11/16/2023 0 Comments Boondocking ncHemlock Nature Trail is a 0.3-mile easy ramble along the Jacob Fork River. For hikers, Fox Trail is a strenuous 3.7-mile one-way stretch of trail that leads to a broad view of the Blue Ridge mountains rising to the west. Some of the mountains inside South Mountains State Park rise 1,500 feet from the park entrance to their peaks, so the terrain can be steep, whether you’re on a bike or on foot. “If you like pedaling uphill all day, you’ll love it.” But bikers be warned: “It’s tough,” said Jonathan Griffiths, South Mountains superintendent. There are 48 miles of hiking trails including a 17-mile loop that’s also open for mountain biking. South Mountains State Park offers 18,000 acres of surprisingly rugged, mountainous terrain in the otherwise mellow foothills of the Piedmont. Accessible Sites Available: Yes, sites are available for campers with disabilities.Best For: Family-friendly car camping with access to hiking and tough mountain biking.Location: Connelly Springs, N.C., about 16 miles from Morganton or 55 miles from Asheville.Here are some of the best winter camping destinations in the Tar Heel State. Thanks to North Carolina’s dramatic range of elevations, you can choose from a full-on winter expedition in the high country, where peaks top out above 6,000 feet, or a mellow car-camping experience in the Piedmont. “There are fewer people on the trails, no crowds in the campgrounds and you’ll never have better views than during the winter because the skies are so clear.” “I spend a lot of time telling people how amazing winter camping can be in North Carolina,” said Claude Matkin, an outdoor educator who teaches winter camping workshops at the REI store in Asheville, N.C. Not to mention towering granite domes and rushing waterfalls-and none of it disappears just because the mercury drops. So is one of the most famous footpaths in the world, the Appalachian Trail. Some of the tallest mountains on the East Coast are tucked in there. In the morning we hiked a short trail to Yellow Creek Falls before getting back on the road.North Carolina offers an incredibly diverse portfolio of terrain, stretching from the sand dunes that flank the Atlantic Ocean, through the rolling Piedmont and up to the jagged peaks that form the state’s western border with Tennessee. The views were amazing and our site was near a huge rock outcrop. So aim to get there no later than mid-afternoon in the summer! While passing many of the other sites, it looked like the campers had just pulled in and were still unloading. We arrived around 6:30 in the evening and were able to snag one of the last spots. Needing a place to camp for the night in our teardrop trailer, Lake Santeetlah was on our route and checked all the boxes we look for in a site. We came across Lake Santeetlah free camping while traveling west from the Blue Ridge Parkway during late May. While the tent pads are set back off the road, you may hear the occasional car drive by during the night. Be aware and be prepared with cream when you do end up in it. However, depending on which site you choose, it may be too far away to be much of a pro.Ĭan be busy and spots will fill up fast! Make sure to arrive before late afternoon to secure a site during late spring through summer. The famous Tail of the Dragon (Highway 129) is just a couple of miles away. From fishing and boating to hiking and biking, and everything in between, adventure is just around the corner. The sites are a good distance from one another, allowing for a private time with nature.Įndless recreation nearby. Many of the campsites sit right on the lakeshore. It’s always a good day when you can go for a swim just steps from where you slept that night. Pros:Ĭrazy beautiful views! Between the blue lake water and Smokey Mountains as a backdrop, Lake Santeetlah free camping scenery is hard to beat. The sites are open year-round but check for road closures due to weather before heading out here. Pine Ridge Road, or NCSR 1147, is paved, and accessible by all vehicle types. The sites are marked with a small brown wooden sign with the numbers. Turn left on Pine Ridge Road, drive until you see the campsites to the left. From Robbinsville, NC head north on U.S 129.
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