Best Equestrian Camping near Asheboro, NC

Cedarock Park, located in Burlington, North Carolina, is a hidden gem for all sorts of outdoor activities. The park offers hike-in camping with a handful of sites scattered along Rock Creek. The sites are well spaced and can accommodate large groups (you only pay $1 for each additional person for groups larger than 10). The park is also home to 6 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of equestrian trails. There are two fantastic disc golf courses (I personally enjoy the Wellspring course) and even a historical farm that sheds light on what life was like as a farmer in 19th century North Carolina.

It is free camping in this area on the weekend these horse clubs will come in with your trailers in horse they're not very friendly they're nosy and they do not like Outsiders but this is a national park to it is open to you to hear up to 14 days the town of Troy is not very friendly they want your money but they don't want you this is our second time here and it both times has been very unpleasant the trails are nice to walk the lake is beautiful as long as you keep to yourself and you should have no problem but these horse people got to be printed they're not your friends as soon as they turn your back they're calling the Ranger and trying to get you throw it out good luck with it I hope you have a better trip than we did

Morrow Mountain State Park, near Albemarle, NC, has something for everyone.  Many hiking and equestrian trails are within the park.  While the top elevation is just over 900 feet, it still has that mountainous feel in sections of the park.  Likewise, there is lake access for boating and fishing.  There are also historical features, a few unmarked homesteads and graves, as well as a nice (though small) museum.  The campsites are my favorite of any campgrounds visited in the NC area.  They are not too close to each other, well equipped, and with good visibility surrounding the sites so that you can see the deer and squirrels going by.  It has been among my favorites for 50+ years.

This is a pretty nice campground, similar to other state parks in North Carolina. The sites are spacious, we stayed at a double site that allowed up to 4 cars. The site was level and stayed dry during the heavy rain, however we saw other sites that had big puddles, with tents in the water. The bathrooms were cleaned regularly, but they were not very nice. The shower didn't look good at all, we didn't use it.

A great things about the campground is that it has its own kayak/canoe ramp, just a few minutes drive from the site. We saw people fishing from the ramp as well. On our morning paddle we saw a couple of bald eagles, they were amazing. We stayed at the campsite after heavy rains, so the beach was closed. It must be nice when not flooded.

This is a state campground, so alcohol is not allowed.

This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. 

Bathrooms and showers were clean and comfortable, as were the campsites. 

Each camping loop felt tucked away into its own little neighborhood, and the large campsites offered space so that you aren’t stacked right next to your neighbor.  We camped in the nonelectric loop (we always bring our solar panel) for 3 nights in mid-February and there were very few campers around, but the neighboring loop with electrical hook-up sites were 3/4 full with large rigs. 

Hiking, biking, paddling, are all great things to do during your stay. There is also a boat launch within the park in case power boating or fishing is your thing, but kayaks and canoes can easily launch from the lakeside campsites.  It was a bit too chilly to get on the water in February, so we opted for hiking and biking.

The closest services for gas or a few extra snacks are within 5 minutes of the park.

This camp ground is great for families and anyone looking to go outdoors. I highly recommend going online to reserve a spot ahead of time. From the times I’ve been there everyone calls ahead for there lots. There is plenty to do like hiking, fishing, swimming, and even horse back riding. And it you are an off road enthusiast, they have made some fantastic off road trails south of the Forrest. The only thing I have about this campground is the restrooms they provide are not the cleanest, so prepare yourself if your not used to that. Overall, I love this campsite.

Located just 30 miles west of Raleigh, Jordan Lake provides 7 different access points throughout this amazing natural preserve.  And while I’m not a kitesurfer or windsurfer, I’m positive that this campground was named for the pretty amazing headwinds that are enjoyed coming off Falls Lake, which Crosswinds Campground @ Jordan Lake SRA sits on. Take my word for it though, this outdoor nature preserve is truly a slice of heaven carved out in some of North Carolina’s finest camping countryside. If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nicely shaded nature, hiking trails and humble peace & quiet that only God's green nature can offer, then make your way here to Crosswinds Campground, where this heavily wooded forest paradise will embrace you with its inclines, switchbacks and snakelike, swerving road circuits. 

All of the basics are provided in spades – from picnic table, fold-up fire ring / BBQ grill, bear-proof garbage hanger and a nice pebble-strewn and long-leaf pine shadowed patch of well-maintained nature that offers pristine shade from an unrelenting bit of summer Tar Heel sunshine. While there’s a suitable amount of brush between campsites, surprisingly, it’s the steep inclines and declines between each site that makes one feel that they are truly in the center of their own private wilderness. The on-site bathroom & shower facilities are just slightly north of passable and only a smidge better than you’d expect from a state-run campground, and so this campground gets its only mediocre marks on this front. But that said, there’s plenty of hiking trails to explore and the on-site rangers are incredibly helpful and positive folks that want to ensure you have a great time, but the best amenity on this property is the access to Lake Jordan itself, where there is a perfectly sectioned off swimming area – complete with life safety vests resting on hooks near the shore - as well as boat launching areas for those that want to fish or simply drop a kayak or canoe in the water and take enjoy a lakeside cruise. 

Insider’s tips? Here's a bundle: (1) Be sure to get down to the lake from wherever your campsite is just after sunset and bring a couple of folding chairs and a telescope (pre-planning here is needed!) to catch a glimpse of one of the most amazing star-studded night skies you’ve ever seen in your life!; (2) While IMHO there are no bad sites per se here, certainly there are some that are better than others, amongst which, I would highly recommend those that are closer to the tree fall lines as well as those that place you closest to either lakeside or lake view.  With 3 loops to choose from (A, B & C), I recommend the following sites: Loop A - #18-19; #21-22; and #44-47; Loop B - #33, #36, #37, #39, #40,#43; Loop C - #19, #21, #23, #24, #26, #32, #34, #36, #40, #42; (3) If you have a boat, you may want to consider calling ahead of time, while you are reserving your campsite and reserve a boat slip - we just thought that they would be readily available, but as it turns out, there's quite a few daytime boaters that don't camp here and are simply looking for a slip to occupy for the day, so plan ahead!; (4) SUPER INSIDER SECRET: there's a little pathway next to site #32 that will lead you to a hidden beachhead where all the cool kids hang out and party; (5) The showers are pretty annoying in that they are regulated by body movement - so as a hack, we applied duct tape and VOILA! the hot water stayed on the whole time! (but remove when you are done or the water won't stop running!); and (6) When you grow tired or anxious after digging through what remains of your Cordova cooler and / or want to sample some local fare, be prepared to drive a short distance (20 minutes or so) back to Apex, where I would recommend The Peak on Salem that serves up some pretty mean Caribbean conch & shrimp fritters as well as some very nice seafood entrees like NC clam bucatini or sweet tea ginger whiskey braised beef short rib.

Happy Camping!

Campground Review

As one of the best and biggest parks in my area, I've spent a good bit of time at Cedarock Park. There is SO much to do for any outdoor fan. The park is almost 500 acres in size and offers:

• 6 miles of hiking trails
• 6 miles of equestrian trails
• 2 disc golf courses with a total of 36 holes for play
• A historical farm restored to the late 1800s time period
• 2 fishing ponds
• A picturesque waterfall over an old mill dam
• Picnic shelters and gazebos
• A basketball court, volleyball court, and playground
• Canoe and kayak rentals
• And of course, camping

Cedarock Park offers a handful of sites along Rock Creek, which runs through the park. The sites are only available via hiking in (though the "hike" is a short quarter mile down a wooded forest path). Each site includes a fire pit and bench with ample space to set up tents. The sites are all super flat, which makes finding some place comfortable to set up a tent that much easier. Sites are $10/night for groups under 10 people in size and cost an additional $1 for each person over 10. Reservations are required (though they do accept walk-ins at the park office). You can reserve a site either by calling the park office or by going online. There is a 3 night limit for camping. Park hours are as follows:

• November - March: 8am to 6pm
• April: 8am to 8pm
• May - August: 8am to 9pm
• September - October: 8am to 8pm

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to test and review products from time to time. At this campground, I tested OOFOS OOmg low shoes for women.

As someone with perpetually flat feet (due in part to being a swimmer most of my life and in part because I do everything in my Birkenstocks) it's always been hard for me to find a pair of shoes that I not only like but will actually wear. I can say with confidence that OOFOS OOmg shoes will be added to my very small list of shoes I love. Here's a few of the reasons why:

1. They are unbelievably comfortable. The footbed is made of a super soft foam that greatly reduces the stress on your feet, knees, and back from walking. The mesh material is flexible and breathable, making these so much less constricting than a regular shoe.
2. They are SUPER light weight while also being incredibly sturdy. I did a few miles of hiking in them and was amazed at how easy it was to move in these shoes.
3. They are actually really cute on. While this isn't normally a factor for me, I was pleasantly surprised by how cool they looked. They come in multiple colors (I ordered the electric blue) which I really liked (because who doesn't love options?)
4. They can be worn with or without socks. I wore them without socks and was amazed to have no blisters and pain anywhere after walking a few miles.

Overall I would recommend these shoes in a heartbeat. They're comfortable, breathable, and light weight, making them the perfect pair of shoes for outdoor lovers of any variety.

The weather was great. Hardly any bugs and the trails were great.

This is a great spot to go with a large group - I was with the Boy Scouts. It is fairly secluded, so once we got to the campground there weren't a lot of other people around. If the weather had been better, it would have been unbeatable - it rained from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon.

While at Uwaharrie NF stayed at Biden Lake campground. Beautiful place with great views. Clean facilities close to sites.

The campground and bathhouse was very clean. There is room for a couple tents at each site. There are quiet hours after a certain time of night. The camp host yelled at us twice for TALKING at a low volume after quiet hours. Unfortunately we somehow ended up at the sites right next ti his, so maybe it would be better a little farther from the camp host... but needless to say, we wont be back. We will be going somewhere that we can actually ENJOY camping.

We really liked this campground we had a double site that was huge it was minutes from uwharrie national forest and badin lake. We'll defiantly go back.

We spent 2 nights here with our Storyteller Mode LT RV nestled in the Uwharrie National Forest. The campsites do not offer a view of the water of Badin Lake, but it is nearby with a drive or hike.  Many sites are available with electric hook-up, and drinking water is available at nearby locations.  Many of the sites are not very level so choose carefully.  The campground is very quiet and clean.  The drive-in offers beautiful rolling countryside with low foothills.   Nearby we took advantage of an off-road driver training course with OEX, Overland Experts.