Cabin camping near Black Mountain, North Carolina offers access to over 67 miles of hiking trails with elevations ranging from 2,400 to 5,700 feet. The area sees approximately 55 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forests and numerous streams throughout the camping regions. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during the day and drop to 60-65°F at night, making cabin camping comfortable even without air conditioning at many locations.
What to do
Hike to waterfalls: 3 miles from Black Mountain Campground. The hiking trail to Roaring Fork Falls is a relatively easy half-mile walk on a former forestry service road. According to a visitor at Curtis Creek Campground, "Beautiful country with creek nearby and multiple trails of varying lengths and difficulty are easily accessible. Love this part of the forest!"
Fish in the South Toe River: Available directly from campsites. The river runs alongside many camping areas and offers good trout fishing opportunities. A camper at Black Mountain Campground noted, "While camping here there's a creek that runs along the campground and many trails to explore. From here you can climb 4000ft to the summit of Mt Mitchell. It's a great, challenging hike with many rewards along the way."
Visit the North Carolina Arboretum: 15 minutes from Lake Powhatan. This 434-acre public garden features numerous cultivated gardens and miles of hiking and biking trails. A visitor mentioned, "The campground is 15 minutes from downtown Asheville and 5 minutes from the North Carolina arboretum."
What campers like
Private bathrooms with individual shower rooms: $2 for non-campers. Many campgrounds in the area offer private bathroom facilities rather than communal ones. A camper at Lake Powhatan shared, "Bathrooms are clean and there's hot showers. Firewood and ice are available for purchase by the gate. There's a good amount of trails to hike at and the lake is good for fishing."
Riverside cabin sites: Available at multiple campgrounds. Many cabins are positioned along rivers or creeks, providing natural white noise for sleeping. A visitor to Hickory Nut Falls Family Campground commented, "We hungout all night enjoying its ambiance and the moonlight shines. Following day we brought down a speaker and just hungout and stayed cool in the shallower rapids."
Mountain-top cabin views: Best at sunset. Several campgrounds offer cabins situated on ridge tops with panoramic views. According to a camper at Campfire Lodgings, "My favorite place at the campground is an outdoor area overlooking the French Broad River. There are picnic tables, and if you take your comfortable chair, you could sit there for hours looking at the view."
What you should know
Cell service is limited in mountain locations: Many campgrounds have no signal. A visitor to Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground advised, "When we were checking in, there was a sign at the front desk saying we couldn't leave our dog in our camper, which was a surprise. They need to post this rule on their website and in the terms and conditions they make you accept prior to arrival."
Bear safety is essential: Store food properly and follow camp rules. A camper warned, "This campground DOES have bears who visit the campground for food. There are no bear boxes provided... Anything square apparently, so store everything in your car."
Access roads can be challenging: Some campgrounds require navigating steep or narrow roads. One visitor noted, "The road to get to the campground made me nervous, but once there, I could have stayed for weeks! The creek is right beside the campsites, and easily accessed by steps."
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with swimming areas: Natural water features are popular with kids. A visitor to Rutledge Lake RV Resort shared, "We had a great stay! We had spot #10 water front. It had plenty of space for the 5 of us and 2 dogs. Nice gravel level sites."
Consider cabin camping for rainy weather: Spring and summer bring afternoon thunderstorms. One camper mentioned, "The tent sites all have a tent pad, camp ring, trash can, and picnic table provided. This site had a bit more privacy than others we saw and was on the other side of the property from the RV area, which also included a playground, bathrooms, showers, and small store."
Bring fishing gear for kids: Most waterfront campgrounds allow fishing without licenses for children under 16. A visitor reported, "There is a swimming hole on the South Toe River in the campground just beyond the end of the riverside sites. It has a small sandy 'beach' area and a neck deep refreshing hole."
Tips from RVers
Reserve premium sites for the best views: Hillside locations often have better scenery. An RVer mentioned, "We stayed at the premium sites on top. The views are terrific, the sites have adequate space and the campground is very well maintained. If you are looking for a campground near Asheville where you can relax after a long day then this fits the bill well."
Be cautious of narrow bridges and entrance roads: Some campgrounds have challenging access points. A camper warned, "BE ALERT TO TURN WIDE WHEN TURNING INTO THIS CAMPGROUND. VERY NARROW BRIDGE FROM THE MAIN ROAD MAKING IT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO TURN INTO THE OTHER LANE FOR LONGER RIGS."
Check on winter water restrictions: Some campgrounds turn off water during freezing temperatures. An RVer noted, "In addition, we found out after we arrived that due to the temps we were not supposed to use the water connections. We found it to be to be an extremely expensive reservation, especially given the inability to use the hookups we had purchased."
