Tent camping opportunities near Collettsville, North Carolina range from rugged dispersed sites to family-friendly developed campgrounds. Located at 1,234 feet elevation, the area serves as a gateway to Pisgah National Forest with Wilson Creek's classified Wild and Scenic River running through steep forested terrain. Roads to most primitive sites require careful navigation, especially during rainy periods when creeks can rise rapidly.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: From Mortimer Campground, access two trailheads directly from the campground, including an easy hike to a small waterfall. A reviewer noted, "Beautiful, clean grounds with access to a 1/2 mile round trip hike to a waterfall on the property!"
River activities: Steele Creek Park offers water-based recreation with clear streams. A visitor shared, "The water was clear with a small beach. Friends of my went and paddled the Wilson Gorge close by. Tubed down the river, just plenty to do for a weekend trip."
Mountain biking: Brown Mountain area provides extensive trail networks. Many campers bring bikes to access more remote areas of the forest. "The road is pretty well maintained. I did see about 3 maybe 4 vault toilets. There was a creek with a decent swimming hole 2 minutes walking distance from camp," according to a recent camper.
Fall foliage viewing: Visit in October for peak color displays along forest roads. One camper at Steele Creek Park mentioned, "We had the best weekend at Steele Creek! We went the 3rd weekend in October and the fall leaf color was gorgeous!"
What campers like
Mountain views: Old NC 105 dispersed camping spots offer panoramic vistas. "Headed up the road from Lake James to find this stunning view down into the gorge from our site," shared one camper who added, "There were tons of sites all along this road continuing north all the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville Falls."
Creek-side campsites: Many sites feature running water nearby for natural sound barriers. A Steele Creek visitor commented, "A lot of the sites have water beside them. Bathrooms were clean. There is a store on property that has things you may have forgotten and a grill."
Privacy options: More secluded spots available for those willing to explore. One camper at Brown Mountain noted, "We stayed here for 12 days in the very first spot on the right, it was the most secluded and we had a bar of service near/at the picnic table."
Free camping opportunities: Multiple no-cost sites available throughout the area. "Beautiful spots well cleaned and maintained. Forest service rd is well Maintained! Handful of sights and multiple privy's," shared a visitor to Brown Mountain Roadside Campsites.
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to Brown Mountain Roadside Campsites requires driving gravel roads. A camper explained, "The road is gravel and dirt. No major potholes and easily navigable. Two cars/trucks and most likely two small to mid-sized RVs can squeeze by at the same time."
Bathroom facilities: Vault toilets available at some dispersed sites. "This campsite was a stop over for a trip out west and it was wonderful! Especially for being free. The trash was overflowing a little and the vault toilets obviously didn't smell the best," reported one candid Brown Mountain camper.
Crowding patterns: Weekends see heavy use, especially in summer and fall. "The OHV trail starts at the parking lot, which is why on weekends it gets extremely busy. I'd say I saw upwards of 25 trucks and vans in November," noted a visitor.
Water availability: Bring your own water to dispersed sites. A camper at Old NC 105 advised, "No camp sight that I could find had access to the river that runs along this road so make sure to bring plenty of bottled water."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Spacious Skies Bear Den offers dedicated children's areas. A family camper shared, "We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November. No noise issues, but it was dark by 6:30pm. May be different in the Summer. My daughter had a blast and we could keep an eye on her while we worked/played at the site."
Cabin options: Several campgrounds offer cabin rentals for families wanting more comfort. "My two teenage boys and I stayed in a 'Cozy Cabin'. They are bigger than they look in the picture. There is a countertop next to the front door and plenty of room for all of our gear," reported a Bear Den visitor.
Swimming holes: Safe water play areas available in warmer months. A Steele Creek Park visitor noted, "It was cool outside but we saw several kids playing in the creek and it looked fun. We will have to come back in the summer to enjoy the water."
Game rooms: Indoor activities available for rainy days. One Bear Den camper mentioned, "Bear den has everything from RV camp sites to a game room. There are private cabins a short walk from the camp sites."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Grandfather Campground offers various RV options. A camper advised, "We stayed up the hill, where there are three lanes of diagonal pull thru sites sloping up the hill. The sites are fairly level, long but a little narrow. Because of the slope, there isn't much 'yard' space, just a platform with a picnic table."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites at several campgrounds. "Great place to stay. Lots of permanent campers. Some sites may be difficult to back in just depending on where you are and type of camper," a Thousand Trails Green Mountain visitor observed.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate April through October. "We spent 14 nights here Oct 2020. Not one day where we disappointed. Beautiful park with full hook ups," shared a camper at Green Mountain.
Grocery access: Stock up before arriving at remote sites. A Brown Mountain camper noted, "As for groceries, there is a store diagonally across from the entrance of the forest. The Collettsville General Store is about 6 miles from the dispersed camping sites and a far better bet."
