Dispersed Camping in Watauga County, North Carolina
Showing 26 locations in Watauga County.
Alpine Meadow
A beautiful backcountry campsite situated in a high grassy gap near the summit ridge of Grandfather Mountain.
Blue Bear Mountain Campground
A private, developed mountain campground offering spacious primitive and powered sites for tents and RVs. Features on-site restrooms, hot showers, and a friendly, relaxed outdoor atmosphere.
Briar Patch
A quiet, wooded backcountry campsite located along the challenging ascent routes of the state park.
Calloway Gap
A high-ridge backcountry campsite located near Calloway Gap, offering stunning views and requiring a very demanding hike.
Cliffside
A dramatic, high-exposure backcountry campsite situated along the rugged cliffs of the Grandfather Mountain ridge.
Daniel Boone
A designated backcountry campsite situated along the historic Daniel Boone Scout Trail, requiring a strenuous hike to reach.
Deep Gap Campsite
A remote wilderness campsite offering a quiet forest escape near scenic Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks.
Flintlock Campground
A private mountain campground situated alongside a rushing creek near Boone. The facility features full and partial hookups, primitive tent/van spots, hot showers, and laundry amenities. It can become highly congested during peak summer periods.
Frankum Creek Dispersed Camping
A quiet dispersed camping corridor along Frankum Creek Road within the National Forests in North Carolina. The road is gravel and suitable for standard passenger vehicles, winding through a scenic wooded environment.
Goshen Creek
A secluded backcountry hike-in spot located near Goshen Creek in Watauga County.
Grandfather Campground
Grandfather Campground is a private RV and tent park situated near the base of Grandfather Mountain. It features grass lawns, trees, and close access to Boone and Blowing Rock. A rocky stream runs nearby, and standard amenities like hot showers, water, and electrical hookups are provided.
Grandfather Mountain State Park Backcountry
A collection of rugged, hike-in backcountry campsites located along the high ridges and trails of Grandfather Mountain State Park. These sites offer exceptional, panoramic wilderness scenery, including views of Calloway Peak and Attic Window. Access requires a strenuous hike up steep trails, occasionally requiring the use of fixed cables and ladders. Camping is strictly limited to these designated sites, and reservations/permits are mandatory before setting out.
Julian Price Campground
A prime destination located directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Features spacious wooded loops, direct access to Price Lake, several scenic hiking trails, and a utility dump station. Standard facilities include restrooms and hot showers in Loop D.
Maple-Sally Road Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping corridor along Maple-Sally Road winding through the National Forests in North Carolina. This gravel road offers quiet roadside pullouts suitable for self-contained rigs looking for a quiet forest setting.
Mortimer Campground
A quiet, 17-site developed campground nestled on the historic site of an old CCC camp along Thorps Creek, within the scenic Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Corridor.
Old House Gap Orchard Road
Dispersed camping corridor along Old House Gap Orchard Road in the Pisgah National Forest. Offering quiet, wooded surroundings with native-material pullouts.
Old Johns River Road Backcountry Camping
Primitive backcountry walk-in camping along the Mountains to Sea Trail, offering two designated sites with fire rings. Access requires hiking via Boone Fork Trail or Old Johns River Road, and overnight stays require strict adherence to park regulations including bear safety protocols.
Profile
A backcountry campsite located along the popular Profile Trail, providing a rest point on the strenuous climb up the mountain.
Raven's Roost
A scenic, hike-in campsite offering a secluded setting near the high ridges of Grandfather Mountain State Park.
Roseboro Gragg Road Dispersed
Scenic dispersed camping corridor located along Roseboro Gragg Road within the National Forests. The road winds through dense woods with several established pull-offs and creek-side clearings containing rustic rock fire rings. Main road is suitable for standard vehicles, but spur trails leading to deeper, secluded sites require high-clearance 4x4 capability.
School House Ridge Dispersed Camping
A quiet forest corridor offering dispersed camping along School House Ridge Road. The gravel road is generally accessible by standard passenger cars and meanders through dense woodland terrain.
Stillie Snyder Road Site 3
A primitive hike-in campsite situated near the scenic ridges of Elk Knob.
Storyteller Rock
An isolated backcountry campsite situated near the iconic Storyteller Rock formation along the steep trail up Grandfather Mountain.
Streamside
A serene hike-in campsite located next to a mountain stream along the lower portions of the Grandfather Mountain trail.
The Hermitage
A peaceful, hike-in campsite nestled in a wooded cove along the challenging trails of Grandfather Mountain State Park.
The Refuge
A rugged, hike-in backcountry campsite located along the Grandfather Mountain trail system, offering a pristine wilderness setting.