We take a lot of groups on weekend hiking trips to the mountains. As a result, we stay in a lot of group campgrounds. When we book a group campground, we look at a number of factors, including:

1. Proximity to good hiking. Ideally, we look for a campground with immediate access to trails — and not just any old trails, but trails that will yield a full day of memorable hiking. If we can treat people to an entire day of using just their own feet to get around, we we find they enjoy the day that much more..
2. Shaded camping. We hike mostly in summer, so we need to pitch tents where they won’t broil during the day. 
3. A commons area. A big fire pit, a picnic table or two, rocks or logs to sit on — we don’t ask much, but these are biggies.
4. Basic amenities. We need water at the campsite, we’d like a privy not too far away. A bathhouse, of course, is nice. And if we can park a reasonable distance away — within 50 yards of the campsite, say — all the better.
5. Privacy. From others in the group, to some degree (hey, we all need a little me time), but mostly from neighboring campers. We escape to the wild for various reasons; it’s those who escape to the wild to be wild that we prefer to avoid.
6. Good vibe. Most importantly, the site must have a good vibe. It needn’t be immaculately groomed; rather, we like a spot that fits in with the natural surroundings. Sometimes you know the second you drive up, sometimes it takes a night or two of camaraderie to summons the vibe. 

There are other factors, but these are the basics. Based on these basics, here are our our five favorite group campgrounds in North Carolina.

Standing Indian Recreation Area

Nantahala National Forest, Franklin

No. of group sites: 3

Each site accommodates: 25 people

$75 per night

More info here.

The Standing Indian Recreation Area is a U-shaped bowl rimmed, for the most part, by the Appalachian Trail. From the bottom, several trails snake up and connect to the AT, making for all kinds of loop and near-loop options. The three Standing Indian group sites are located along  Kimsey Creek; an eponymously named trail parallels the creek to Deep Gap and connects to the AT; from there, it’s about a mile to 5,499-foot Standing Indian Mountain and a grand view of the Georgia mountains beyond, before returning to camp via the Lower Ridge Trail. Boom! An 11-mile loop right out of camp. Then there’s Kimsey Creek itself: On our first visit, after doing the aforementioned 11-mile loop on a steamy August day, we returned mid-afternoon to camp; within 20 minutes, everyone was parked in the creek (with some hoisting adult refreshments). We stayed until the sun slipped beneath the basin’s western rim and the temperature began to quickly drop: by 8 o’clock, we were sporting fleece around the campfire, a campfire in a generous stone firepit. We love this trip so much that rather than our typical 3-day visit we’ve extended this year’s visit in mid-August to 4 days. (See below for details.)

North Mills River Recreation Area

Pisgah National Forest, southwest of Asheville

No. of group sites: 1

Accommodates: 30 people

$40 per night

More info here.

North Mills River was our Plan B the first time we visited. We’d intended to stay at the nearby Davidson River Campground outside Brevard, but the campground was booked when we went to make reservations. We got out a map, started searching nearby … and noticed North Mills River about 20 crow-fly miles to the northeast. We wanted to stay in the region, so we booked.We were rewarded upon arrival with a grass meadow perfect for Frisbee, rimmed by hardwoods ideal for camping beneath or stringing a hammock between. A nice commons area with picnic tables and fire ring, and we couldn’t have been happier. Or so we thought. The next day we set out from camp and hiked up the river to the old Hendersonville Reservoir, then continued up old-growth-rimmed Fletcher Creek, with about a dozen creek crossings. Eventually, we took the Spencer Gap Trail up to the Blue Ridge Parkway on one of those classically challenging-yet-rewarding Pisgah hikes. The following day we did a similar hike, on different trail, up to the parkway. There’s a good week of hiking out of this campground

Briar Bottom Campground

Pisgah National Forest, Burnesville

No. of group sites: 6

Each site accommodates: 50 people

$65 per night

More info here.

Basecamp for our annual Mount Mitchell adventure, this collection of six group sites sits at the base of the highest mountain east of the Black Hills, 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell — and there’s a trail you can catch right outside the campground that takes you 5.5 miles and 3,700 vertical feet to the summit. There are other hikes as well, and it’s only about a 30-minute drive to the top, where you can hike short nature trails or head out the rugged 13-mile Black Mountain Crest Trail, which spends much of its first few miles above 6,000 feet. At an elevation of 3,000 feet, the campground is blessed by cool nights for sleeping. Because of the number of sites and their capacities, large groups tend to flock here and take up multiple sites. Your best bet for a little privacy is the Ash camp site. If you like to fly fish, the South Toe River, known for its trout, is a short walk.

Cataloochee Group Campground

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee

Accommodates: 25 people 

No. of sites: 3

$40 per night

More info here.

You get the distinct impression you’re in remote country on the windy gravel road that descends into the Cataloochee Valley from civilization. And you are, although that wasn’t always the case. Prior to the park’s creation, a town of 1,300 thrived in the valley, a town you can still see remnants of in the handful of preserved buildings you can tour in the south end of the valley. A popular evening activity is to walk from the campground into the valley as evening settles in and watch the elk heard emerge from the forest fringe to feed. Then hang out and watch the shadow rise on the valley’s east wall as the sun sets. Oh, and the hiking! Several shorter (shorter as in under 10 miles) loops can be created via trails on the south side of the valley. If you’re up for an epic, an 18-mile loop heading out on Little Cataloochee and Long Bunk trails takes you up to the boreal zone of Mount Sterling, then returns down Pretty Hollow Creek (trip No. 19, if you have a copy of “Backpacking North Carolina.”). Both options expose you to the restored buildings of Cataloochee.

Curtis Creek Campground*

Pisgah National Forest, Old Fort

No. of sites: 25

Accommodates: 6 per site

$10 per night

More info here.

Let’s start with the asterisk: this isn’t actually a group campground. Rather, it’s 25 separate sites, but because of the low cost and the fact many of the sites are walk-ups (no reservations; first come, first camped), this is a good bet for the group that failed to plan ahead and reserve a bonafide group site. The campground is in a steep, narrow valley that leads from Old Fort up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Trail from the campground climbs into old growth woods. For less challenging hiking drive up to the Parkway and either head south to Mount Mitchell or north to Crabtree Meadows. If you’re into mountain biking and getting a good workout, the campground is on the route of the 60-mile Off-Road Assault on Mountain Mitchell race, which includes some nice gravel road riding and some challenging singletrack.

Join us!

GetHiking! Classic Escapes: Standing Indian and the AT, Thursday, Aug. 15 — Sunday, Aug. 18, Standing Indian Recreation Area, Franklin. Three days of hiking (including stretches on the Appalachian Trail), three nights of camping in one of our favorite campgrounds, hot coffee or tea every morning, pancake breakfast on Sunday, swag bag with gear and more. Learn more and sign up to join us here. 

The post Our 5 favorite group campgrounds in North Carolina appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

As far is Wings Over Water is concerned, your weekend started Tuesday.

Now in its 19th year, Wings Over Water is the coast’s premier celebration of the natural world. From Tuesday through Sunday, Wings Over Water events are held in a five-county region of northeastern North Carolina, an area that includes six National Wildlife Refuges: Alligator River, Pea Island, Pocosin Lakes, Mattamuskeet, Mackay Island and Currituck. There are birding events, there are paddling trips, there are photo safaris and this year there’s a new stand-up paddleboard tour.  If you’re curious about an aspect of nature at the coast, you’ll likely find a program to fill you in.

Logistics: Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Sunday, Oct. 25, five-country area of northeastern North Carolina. Fees per session are generally between $25 and $40. For a complete schedule and information about the program, visit the WOW home page.

Forecast through the weekend: Very fall-like, with daytime highs around 70 under mostly sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Bummed because you already have plans for the next few days and can’t make Wings Over Water? Then you’ll be cheered to hear that this year there’s a WOW Encore Weekend, Friday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 6. Details here.

Piedmont

There’s more to fall than just the woods brimming with color. The bird population, for instance, is busy making winter travel plans.

Saturday, at Lake James State Park you can hang out with ranger Jamie Cameron and watch the fall migrants head south. Jamie can tell you which birds are which, as well as where they’re coming from and where they’re headed.

Logistics: Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free. More information here.

Saturday forecast: A temperature of 53 at 8 a.m. under mostly sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Working on your Thanksgiving Day plan and realize it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get in a hike? See how your North Carolina State Parks can help, here.

Mountains

If you’re contemplating a trip to the mountains this weekend, it’s likely in hopes of catching a last gasp of great color as autumn’s road show moves into the Piedmont. We’re guessing that color is part of the motivation behind the Carolina Mountain Club’s trip to Big and Little Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday.

Another motivator: the chance to explore the trails less traveled. In this case, the old “dug roads,” which date back to the 1850s and remain as viable paths today. This 6.5-mile hike will stick largely to these old roads, starting from the church in Cataloochee and crossing Noland Mountain before returning.

Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m. (carpool meeting time in Asheville). For more info, contact hike leader Mike Knies at 828.628.6712, or knies06@att.net.

Sunday forecast: High of 65, chance of afternoon showers.

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Looking ahead: Race to the Taps #5, Nov. 14, Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard: a six-pack of four-mile, chip-timed road races starting and ending at several of WNC’s premier craft breweries. Details here.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

The post This weekend: Wing It appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Saturday, will be cool (50s) and rainy in the Piedmont. If you’ve got stuff you need to get done (yardwork excluded), this would be the day to get it done because —

Sunday will be dry, sunny and cool (50s) in the Piedmont. Sunday could also be your last chance to catch good fall color in the region. Wondering where to go?

* NCHikes November hike recommendations. NCHikes.com, our sister site, has just posted its six recommendations for hikes especially suited to November. Why November? You’ll have to go here to see. www.nchikes.com
* BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Health & Wellness Blog recommendations, Piedmont. Earlier this month we recommended five hikes in the Piedmont with great color and minimal crowds. Check ‘em out here.
* BlueCrossBlueShield of North Carolina recommendations, Coast. On Wednesday, we recommended five hikes at the Coast that should be starting to pop. Check those out here.
* GetGoingNC. Earlier this week, we posted five short urban walks/hikes where you’ll find good color. Revisit that post here.
* Great Outdoor Provision Co. Online Hiking Guide. If a hike close to home is a priority there’s a good chance you’ll find one on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Online Hiking Guide, which we collaborated on. Find that guide, with 55 hikes near the state’s major metro areas, here.

One last reminder that winter weather is hitting the high country starting tonight. That means:

* Drop the ropes! One or two ski areas could open. With as much as 10 inches of snow forecast for higher elevations, and snowmaking-friendly cold temperatures, we might see two north North Carolina ski areas in operation (at least briefly). SkiSoutheast.com will keep you updated on the situation, as will the two areas most likely to open, Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain.
* Travel may be affected. Snow will close the Blue Ridge Parkway, check its status here. Check road conditions on North Carolina roads and highways here.
* North Carolina State Parks at higher elevations may be affected. Check NCparks.gov before heading out.

Have a swell weekend!

The post Last call for fall, weekend winter advisory appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Yup, that’s right: winter arrives big time in North Carolina’s mountains this weekend, with heavy snow forecast for higher elevations. More important, cold overnight temperatures should support prolonged snowmaking, signaling the start of the Southeast ski season.

Coast

Though it will dip down to freezing overnight and precipitation is in the forecast, daytime highs in the 50s will forestall winter from covering up the emerging fall color at Merchants Millpond State Park.

No, fall color isn’t confined to the Piedmont. It’s starting to trickle into the coastal plain. On Saturday, a park ranger will lead a hike starting from the millpond boathouse to check out signs of fall in this swamplike park.

Logistics: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. For more info call 252.357.1191.

Saturday forecast: High of 59, chance of rain.

Piedmont

Tuesday, we did a little scouting along the shores of Lake Brandt, one of the Greensboro Watershed Lakes. Our scouting was sufficient to convince us that this weekend should be great for checking out fall color along the lakes. You can do this in one of two ways:

One, on the 40 miles of trail (some of which is open to mountain biking) along the lakes. Or two, on one of four pontoon boat rides scheduled for Saturday. (Though both options would give you two perspectives on what likely will be the peak weekend for fall color in the Triad.)

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., Lake Townsend Marina, 6332 Townsend Road, Brown Summit. $5 per person. 336.373.3694. For more on trails along the lakes, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 49, chance of rain.

Mountains

Boone-based SkiSoutheast.com is speculating that with 3 to 6 inches of snow forecast and with overnight lows dipping into the low 20s making for prime snowmaking conditions, that Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain will both open this weekend. Those potential openings carry an asterisk:
Opening, but with minimal terrain — perhaps a slope or two.
Opening, but perhaps just for a day or two, until the cold weather moves out.

Still, it’s skiing! And you could make first tracks by keeping a close eye on developments, as mentioned below.

Logistics: To find out if any slopes do open, check in with SkiSoutheast.com. More specifically, you can check with the two prime candidates themselves, Cataloochee  and Sugar Mountain.

Weekend forecast: Winter storm watches are posted for the weekend in nine North Carolina mountain counties. Follow the latest developments at Ray’s Weather.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

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The post This weekend: Winter! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

The Surf to Sound Challenge at Wrightsville Beach typically marks the end of the standup paddleboard season at the coast — a late and chilly end, in most folks’ books. The two-day challenge features the 6.5-mile Surf to Sound Challenge and the 4-mile Harbor Island Outer Loop challenge on Saturday, and a new competition, the Surf SUP Competition on Sunday. If you’ve got the will and a wet suit, head on down to Wrightsville Beach.

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17. More info here or by calling 910.256.2251.

Weekend forecast: Highs in the low to mid 70s, 30 percent chance of rain Saturday.

Piedmont

I’m smitten by Saturday’s 7.2-mile Birkhead Mountain Wilderness hike in the Uwharrie National Forest of central North Carolina for two reasons. One, the Uwharries this time of year are, in my opinion, at their best. There’s still some color, but most of the leaves have fallen, opening great views through a forest dominated by hardwoods and with more elevation than you’ll generally find in the Piedmont.

The other reason I like it is because I’ll be leading the hike, through the GetHiking! Triangle hiking group. It’s a good mix of beginning hikers and more experienced hikers looking to explore new trails. Good for you beginners to know: it’s a no-drop hike.

Logistics: Saturday, Nov. 16, 9:15 a.m. at the trailhead off Tot Hill Farm Road of NC 49 west of Asheboro (see map here).  More info on the hike here.

Saturday forecast: High of 66 with a 20 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

When the Southeast ski season “opens,” it’s usually a short initial opening. The cold front that dusted the Piedmont with snow Tuesday evening brought  a dusting to the high country as well. More importantly, it brought cold temperatures that allowed Cataloochee and Sugar Mountain to fire up their snow guns and open for business Wednesday. Today, Cataloochee opened with 6 of 17 runs open and 3 of 5 lifts operating; Sugar had one run open and one lift.

The forecast for the weekend wasn’t promising, but there’s a chance both could remain if overnight lows drop below freezing, counteracting daytime highs in the upper 40s.  If you’re taken by the idea of making first tracks this weekend, we suggest you check skisoutheast.com before heading out, for the latest news from the slopes.

Logistics: Check skisoutheast.com for current ski conditions.

Saturday forecast: Highs in the mid 50s.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

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