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Facilities

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Public Campground

A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

2 Reviews

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A. Rufus Morgan Shelter is located in the Nantahala National Forest, surrounded by forested terrain and hilly landscapes. Temperatures in this area can range from lows in the 30s Fahrenheit during winter to highs in the 80s during summer. Nearby, visitors can explore the Appalachian Trail and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Nantahala River.

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Location

A. Rufus Morgan Shelter is located in North Carolina

Coordinates

35.32427081 N
83.59018097 W

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Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 5 users
Last on 12/11/25
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 5 users
Last on 12/11/25

Connectivity

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 5 users
Last on 12/11/25
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 5 users
Last on 12/11/25

Access

Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Site Types

Tent Sites

Features

For Campers

Firewood Available

Contact

General Info

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Drive Time

1 hr 11 min from Asheville, NC
2 hrs 8 min from Knoxville, TN
2 hrs 15 min from Morristown, TN

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5 Stars

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1 Star

3.0

out of 5

2 Reviews

David P.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 28, 2020

Conveniently located.

We hiked into Rufas Morgan, northbound on the Appalation Trail, and found the shelter occupied. We set up our tents on the levalest spots we could find down hill from the shelter. Great water point at this shelter! Best thing is that NOC is only .8 miles up the AT! Easy to go get something to eat, grab a resupply, and return to camp!

Art S.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 12, 2016

A. Rufus Morgan Shelter

The best part about this Appalachian Trail shelter is that it's than a mile from N.O.C. (Nantahala Outdoor Center). The shelter was dirty and had trash all over. We ended up finding a place for our tents for a nervous night of sleep. Being so close to a major tourist area means people can take the short hike to stay without following the leave-no-trace principles.

However being close to the N.O.C. is what we wanted. We were able to quickly get to the outdoor center and get a few supplies. The restaurant had wonderful food and we took our time satisfying our hiker hunger. My hiker partner took a break and went rafting and caught up to me on the trail. Many people visit the N.O.C. for outdoor fun on the river or day hiking along the trail.

This shelter is an option if you want a free night's camping or an easy hike into the center for a fun day.