Best Dispersed Camping near Balsam Grove, NC

Pisgah National Forest surrounds Balsam Grove, North Carolina, offering primarily dispersed camping options with varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Sites like Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites and Black Balsam Knob provide tent camping near trailheads, while Upper Cove Creek and Wash Creek areas accommodate both tent and small RV camping. Most locations feature established fire rings and proximity to creeks or streams, with many sites positioned along forest service roads. The Blue Ridge Parkway serves as a central corridor for accessing numerous camping areas, with elevations ranging from 3,000 to over 6,000 feet across the region.

Forest service roads leading to campsites often require careful navigation and sometimes high-clearance vehicles. As one camper noted, "You need a good off-road capable vehicle to access this site but it is very peaceful with a nice stream running by." Cell service is limited or nonexistent throughout much of the area, particularly in valleys and remote locations. Weather conditions vary significantly by elevation, with higher sites experiencing cool temperatures even during summer months. One reviewer cautioned, "This campsite is fairly high in elevation, so it gets cool at night. Don't make the mistake of taking a summer sleeping bag." Most dispersed sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation systems in place.

Creekside camping represents a common feature across the region, with many campers highlighting the ambient sounds of flowing water as a highlight. "The stream creates a nice sound barrier so you don't really hear other campers," noted one visitor to Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites. Proximity to hiking trails, particularly connections to the Appalachian Trail and Mountains-to-Sea Trail, adds recreational value to many camping areas. Day hikers frequently share trailhead parking with campers, creating occasional crowding during peak seasons. Several sites show evidence of storm damage from recent hurricanes, with ongoing recovery efforts affecting accessibility. Security concerns exist at some locations, with one camper reporting theft of equipment at Wash Creek: "There are signs about being a high crime area and they are not kidding."

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Balsam Grove, North Carolina (46)

    1. Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites

    8 Reviews
    Balsam Grove, NC
    7 miles
    Website

    "Right off the road, the short couple yards dirt road entrance to the campsite had a couple big pot holes that requires accurate driving around, but the campsite had at least three spots for seclusion for"

    "Good place for me to overnight, there are no facilities, the entrance is a bit hidden google maps will get you very close look for the small tent sign on your right when headed away from the parkway my"

    2. Black Balsam Knob - Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Balsam Grove, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 877-3265

    "Perfect for tent camping right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Campsites are next to the road under the pine trees or you can camp on top of the mountain."

    "You MUST camp outside of 1000ft from road. You WILL get investigated by park Rangers, which stepped up enforcement of this stupid, pointless law around 2 years ago."

    3. Upper Cove Creek - UCC1 Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Balsam Grove, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 877-3265

    "All dirt roads back here. Beautiful waterfall (whaleback falls I think?) just a quick 15 minute walk across the river and up the trail (follow Daniel ridge trail loop from parking lot)."

    "With that said:

    • remote- you have to want to get up here but it's really easy to do once you drive it a few times.

    *clearly marked spots. I am actually located at ucc-2. ** The Dead End spot."

    4. 475b

    2 Reviews
    Brevard, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 877-3265

    "This is a great first-come-first-serve location with several sites."

    "Road is a little rough but not terrible. 3-4 spots to park around this hairpin with 3 camping spots lotuses in the middle."

    5. Upper Cove Creek - UCC2 Dispersed

    1 Review
    Brevard, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 877-3265

    "Not 100% sure it is a spot as it is not marked but signs may have been damaged and it does show a tent symbol on the forest service map."

    6. Wash Creek Dispersed Campsites #4 and #5

    4 Reviews
    Mills River, NC
    18 miles

    "First the sight is beautiful and most have a beautiful trout stream close by when navigating if using Apple Maps pay attention to where it is routing you mine wanted me to walk through the woods for an"

    "Was a pretty nice camp site compared to a lot you just have to be aware of the people around you."

    7. Sunburst Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Waynesville, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 577-4910

    $25 / night

    8. Wash Creek Dispersed Pull-Off

    2 Reviews
    Mills River, NC
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 877-3265

    "The forest road is very bumpy and narrow, but high clearance is not needed. Very low light pollution and the bare trees allowed for some great star gazing."

    9. Blue Valley Dispersed Camping

    8 Reviews
    Highlands, NC
    25 miles
    Website

    "Location is actually about 1.5. Miles further than shown on map. Just keep going. Stayed for a week. About 7 campsites with fire rings. Great trails and people camping near were respectful."

    "Almost all near a creek of some sort. Hiking trails near by. No facilities. Room for larger groups ~40 people max for the biggest site ~6 for the smallest"

    10. Mills River Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Mills River, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 877-3265

    "*this is just for the free campsites- there appears to be paid campsites and maybe RV hook ups very close by."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Balsam Grove, NC

91 Reviews of 46 Balsam Grove Campgrounds


  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites

    Free Camping but Lots of Foot Traffic

    There are two great things about this campsite. It’s free, and it is close to great views of the mountains near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located off of Highway 215, you do hear road noise, but that is not too much of a problem. During the day, you get a lot of day use hikers since the largest campsite is right beside the trail. There is a large flat area to set your tent if you are lucky enough to be the first one there, and there is a fire pit. Beyond that, there are no facilities. You can hear the sounds of water all night long from Flat Laurel Creek. The last time I was in that area, I tried to cross Flat Laurel Creek over slippery rocks against my better judgment, and the weather was in the upper 30s. I fell, got soaked, and nearly froze to death. This time, it was summer and I learned to cross in my bare feet despite the fact that the rocks were dry this time. The trail eventually takes you to Sam’s Knob, which offers beautiful views, and there is lots of scenery along the way. This campsite is fairly high in elevation, so it gets cool at night. Don’t make the mistake of taking a summer sleeping bag. You could, but you take a chance of being cold even during the peak of summer. This is not a good place for RVs or travel trailers. It is mainly for tent camping even though you do not have to hike in. Just make sure to take water or a water filter. Overall, I recommend this campsite if you are going to hike somewhere else during the day. However, you will not get solitude of any kind here because of all the day hikers.

  • Jim M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 20, 2024

    FS 289 Pull Off

    Great dispersed site in the Pisgah NF

    Great Campsite along the Smoky Mountain 1000 Overland route. You need a good off road capable vehicle to access this site but it is very peaceful with a nice stream running by. Tent camping near the jeep or a high clearance overland teardrop should make it back here ok but not recommended for regular RV's.

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2020

    Black Balsam Knob - Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed Camping with Great Views Close

    Although you can camp just about anywhere in Pisgah National Forest, there are specific sites near the trailhead to Sam Knob. This area is known as Black Balsam. There are no RV sites, and you have to hike about a hundred yards or less to the sites, unless you camp on the bald. The sites had lots of roots, so it was difficult to find a level site without roots all over the area. With that said, it is a good place to camp, and it is just a short walk to the pit toilet, which is also at the trailhead. There are fire pits, but there are no lantern hangers or tent pads. Expect to hear lots of cars and people during the busy months about 200 feet away. Because of that, a better place to stay is at the top of Sam Knob, which you can do. That was a better choice for me since I try to stay away from crowds as much as I can. However, you cannot clear or make a new spot; you have to“find” a spot in which you do not disturb the area. You will need a freestanding tent since you will probably be pitching it on solid rock. 

    The biggest problem with staying on the knob is the weather. Unfortunately, it poured rain and was windy when I was there. I expected it to be windy, but mixed with the rain, it made it unpleasant. Sam Knob is a heather bald, so that gives you a little privacy. However, expect a hikers to end up there since it is a hiking destination and the views are great. 

    Overall, it is a good place to camp, but there will be people close by no matter where you pitch your tent, whether it is a hundred yards from the parking lot or up on top of Sam Knob.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2023

    Wash Creek Dispersed Campsites #4 and #5

    Great camping spot

    First the sight is beautiful and most have a beautiful trout stream close by when navigating if using Apple Maps pay attention to where it is routing you mine wanted me to walk through the woods for an hour to get here it’s easier to find if you navigate to north mill’s campground first second there are signs about being a high crime area and they are not kidding while I was out picking up a few things at ingles someone came by and took my tent and sleeping bag that was inside I wouldn’t leave anything valuable to mark it as your sight and I have T mobile and I lost service about 10 mins from the campground and had no signal while staying there

  • Asher K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2019

    Glen Falls Backcountry Campground

    Ranger Review: Red Ledge Free Rein Jacket at Glen Falls Backcountry

    Campground Review:

    There are two ways to access this campsite and one definitely requires significantly more sweat (that’s the route we took). The backcountry site is located near the far trailhead at Glen Falls located at the end of a forestry road. We hiked in from the trailhead that most people use to access the falls and continued down the trail past the typical turnaround point until you reach the bottom of the valley. The site is on the nicer side for a backcountry campground as it is level and has multiple areas for tents along with a large fire pit surrounded by logs for sitting on. The main advantage of this site over others in the area is that it is located on the inside of a curve in the river so the creek surrounds almost the entire site giving easy access to water and a relaxing sound to help you sleep at night. The hike down from the upper trailhead is relatively steep and involves going down many (many) stairs but is well worth it for the views of Glen Falls. This is a well-traveled and also well cared for route and we saw many other hikers while we were there. However, most people do not make it all the way down to this site so you will most likely find a significant amount of privacy if you plan on camping here. Since it is National Forest you will have no issues with camping just make sure to follow leave no trace practice and keep your fire under control. I would also highly recommend a dip in the cool waters to help with the heat during the middle of the summer. Overall, this is a beautiful secluded campsite very close to Highlands that provides both tranquility and also some strenuous hiking.

    ...........................

    ****Product Review:** **

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products while out adventuring. At this campground, I stayed dry using the Red Ledge Free Rein Jacket. After multiple rainy hikes and wet campground days some of my favorite features are:

    1. Dryness (obviously): Although it is the main purpose of a raincoat I still want to mention that this design is highly effective at keeping you dry. Not only is the material incredibly water-resistant and all seams are well sealed but it also has a dual closure system in the front to keep every last drop of water away from your body. I also know that this effectiveness will last since my wife has been using a Red Ledge raincoat for many years and only recently did it need a fresh waterproofing treatment. The small touches like a multi-cinching hood and velcro wrist straps make this an incredibly effective raincoat.
    2. Breathability: Where I am hiking in the south breathability is just as important as waterproofing since the heat will often cause you to become wetter from sweat than anything the rain can do. I found that this raincoat although still being hot was significantly more breathable than others I have used with the same rain protection. It has huge armpit zipper openings and several large mesh pockets that can be opened to increase airflow. The only negative I found was that the sizes for men run slightly smaller than usual so the tightness decreased airflow. However, this can be easily solved by getting a size larger than your usual. 
    3. Color Options: One of the things that often frustrates me about men's hiking clothing and gear is that the colors are typically boring and flat. They stick to dull greens and blues or grays and blacks. But not these raincoats! They come in bright reds and greens and many other color options to fit your individual personality. This was a big plus for me and is important if you want to be seen while hiking in areas that allow hunting or don't want to get lost from your hiking partner in a torrential downpour. 

    Overall, for the very reasonable price of these raincoats, they are incredibly effective and comfortable and I would highly recommend seriously considering them for your next raincoat purchase.

  • Tony F.
    Aug. 7, 2020

    Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites

    Very nice, great location

    Really isn't much to this campsite. Right off the road, the short couple yards dirt road entrance to the campsite had a couple big pot holes that requires accurate driving around, but the campsite had at least three spots for seclusion for both tent camping and car camping, which I did. Also, there's a little trail to a waterfall after you go down the old logging road and follow the path across the creek. Very short, very easy about 0.5 mile or less from the creek. Also, very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway makes it a great spot.

  • Kevin S.
    Jun. 4, 2021

    Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites

    Great overnighter

    Good place for me to overnight, there are no facilities, the entrance is a bit hidden google maps will get you very close look for the small tent sign on your right when headed away from the parkway my nv200 did not have a problem navigating but watch the potholes

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2024

    Paint Creek Corridor

    Paint Creek Dispersed Camping

    The national forest service website says there are dispersed camping site throughout the corridor; however, I was only able to locate one and luckily it was vacant. There are several spots along the road that may have been for dispersed camping as some point but are now clearly marked with no camping signs. I did enjoy my stay here but I’m a little disappointed in the website saying there were multiple sites … i has to drive almost 4 hours to get there and would have been super disappointed if I arrived to no spots. Also a lot of trash in the area of the site sadly.

  • Sara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 22, 2025

    Mountain Rest Mountain Top

    Great but lower your expectations

    We arrived pretty late, close to midnight after hitting a lot of traffic traveling from Fl. The coordinates took us directly here, and upon first arriving we did see a campsite to the left which was being used. Continuing on for about another twenty minutes down a one-way gravel road we did not see anymore sites until the end of the road which has a beautiful sunrise view. There are hundreds of downed trees, I am assuming from Hurricane Helene. Which were chopped up, perfect for a firering.

    We went almost to the end of the road before turning around and just pulling over onto a little 'shoulder' to set up the tent for the night.

    Pros- Dead silent and relaxing Great view of the stars during early spring/late winter

    Cons- Not car accessible (road is narrow and very bumpy. 4x4 recommended but I made it down in a 2x4 fullsize pickup) Have not seen nor heard any creek despite one being in the photos.

    Definitely would come back


Guide to Balsam Grove

Dispersed camping near Balsam Grove, North Carolina offers varied sites across elevations from 2,500 to 4,000 feet within Pisgah National Forest's Appalachian hardwood ecosystem. Fall temperatures range from 40°F at night to 65°F during the day, with summer bringing frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Weather patterns shift dramatically between valley and mountain sites, requiring campers to prepare for temperature variations of up to 15°F between locations.

What to do

Explore waterfall hiking trails: At Blue Valley Dispersed Camping, campers can access nearby waterfall trails. "Great trails and people camping near were respectful," notes one camper, while another mentions there are "hiking trails near by" with "trailhead leads to waterfalls."

Morning summit views: For sunrise enthusiasts, Black Balsam Knob Dispersed Camping offers an accessible mountain-top experience. "It's an easy 20-30min hike to the top of the mountain with tall grass and a wide open view to see the sunrise and sunset!" one visitor reports. Weather conditions demand proper gear as "the clouds are amazing you are basically in them or above them."

Creek exploration: Small streams throughout the area provide natural cooling spots in summer months. A visitor at Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites notes, "there's a little trail to a waterfall after you go down the old logging road and follow the path across the creek. Very short, very easy about 0.5 mile or less from the creek."

What campers like

Natural sound barriers: Creek-adjacent sites mask noise from nearby campers and roads. A Blue Ridge Roadside camper explains, "Even if people are camping near you the stream creates a nice sound barrier so you don't really hear them. Very nice to fall asleep to the sound of the stream."

High-elevation camping experiences: Mountain summits offer distinctive camping compared to valley locations. At Black Balsam Knob, a camper advises, "expect wind gusts that are capable of snapping tent poles. There is very little wind coverage at the top of the mountain." The experience rewards with unique views where "you are basically in them or above them" regarding clouds.

Roadside convenience with backcountry feel: Upper Cove Creek offers accessible rustic camping near Balsam Grove with primitive character. "It's a tent or as I use the tree tent," notes a camper, while another describes it as "remote—you have to want to get up here but it's really easy to do once you drive it a few times."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements for access: Forest service roads demand appropriate transportation. At Wash Creek Dispersed Pull-Off, "The forest road is very bumpy and narrow, but high clearance is not needed." Similarly, at another site, a camper warns, "the dirt road to get there as well as the pull off for the campsite are rough and a bit dangerous for low/regular cars. It's doable but you should go very slow."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location. One camper at Wash Creek notes, "I have T mobile and I lost service about 10 mins from the campground and had no signal while staying there." Another reports, "No cell service (Verizon) without driving 10 minutes, and then patchy for another 10-15."

Security considerations: Some areas have reported theft issues. "While I was out picking up a few things at ingles someone came by and took my tent and sleeping bag that was inside. I wouldn't leave anything valuable to mark it as your sight," warns a Wash Creek camper. Another visitor recommends to "watch your stuff like a hawk."

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with space for exploration: Family-friendly dispersed sites often feature natural play areas. A Blue Valley camper notes their "huge site, lots of woods surrounding for kids to play and explore, right beside a gorgeous large creek."

Consider proximity to facilities: With limited amenities at most sites, plan accordingly for young campers. "No facilities" is commonly reported across sites. One visitor at 475b notes the trade-off between isolation and amenities: "Little runoff creates a creek that is nice to listen to but only deep enough to get feet in."

Secure camping supplies: Given reported theft at some locations, take precautions with camping gear. "I stayed for 2 nights and my stuff wasn't messed with when I was gone hiking even though there's a lot of foot traffic during the day," reports one camper, suggesting daytime presence is usually safe but overnight security requires attention.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions for forest roads: Most rustic camping areas near Balsam Grove limit RV access to smaller vehicles. One RVer reports, "We made it down the road in a 30' class A motorhome and made a 180 and was able to level the rig no problem and it's well off the road." Others recommend smaller setups as "It's not for big rigs, RVs, etc."

Scout before committing: Forest service roads often narrow unexpectedly. As one camper advises, "I wouldn't want to end up encountering another car" on the "very primitive gravel road. Pretty rough in some places and very narrow." Advanced scouting prevents difficult turnaround situations.

Limited hookup options: Prepare for self-contained camping without amenities. "No water, electricity, or sewer hookups" is the norm for dispersed camping in the area, requiring campers to bring all necessary supplies including water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Balsam Grove, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Balsam Grove, NC is Blue Ridge Roadside Campsites with a 3.6-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Balsam Grove, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 46 dispersed camping locations near Balsam Grove, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.