Campgrounds:
Carolina Beach, Carolina Beach State Park, $12/$2 discount over 55, Campground: Good, Noise: Poor, Some street and boat noise. Too much early (3am) morning noise.
Launches:
Carolina Beach, Cape Fear River, Carolina Beach State Park
Campgrounds:
Washington, Goose Creek State Park $8
Campground: Good Noise: Excellent, 12 large, segregated campsites. No showers, compost toilets (much better than chemical). Airplane noise in the evening. Fishing boats throughout the night. Mosquitoes fairly bad.
Launches:
Washington, Goose Creek, Goose Creek State Park
Washington, Pamlico River, From junction NC 264 and NC 32, continue east on NC 264 1.5 miles and turn right on Goose Creek Road. At .6 miles Goose Creek Road turns into a dirt road. Continue on the dirt road 2.2 miles to the boat ramp.
Campgrounds:
Creswell, Pettigrew State Park $12
Rating: Campground: Good Noise: Good
13 campsites. 20+ fighter jets flying directly overhead in late afternoon. Barking beagles through out the night. Owls starting at 5am. Mosquitoes fairly bad.
Launches:
Creswell, Scuppernong River, Main Street bridge over Scuppernong River
Campgrounds:
Blue Ridge Parkway, Doughton Park (Milepost 241)
Blue Ridge Parkway, Price Park (Milepost 297)
Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville Falls (Milepost 316)
Blue Ridge Parkway, Crabtree Meadows (Milepost 339)
Blue Ridge Parkway, Mount Pisgah (Milepost 408)
Trailheads:
Campgrounds:
Van Hook Glade (4-5 miles north and west of Highland on US 28/64) $10, Rating: Campgrounds: Excellent, Noise;Good, No showers. Normal street noise. Morning doves, hour after hour.
Notes: Glenn Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Whiteside Mountain, Whitewater Falls. Several other campgrounds on the Franklin side of the mountains away from Highlands on US 28/64.
Topton, Brookside Campground & Rafting $10/night $70/8 nights (828) 321-5209, Campgrounds: Fair, Noise: Poor; Loud truck noise most of night. Bull frogs grrrumping most of the night. Roosters crowing early in the morning. Barking dogs. Smallest site I've ever been in.
Notes: Nantahala Gorge, Nantahala Outdoor Center
Several free roadside campsites south of Nantahala on US 19. Many more available on the first dirt road past the waterfalls on Waylah Road
Almond, Turkey Creek Campground $15 (828) 488-8966
Almond, Nantahala National Forest $? (828) 479-6431
Robbinsville, Hidden Waters RV Park & Campground $15 (828) 479-3509
Robbinsville, Nantahala National Forest $? (no showers) (828) 479-6431
Almond, Tumbling Waters Campground $15 (828) 479-3814 (90% sure of phone number)
Launches:
Robbinsville, Santeelah Lake, From junction of NC 129 & NC 143 take NC 129 north 1 mile from Robbinsville (just follow signs to Cheoah Ranger Station). Turn left of Massey Br. Road and follow it 1.2 miles past Ranger Station to boat ramp.
Trailheads:
Highlands, Scaly Mountain, From the junction of US 28/64 take SR 106 south 4.1 miles to Turtle Pond Road and turn right. Follow it .2 miles and turn left on Hickory Knut Gap Road. Follow it .9 miles to a USFS gate on left. Park and walk under gate. Follow gravel road .3 miles to trail sign on right. Follow blue blazed trail .8 miles to fork in trail. Follow yellow blaze to the right and .5 miles to summit.
Highlands, Yellow Mountain, From the junction of Main (US 28/64) and Fourth Streets take US 64 east 2.7 miles and turn left on Buck Creek Road. After 2.3 miles look for wooded steps to trailhead on right.
Highlands, Whiteside Mountain, From the junction of Main (US 28/64) and Fourth Streets take US 64 east 5.4 miles and turn right on Whiteside Mountain Road. Follow this 1 mile to the parking lot on the left.
Highlands, Glen Falls, From the junction of US 28/64 take SR 106 south 1.6 miles to "Glen Falls Recreation Area" sign on left. Turn left and follow gravel road 1 mile to parking lot at end. Trailhead is to right of parking lot. Glen Falls Trail goes straight while Chinquapin Mountain Trail goes off to the right.`
Nantahala, Bartram Trail (Sawmill Gap), From the junction of US 19/74 south of Nantahala, turn left onto Wayah Road (NC 1310). After 10 miles look for sign on right for Bartram Trail on left. Park at turnout .1 miles farther.
Campgrounds:
Micaville, Pisgah National Forest, Black Mountain Campground $13 Rating: Campgrounds: Good Noise: Excellent, Large, treed sites.
Notes: Nolichucky River, French Broad River, Linville Falls, Many free campsites on the road between Black Mountain Campground and Briar Bottom Campgrounds.
Marion, Pisgah National Forest, Curtis Creek, $0
Micaville, Pisgah National Forest, Carolina Hemlock Campground $13
Lenoir, Pisgah National Forest, Boone Fork Campground $15
Spruce Pine, Secluded Valley $14
Spruce Pine, Pisgah National Forest, Spruce Pine Campground $15
Blue Ridge National Parkway, Crabtree Meadows Campground
Blue Ridge National Parkway, Linville Falls Campground
Launches:
Trailheads:
Busick, Woods Mountain Access Trail, From the Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 342 north, take the service road on the right.
Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 339), Crabtree Falls Trail, Follow signs from the Crabtree Falls Campground parking lot.
Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 315), Linville Falls & Gorge Trails, Follow signs from the Linville Falls Campground.
Busick, Woods Mountain Trail, Park at the Buck Creek Gap parking lot at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 344.1) and NC-80. Trailhead is on the left of the parking lot, behind the sign on NC-80.