:
www.visitwaterfalls.com/adventure/waterfalls-map
Some if the smaller USFS campgrounds may fit your requirements. Horse Cove, located outside Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest near Robbinsville, NC, has twenty or so sites with about half along running water. Flush johns but no shower. Nantahala Outdoor Center is close by. Cherohala Skyway is, in our opinion, a better drive than the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We visited Cataloochee last Oct... no lakes or rivers, but there are streams/creeks around the campground/park. It'soutside of Maggie Valley (30-45 minutes), really secluded (e.i. no cell service), abundant wildlife (turkeys & elk) and no power hook-ups. It's an adventure getting into the park (as others will point out), but well worth the trip.
We are visiting Oconee SP in SC this spring... and can't wait!