## Overview

 Nestled in a landscape of mountains, open meadows and pioneer cabins, Doughton Park Campground is surrounded by 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails offering opportunities to view wildlife as well as get a feel for the lives of those who lived here long ago. Originally known as The Bluffs, the area came by its present name in honor of Congressman Robert L. Doughton, a long-time advocate and supporter of the Parkway. 
## Recreation

 Over 30 miles of trails are available varying from strenuous to easy. Bicycles and motorized vehicles are prohibited on trails. Mileage listed is only traveling one way. Double the trail mileage to include out and back trip. Trail elevations can change more than 2,000 feet as trails descend into the Basin Cove Creek area from the parkway. Maps available on the Blue Ridge Parkway.gov website.\_\_ Bluff Mountain Trail (7.5 miles) offers many scenic vistas and traverses relatively flat terrain. The trail runs near the parkway and is accessible from many locations along its route from Brinegar Cabin to Basin Cove Overlook.\_\_\_\_ Cedar Ridge Trail (4.4 miles) descends a forested ridgeline to Grassy Gap Fire Road. Trailhead is located at the Brinegar Cabin.\_\_ Grassy Gap Fire Road (6.1 miles) is wide enough for hikers and horseback riders to travel side by side. The trail starts at Milepost 243.9 and ambles down the mountainside past the primitive campground to State Route 1730 (Longbottom Road). Horseback riders must enter and exit at Longbottom Road.\_\_ Flat Rock Ridge Trail (5.0) miles begins on the mountain-top meadow of Basin Cove Overlook. And ends on the damp, cool banks of Basin Cove Creek. NC Thurmond Game Lands and bear sanctuary border the south side of the trail.\_\_ Basin Cove Creek Trail (3.2 miles) is accessible only from the grassy Gap Fire Road at the Long Bottom Road (State Hwy 1730). A 1.7-mile hike is required to reach the beginning of the Basin Cove Creek. It winds past cascading waterfalls to the century-old Caudill Cabin, former home of the Martin Caudill family. Part of the once-thriving Basin cove Community, this cabin was one of the few structures that withstood the devasting 1916 flood. Prepare for over 26 creek crossings on this trail. The total trip one way is 4.9 miles and 9.8 miles for the total trip. Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail (2.7 miles) is the shortest but steepest route into Basin Cove. The strenuous climb up the trail makes the hike seem much longer. Trailhead location is in the Bluffs Picnic Area.\_\_ Fodder Stack Trail (1.4 miles roundtrip) shows off its delicate display of wildflowers in the spring. It is the easiest hike through a mixture of pine and hardwood forest with a short, steep brief beginning. Recommended for families. Trailhead is at Wildcat Rocks Overlook.\_\_\_\_ The Brinegar Cabin dates from about 1885 and was the home of Martin Brinegar and his family. Brinegar was a cobbler as well as a farmer. His home is open Memorial Day weekend days through October. Hand-loom weaving and other craft demonstrations are often given during the summer months. The one-room Caudill Cabin exhibit can be viewed from the scenic Wildcat Rocks (milepost 240.6). Historic Cemetery: near milepost marker 245.5. The cemetery contains some three dozen graves dating from the 1880\'s to more recent times.\_\_ The Basin Cove Creek complex (mileposts 238 - 244) (located off the Parkway on Longbottom Road) has Rainbow and Brook Trout where the streams are stocked. Anyone with a valid Virginia or North Carolina fishing license is welcome, but please check with the visitor center for any special regulations. 
## Facilities

 Doughton Park has a picnic area (at milepost 241), a campground (milepost 239), comfort stations, drinking water and access to 30 miles (48 km) of trail over bluegrass bluffs. The historic Bluff\_\_\_s restaurant has reopened (at milepost 241). The restaurant\_\_\_s web page, www.bluffsrestaurant.org, provides information on hours and menu.\_\_ Campsites are shaded under an umbrella of thick trees, and provide campers with tables, latern posts, plus, campfire rings and grills. The site also offers camper conveniences like flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station.\_\_\_\_ Doughton Park Campground usually has campsites available. Three group sites are available for reservations. In addition to the 24 sites available for advance reservation, 97 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability of first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. These sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk. Primitive Backcountry Camping is available at Basin Cove. Obtain a free permit from the Doughton Park campground office (May-October) 336-372-8877 or the Bluffs District Office 828-348-3487. 
## Natural Features

 Rolling ridgetop meadows and steep mountainsides characterize the 7,000-acre Doughton Park. The elevation is a cool 3688 feet. It is one of the best places along the motor road to view white-tailed deer, raccoons, red and gray foxes, and bobcats. Visitors can enjoy spectacular shows of flame azalea and rhododendron in the late spring and fields of Dense Blazing Stars in mid to late July. Nearby Bluffs picnic area features open areas for night sky viewing with limited light pollution.\_\_ The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway that follows the high crests of the central and southern Appalachians for 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Mount Airy, NC: Andy Griffith\'s hometown, the ideal American town that was the inspiration for Mayberry--Hwy 52 South; 12 miles south of Fancy Gap, VA. (www.visitmayberry.com)\_\_\_\_ Churches of the Frescoes: MP 259 - The Last Supper, Mary Great with Child, Mystery of Faith, and 7 others. Episcopal Church is always open. (www.churchofthefrescoes.com) Northwest Trading Post: Located south of Doughton Park at milepost 258 near Glendale Springs, this craft store sells handicrafts representative of the Appalachian Mountain culture. (www.CoolSparta.com)

Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

We were told by a ranger we talked with earlier in the day that this campground might be closed for the season but the gates were open, so we checked it out and saw a sign saying that it would close for the season on November 4 so we were good!

  

There are two different campgrounds– one for tents and one for RVs. Normally, we can stay in tent sites with our 17-foot campervan but not at Doughton, as the tent pads are a distance away from where you park and there are not suitable pads where you could park and camp. Also, there was not a soul in the tent section. The RV section is across the street (on the Blue Ridge Parkway) and it was about 2/3rds full. No hookups and the bathrooms were reasonable Two toilet stalls, two sinks, no showers but don’t forget to bring your flashlight; there were no lights and it was dark even during the day when it was cloudy/foggy. 

  

Each site has two pads– I’m assuming one is if you have a trailer or 5th wheel and one to park your car. However, even though there are two, they are not long, so bringing a large 5th wheel might be problematic, and a large Class A would definitely be challenged. 

  

Even though many of the sites were occupied, it was very quiet. I’m assuming a Monday night in late October meant there were no children. Can’t beat the value for$10 (with a senior pass).

Standard NPS campground directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway

This was the only place we saw bears but not in our campsite just wandering in another loop. We stayed in loop b and found a perfectly shaded site that was quiet and private and near the comfort station. Lots of greenery and getting into the highlands means cooler temps in the summer.

Rustic but private

The Doughton Park campground off of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great place to spend the night without if you are driving along the Parkway and don't want to venture too far off course. The campground is much larger than I expected. There's an RV section on one side of the Parkway and a tent section that is on the other side. I only explored the tent side.

Although a little bit confusing, with concentric loops, there are many sites to choose from. Some loops and sites are more wooded and further from roads and amenities while others are more central and along a field. I opted for a more central site and ended up being the only person camping in that loop. At the end of October there were only three other campers in the whole tent side of the campground.

The hosts were friendly and helpful in choosing a site. The bathrooms are small but clean and there are easily accessible water sources about. There has been a young bear hanging about in the campground so they, very reasonably, ask that you keep all scent sources in your car.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is an incredible drive, my favorite section is south of this campground in North Carolina. Just along the VA-NC border the Blue Ridge Music Center is well worth the stop. There is free music there daily from 12-4!

Great Stop on the Parkway

Love the views from this area especially the morning. 

Favorite stop on the parkway 

no reservation required.  There is always room to stay.  We were motorcycle camping the blue ridge parkway and camped here for the night.  There was a place to eat and drink not far down the road at Laurel Springs.

nice blue ridge parkway campground

This campground is quiet, shaded, and right on the blue Ridge parkway. It's high in elevation so it's cooler than the surrounding areas. There are trails you can hike from camp. There is a basic dump station at the entrance as well as potable water. 

A great campground in the Blue Ridge Mountains 

We reserved a spot (B4) as it was one of the only ones left when we booked ten days out. We intended on seeing if there was a‘first come first serve’ spot that might be better(as was mentioned in another review). We got there around 4:00 and the rangers let us drive through and switch to C87. There are some spots that are pretty close together and would probably work better as group spots, others (like C87) had plenty of privacy. We thought it would be packed on the beautiful October weekend, but the campground did not fill up and there was plenty of room to spread out. 

  

The proximity to the parkway was great. So many hikes and views. My kids loved Brinegar Cabin(1876) which is right up the road. 

  

The bathrooms were clean, but very basic. The fire rings were a little worn. Some of the parking spots were made during a time when cars were smaller.  None of that was a problem for us, but others may think differently. It is an older park and feels that way, but we found it charming. We thought it was an overlooked gem!

A lovely weekend by the parkway!

Doughton Park CG:
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer)
Overall Rating:  4.5
Price:  $10/ night w senior pass
Usage during visit: low due to rain
Site Privacy:  some, like ours - #9, are very good 
Site Spacing: some sites are nicely space and some are pretty close. 
Site surface:   Blacktop 
Reservations:    Yes
Campground Noise:   Very quiet during our stay.   A small group of folks, older, play music together on a regular basis.  Bring your instrument and join them.  One plays a lot of Gordon Lightfoot - they were friends.  Low key and quiet.  Very, very enjoyable.  
Road Noise:   Sites 1 and 2 are close to the parkway.   The rest of the sites are set far enough back that, maybe motorcycles can be heard.  Right now through there is no through traffic as a nearby portion of the parkway is in the middle of a 3 year construction project. 
Through Traffic in campground:   None 
Electricity: No
Water: Availability at the dump station and one faucet.  
Sewer Hook up:  No
Dump Station:  Yes 
Generators:  Allowed 
Bathroom:  Small and clean. 
Showers:   No
Pull Throughs:  Most or all are back in.  
Cell Service (Verizon): Good from our site 
Setting:  Deciduous forest on high ground. 
Weather:  Unseasonably wet during our stay.   4 days of almost non-stop rain  
Bugs:    None 
Solar:   Fixed solar panels might work in sites 1 and 2.
Host: Present. 
Rig size:  There are a couple 30 to 35’ rigs here 
Sites:  #9, our site, is one of the best sites we have had in almost 4 years of travel.  The regulars call this site the “honeymoon site”, because of the heart shaped large rocks which create a lower terraced picnic area.   Best sites: 9  very best, 4, 8, 7.  Next best: 5,21,19.   Nice but picnic area is not quite as private: 20, 18,16,14,12,11,10.  All other sites along the outer side of the loop I would be happy with.  The exception are sites 1 and 2.   These two sites are along the parkway. 