Central/Western NC Dispersed Camping Spots

[open country]

Hey everyone,

I am planning on a first camping trip with my son (4.5 y/o) in the next few weeks. I scooped up a used GFC Superlite RTT last week, and am putting it on my daily driver Tundra.

Since it's his first time and hoping to develop this in to a shared hobby for us, trying to control as many variables as I can within reason. Looking for some recommendations on places to take him on a 1-night trip from Charlotte that strike a balance of:

• Quiet/Dispersed: Preferably non-RV park type experience, not able to hear other campers who may be up late, etc.
• Accessible: Truck is 4WD and leveled on 33" tires, so can handle mild trails but will be solo with near zero risk tolerance for getting stuck or damage, relatively easy in/out if needed in case things go south
• Half-day or less drive from Charlotte
• Activity: Hike to river, waterfall, etc or surrounding attractions driving in/out

Initial thoughts:

• NC 105 but know that fills up (would likely be a Friday night)
• Brown Mountain (Beach Rd dispersed camping)
• Prefer mountains but open to Uwharrie
• Gorges State Park (anyone know if quiet vehicle campsites available?)
• Ruling out beach camping for now but something like Cape Lookout/Okracoke is on the future docket.
• If I'm overcomplicating with distance, could even do something like Cane Creek Park in Union County just for the camping practice.

I know there's lots of options and continuing to research, but figured I'd reach out to the group if you have any recommendations, particularly from parents who have gotten their kids in to the hobby. General advice in that vein is welcome too.

Thanks!

 

[roadstr6]

I think it depends on bathroom preference. Flush toilets and showers, pit toilets and pooping in a bucket (or digging a hole) is kind-of the hierarchy of poop. If you want flush toilets and showers, consider Cane Creek or Badin Lake Campgrounds at URE, Devil's Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee. Of course, you're going to have others around at any of those. If you're okay with pit toilets, there are a lot of campgrounds that fit your agenda, but again, there will probably be some others around. In this category, I have some suggestions: West Morris Mountain Campground at URE, War Woman or Sarah's Creek campgrounds in North Georgia on the Traverse. Another good spot is Round Mountain Campground near Max Patch in Pisgah. I-40 is open for traffic now (one lane each direction). As for dispersed primitive camping, it's hard to beat the solitude of dispersed camping along the Traverse. There is plenty of dispersed camping on route to Sarah's Creek and War Woman Rd. There's plenty of dispersed camping at URE as well.

 

[izzyandsue]

Gorges, yes they do. You drive down the parking lot and through the gate and follow the trail. There are spots for parking when you take that road, Auger Hole Road I think. These are for no more than 2 vehicles, so private and secluded. Plenty of trails to explore and many of them lead to hunting camp sites that are a little bigger. And we are not on hunting season so they will be deserted. Some look over Jocassee and the views are pretty cool. The trail dead ends on Musterground Road in SC, there is a gate. But there are spots to camp along the way. The bridge over the river is pretty interesting too. Check this thread:

Gorges State Park/ Chestnut Mtn Road

forum.ih8mud.com

There are places to camp by the bridge too, right on the water.

At that point too, you are not far from the GA Traverse starting point. There are lots of spots along that trail for camping, all private and disperse. Some of the best places I have camped in have been "discovered" side trails from the GA Traverse.

 

[TheElegantFox]

If you want to get out there, one of my personal favorite trails is Old Bald Ridge via Caney Fork: Old Bald Trail - Discover Jackson NC - https://www.discoverjacksonnc.com/outdoors/trails/old-bald-trail/

I went here a lot in college at WNC and the trail ends in a mountains to sea campsite that's dispersed in a meadow. It still is one of my favorite sites where I can bank on little to no traffic.

I'd recommend using the NC Forest Service map system to plot the route, happy to answer more local questions if you do head that way.

 

[KeepGoing]

Although primitive, there are forest service roads all over the place, not sure how they are this year given the large amount of flooding that happened in Q3 of last year though. Any spot on a water source is great, hwy 105 gets a bit windy given it runs a ridge.

Forest service maps are pretty easy to find. A lot of the roads get locked up between Jan 1 and March/April 1.

 

[open country]

Following up, last Thursday we went and tried Gorges State Park south of Brevard. Went with one of the car camping pads for first time versus trying remote on Horsepasture Rd, etc and it was great. Really nice facilities for family camping, pristine restrooms, plenty of hikes, and quiet/secluded for a state park area.

My son had a blast and it went extremely well, he's fired up to go again. All I could've asked for. Next time may push in to more offroading and remote areas, and/or a second night.

RC 80 series came in clutch too.

 

[rugbypike11]

A little bit further away, but Scales Campground in SW Virgnia is a cool spot about 3 - 3.5 hours from Charlotte. It's not so much of a "campground," but a large fenced-in area to keep wild ponies and free range cattle from trying to get into tents, and they have pit toilets, and a bunch of fire rings. National Forest land so it's free. I think it can get more crowded, but when I've been, you can see other campers but there's enough distance that I couldn't hear anyone except a couple whose dog wanted to play with mine (see picture). You should also start to see some AT Thru Hikers passing through there this time of year, which is a whole other kind of vibe. Cooler weather, tons of great hiking, and kids seem to like to see the wild ponies in that area. 4WD is nice-to-have for the last 4 miles to the campground up a forest road, but I have also driven it in slowly in a Subaru Outback. Some other forest roads nearby that could be explored after the kid's legs wear out from hiking.
Location: Scales Campground · Troutdale, VA 24378 - https://www.google.com/maps/place/Scales+Campground/@36.6700443,-81.4863347,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8851ca933b5d52e5:0xcf267c53b7800460!8m2!3d36.6700443!4d-81.4863347!16s%2Fg%2F11ggw290w4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D