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Post by flousc on Apr 4, 2017 5:29:12 GMT -8
I am looking for suggestions for myself, my wife and 10 year old daughter. We want to go 4/13-4/15. Just drive somewhere and drop a tent to camp and hike for a few nights/days. Free of course. We don't need amenities or anything....What are some good suggestions? We live in Columbia, SC and want something within a 2-3 hour drive. Has anyone done Wolf Ford Roadside camping? We want to see lots of nature(waterfalls, wildlife, rivers, mountain views, etc...) if possible. TIA! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. How about this? Anyone familiar? www.recreation.gov/camping/linville-falls-blue-ridge-pkw/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74042
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 4, 2017 5:59:36 GMT -8
nothing on recreation.gov will be free.
I've camped at a lot of the roadside sites. Most of the gravel forest service roads have pull offs that you can camp at. South Mills River (wolf ford) has quite a few roadside sites, but they fill up pretty quickly on the weekends, as it is a popular destination for fishing and mountain biking.
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Post by flousc on Apr 4, 2017 6:36:25 GMT -8
Yea I see there is a nightly fee of about $16. I am fine with that. Just nothing too expensive. And we are looking to go up on a Thursday. Is that considered the weekend in camping terms?
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 4, 2017 7:14:37 GMT -8
Yea I see there is a nightly fee of about $16. I am fine with that. Just nothing too expensive. And we are looking to go up on a Thursday. Is that considered the weekend in camping terms? ok, thought you were specifically targeting free sites. If you are willing to spend ~$25 i'd reserve a site at a campground like davidson river or mt pisgah. The issue with the roadside camping, for me, is i've never quite felt comfortable leaving my possessions while i went out for a hike.
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Post by flousc on Apr 5, 2017 4:30:18 GMT -8
Yea I see there is a nightly fee of about $16. I am fine with that. Just nothing too expensive. And we are looking to go up on a Thursday. Is that considered the weekend in camping terms? ok, thought you were specifically targeting free sites. If you are willing to spend ~$25 i'd reserve a site at a campground like davidson river or mt pisgah. The issue with the roadside camping, for me, is i've never quite felt comfortable leaving my possessions while i went out for a hike. Weather looks crappy next week go figure. I guess I can check back beginning of next week.
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Post by flousc on Apr 5, 2017 4:36:35 GMT -8
This is for Davidson River campground. What does walkup and not available online mean? I just drive there and hope there are spots available? Are these free?
:STANDARD NONELECTRIC Amenities: Pets Allowed Selected A Available A Avail. w/ earlier arrival a Not yet avail. N Walk-up W By Phone Only C Reserved R In Lottery L Not avail. X < Previous 2 weeks Apr 2017 Next 2 weeks > 13 Th 14 F 15 Sa 16 Su 17 M 18 Tu 19 W 20 Th 21 F 22 Sa 23 Su 24 M 25 Tu 26 W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W Reservation Window: Sun Apr 09 2017 – Thu Oct 05 2017 Arrival date:
Thu Apr 13 2017
Check-in: Length of stay:
3
Nights Departure date: Sun Apr 16 2017 Check-out: Not available on-line
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Post by flousc on Apr 5, 2017 4:37:23 GMT -8
For Davidson River camping, how far is the drive or hike to Looking glass falls and Sliding Rock? Are there waterfalls, nice mountain views, etc.....we can hike to? Also, I will have a 10 year old so can't be too much for that age.
Edit...Would looking glass falls and sliding rock be better for Summer? It is too cold to enjoy the water right now. Or are there still plenty of great views in that area to make it worthwhile even when cold? Or is there somewhere better?
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 5, 2017 4:56:09 GMT -8
Walk-up / Not available online are a limited # of sites they hold for first come first serve. They are the same cost as the other sites, except you might get a $1 or 2 dollar break because there is no online reservation fee. I can't remember.
Looking glass falls is only a few minutes up the road from the campground, and sliding rock, iirc is about 5 more minutes up the road. There are no mountain views from the campground, but you can be up to the parkway in about 15 minutes drive and it is one of the prettiest areas of the entire parkway imo.
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Post by flousc on Apr 5, 2017 5:10:33 GMT -8
Walk-up / Not available online are a limited # of sites they hold for first come first serve. They are the same cost as the other sites, except you might get a $1 or 2 dollar break because there is no online reservation fee. I can't remember. Looking glass falls is only a few minutes up the road from the campground, and sliding rock, iirc is about 5 more minutes up the road. There are no mountain views from the campground, but you can be up to the parkway in about 15 minutes drive and it is one of the prettiest areas of the entire parkway imo. Are there any hiking trails for my 10 year old to enjoy? She loves nature and wildlife and scenery. And sorry to bombard you with questions, but I haven't been camping in the mountains in 20 years probably. So as for those sites go, if they were some reason booked, is there somewhere close by we could go instead? That is a long drive if we get there and don't have a place to stay.
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 5, 2017 5:25:40 GMT -8
Yes, there is lots of hiking in the area. Avery Creek trail and the Art Loeb trailheads are within walking distance of the campground. If you drive up to the parkway and go west for a few miles on the parkway you'll be at the black balsam parking area where you can access all sorts of great hiking trails.
Don't depend on walk up sites at Davidson River. Make a reservation. If you decide to do the walk up sites and they are taken, there is primitive roadside camping in the yellow gap rd/S mills river area which we discussed earlier in the thread.
Mt Pisgah campground would be another option that takes reservations.
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Post by flousc on Apr 5, 2017 5:43:14 GMT -8
Yes, there is lots of hiking in the area. Avery Creek trail and the Art Loeb trailheads are within walking distance of the campground. If you drive up to the parkway and go west for a few miles on the parkway you'll be at the black balsam parking area where you can access all sorts of great hiking trails. Don't depend on walk up sites at Davidson River. Make a reservation. If you decide to do the walk up sites and they are taken, there is primitive roadside camping in the yellow gap rd/S mills river area which we discussed earlier in the thread. Mt Pisgah campground would be another option that takes reservations. Unfortunately all that is available for Davidson is walk up and Mt Pisgah is full as well. So we should try somewhere else with that being the case?
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 5, 2017 5:55:52 GMT -8
Yes, there is lots of hiking in the area. Avery Creek trail and the Art Loeb trailheads are within walking distance of the campground. If you drive up to the parkway and go west for a few miles on the parkway you'll be at the black balsam parking area where you can access all sorts of great hiking trails. Don't depend on walk up sites at Davidson River. Make a reservation. If you decide to do the walk up sites and they are taken, there is primitive roadside camping in the yellow gap rd/S mills river area which we discussed earlier in the thread. Mt Pisgah campground would be another option that takes reservations. Unfortunately all that is available for Davidson is walk up and Mt Pisgah is full as well. So we should try somewhere else with that being the case? I think if you arrive on a thursday, walk up camping would be safe, but if you arrive on a friday, it would be extremely risky.
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Post by flousc on Apr 5, 2017 6:01:06 GMT -8
Unfortunately all that is available for Davidson is walk up and Mt Pisgah is full as well. So we should try somewhere else with that being the case? I think if you arrive on a thursday, walk up camping would be safe, but if you arrive on a friday, it would be extremely risky. Awesome thanks for your help.
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 5, 2017 9:12:26 GMT -8
I think if you arrive on a thursday, walk up camping would be safe, but if you arrive on a friday, it would be extremely risky. Awesome thanks for your help. Anytime. Please post a few pictures or small write up on your weekend when you get back.
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Post by kevinumberger on Apr 5, 2017 12:29:37 GMT -8
""The issue with the roadside camping, for me, is i've never quite felt comfortable leaving my possessions while i went out for a hike.""
and apparently last year----there was alot of stuff stolen and vandalized in the davidson river area......
(not first hand knowledge, but what i have read elsewhere)
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