Camping spots near Balsam Grove, North Carolina offer access to some of the highest elevations in the region, with nearby mountains reaching over 5,000 feet. Located in Transylvania County, the area experiences cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands, with summer highs typically in the 70s. Fall brings vibrant foliage from mid-October through early November, making it a popular season for campers.
What to do
Waterfall exploration: 15-minute drive to multiple cascades from Davidson River Campground. "Looking Glass falls are just down the round into the forest and always a treat," notes Dave V., who adds that the campground has "a well-drained gravel tent pad...which makes staking your tent out a bit of a pain, but you won't endure puddling."
Mountain biking: Trail access directly from Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina. Angel K. calls it "a mountain biker's dream! Hikers too, but really, all trails allow for bikers-single track riding. The trail system goes into an experimental forest area. Ensure to print out a map before hand, I can't begin to start to explain how many small loops, links, connector trails there are."
Fly fishing: Prime spots in the North Mills River. Shannon K. notes that at North Mills River, "There are also primitive sites up two different roads. One heads back to the reservoir for some amazing fly fishing. We've enjoyed this campground mainly for the fly-fishing. The local Trout Unlimited group has also spent many hours upgrading the walkways and fence lines to protect the river."
Swimming holes: Natural options throughout the area. Ross B. says Davidson River Campground offers "a large swimming area, so, you could swim, fish, or just put your feet in. You are also close to Brevard. You can scoot into town to grab supplies or whatever you needed to do."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate space at Mount Pisgah Campground. According to Steven B., "Sites are decent sized and fairly private. Can get chilly since you're at higher elevation." Phillip L. adds, "This site is very quiet with a lot of privacy. When we came most of the sites were full and this was 10 in the morning."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain good bathrooms. At Lake Powhatan, Brittany S. found "incredibly clean" grounds with "the campground hosts very friendly and helpful, and the quick access to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Asheville are unbeatable." She notes that bathrooms and showers "are single use, not stalls, which I suppose could be inconvenient if there were a lot of people waiting, but it's nice to have the privacy!"
Nature immersion: Black Forest Family Camping Resort offers a natural setting. Meredith describes it as "Very clean, natural, beautiful trees, and a nice location. The sites are staggered down the hillside and gives you a sense of privacy. The bathrooms were very clean."
Scout
