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Bent River Equestrian provides horse-friendly camping accommodations near Flat Rock, North Carolina with tent and RV sites available. The campground offers outdoor shower facilities, toilets, and areas for campfires. Horse owners appreciate the ability to pet and interact with the resident horses and barn cats while maintaining privacy between camping groups. Well-behaved dogs are permitted off-leash in designated areas, though leashing may be required when near the horses. The campground features fire pits and clean portable toilet facilities that serve the camping area.
North Mills River Campground offers additional equestrian camping options with access to horse trails nearby. Located within Pisgah National Forest, the campground provides both reservable and first-come, first-served sites in both open fields and shaded areas. The pristine river that runs through the property serves as both a scenic feature and recreation opportunity. Campers can access horseback riding trails directly from the campground with trailer parking available. The grounds include picnic tables, drinking water, and toilets with a shower facility in the back loop. The campground's location provides convenient access to both Brevard and Asheville while maintaining a natural forest setting. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak seasons, as the campground's popularity among equestrians, anglers, and mountain bikers means sites fill quickly.
"Small campground, but there are free off road sites not too far down the road. Cell service disappears but I love that kind of disconnect."
"This is a great campground next to the beautiful North Mills River. Hosts were very accommodating and delivered ice and firewood for a cheap price upon request."
from $31 - $62 / night
Check Availability"I got there just in time to see a beautiful sunset and say hello to the horses. The host is fantastic. I would definitely stay again."
"Cute horses and barn cats to pet and watch"
from $30 - $900 / night
Check Availability"My friend and I hiked the Raven Cliff Falls loop trail a while back and have added it to our list of top 10 favorite trails."
"Wonderful trails with breath taking views and technical climbs plus discrete camping."
from $4 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Chickens and horses on site. Playground and lots of fun. Sites are wooded and quaint. Roads are a little narrow, but passable. One of our favorite sites."
"We fished right next to our camp site and then relaxed with a camp fire listening to the sound of the River."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"bit of a drive through the forest to get here, but great spots if you're looking to get away from civilization."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"*this is just for the free campsites- there appears to be paid campsites and maybe RV hook ups very close by."
"She showed us around the grounds which has horses, pigs, chickens, a natural spring, and fruits/vegetables/mushrooms growing around the property."
"I have cleaned out about an acre for tent or hammock camping, another acre for shared areas, and the pasture has about an acre wide open for dogs, horses or other well mannered animals."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."
"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $30 / night
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LegendNot the biggest fan of the Gatlinburg/Tennesse part of the park. The North Carolina part has a slightly different feel. Less of a circus and less crowded and more laid back. Loving it! Beautiful. Just wish there were showers here....lol.
LegendRanger Review: Eclipse Sun Sleeves at Harmon Den Area(Pisgah National Forest) https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=70836
There are a few dispersed camping sites at Harmon’s Den, and they are spacious sanctuaries beside Cold Springs Creek. Harmon Den is in Pisgah National Forest, and dispersed camping is allowed but only where there is a camping symbol posted along Cold Springs Creek Road. To get to the campsite, you have to get off on Exit 7 along Interstate 40 in North Carolina and travel a gravel road for several miles. You will not want to drive too fast since there are several potholes, washboards, and protruding rocks in the road. At the campsite, there is a fire ring, but there are no other facilities such as bathrooms, showers, electricity, running water, trash cans, camp store, firewood for sale, campground hosts, etc. It is pretty much just a space for camping. With that said, it offers all the exciting activities that national forests offer, such as fishing, biking, hiking, etc. Harmon Den is mostly known as a horse camp, although car camping without horses is a common occurrence. When I was there, I passed by a couple of car campers that did not have horses. I did see a few vehicles with horse trailers pass by on the road. Because it is a popular horse camping area, you have to watch where you step. At our campsite, there was horse poop in several places, and I had to watch my grandson closely so he didn’t step in a pile of horse manure. Expect to encounter horse flies as well. There was also lots of poison ivy, so that was another concern I had about my grandson running freely. Since there are no bathrooms, practicing LNT(Leave No Trace) is important. Unfortunately, there was lots of trash, but that was a teachable moment for my grandson, and we definitely left the campsite better than what we found it. Before it gets dark, make sure you know where you are going to take care of business when you have to get up in the middle of the night. That way, you can avoid stepping in the wrong place. There were also quite a few people fishing in the creek on the way to the campsite since the creek is a popular place for trout fishing. As a matter of fact, a wildlife officer came through our camp with a fishnet full of trout to stock the creek. She asked us if we brought our fishing poles. Unfortunately, that’s one thing I didn’t take camping with me. What was I thinking? Even with the horse poop and the poison ivy, it’s a great area for camping if you like solitude and the sounds of the creek throughout the night. Another reason to camp at Harmon Den is to visit Max Patch while you are there. I would suggest staying at least two nights so you can spend one day just enjoying Max Patch. It is a large mountain bald over which the Appalachian Trail crosses. I have been there in the past when people are having picnics, flying kites, or just lying on a blanket enjoying the magnificent scenery. If you go at the right time of year, one of the trails up to Max Patch will take you by wild blueberries and blackberries. As I stated earlier, the campsites are spacious, and it felt very peaceful just being there.
Product Review:
As a Dyrt Ranger I get to occasionally try out outdoor products while camping and this trip I brought Eclipse Sun Sleeves(https://eclipseglove.com/)..) As a stem cell transplant survivor from stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I can never be in the sun without adequate protection for the rest of my life. That’s why Eclipse clothing is perfect for me. Even in the middle of the summer, I have had to wear long sleeves and a broad-brimmed hat. I had earlier written a review for the Eclipse shawl, but with the Eclipse Sun Sleeves, I can finally wear my short sleeve shirts again. Since I love the outdoors and have some cool t-shirts, all I have to do is put on my sun sleeves and I am protected. The only thing I could see that might need improving would be to figure out how to keep the upper part to stay up. It wasn’t that much of a problem, and I don’t how the company could solve it, but overall, the sun sleeves are great. I would further like to say that because of sun sleeves, those who are allergic to the sun have one less excuse not to go outdoors in the sun..
LegendEven though the sites are walk-in sites, when I was there it was pretty crowded since the sites are close together. At night, you can hear the distant sounds of the creek … if the other campers can stop talking. This is not a campground for RVs. There are no hookups and there are no places for RVs to park. The thing I like best about this campground is its proximity to the Appalachian Trail and several other trails, including the Benton MacKaye Trail. Midnight Hole, which is a 1.5 mile hike, is a great place to cool off. Once you get there, you can swim to a big rock and jump off into a natural pool. I believe this is the same place I took Boy Scouts many, many years ago and they loved it. You just have to be careful because it is deep and COLD. The trail to Mount Cammerer is quite strenuous, but the view is worth it. Other than the great trails, the other attraction is the whitewater rafting. There are a few outfitters just over the state line, and they shuttle rafters to the starting point beside the power station. The one I used was NOC. When I first came here years ago, I thought the river looked low, but by the time we put our raft in, the river was raging. I think the most fun, besides the rafting, at this campground is playing on the rocks in the creek. There is also a group camping area, which is separate from the family campground. That is because they release the water just for rafting. This campground is conveniently located off of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. Once you get to the national park road leading to it, it is a 1.2 mile drive on a gravel road.
GuideSpent many weeks here over the past few years. Its a clean and well maintained park with beautiful trails and lake. Perfect for equestrian as most of the trails are horse friendly and there is a large arena free to use. The barn is clean as well and provides stall shavings for a small fee.
Scoutstate Park with equestrian facilities, a lake for fishing and boating, paddle boat rentals, and lots of liking and equestrian trails. Bath houses and dump stations. Many flat camping spaces and lots of shade. A camping store on site and many other stores within a five minute drive.
GuideSmall campground, but there are free off road sites not too far down the road. Cell service disappears but I love that kind of disconnect. No power, can use a generator but only for a few hours during non quiet time. Quiet hours strictly enforced. Horse trails nearby. Roads lead to blue ridge Parkway. There is a shower and working toilet, but also outhouse for off season use. Hosts make you feel like family.
GuideHad a nice experience here. Amber, the host, was very kind and accommodating. She showed us around the grounds which has horses, pigs, chickens, a natural spring, and fruits/vegetables/mushrooms growing around the property. The grounds are conveniently located near the city of Asheville and hiking trails. There was a shared gazebo, cozy fire pit, and cold showers. The only downside was that there wasn’t a secluded spot available for car camping, even though Amber did figure something out for us to be able to stay. Would recommend to get away from your typical campground.
LegendOne of my best friends invited me to go camping with him here, although I knew it was a horse camp and we didn’t have horses. There are lots of trails for horses, and there are places to tie up the horses. Knowing it was a horse camp, I expected there to be horse manure, but manure was everywhere—even on the tent pads. Other than that, which as I said I expected, it was a good place to camp. The sites are spacious and fairly private with woods between each site. You have to reserve in advance to get a code to get through the gate, so you don’t have curiosity seekers coming in. There was supposed to be access to water, but the only pump in the campground was not working. Fortunately, I brought water with me. There was a pit toilet, but when I first went to it, it smelled terrible and was in need of a big time cleaning. The next morning, when I went, it had been“cleaned”(if you want to call it that). My buddy and I decided to go to Max Patch, a mountain bald, a few miles up the road. Max Patch is a beautiful grassy bald with 360° views, and the Appalachian Trail runs across it. Unfortunately, it is popular. By that I mean TOO POPULAR. When we made it there, the parking lot was full, and there were cars lined up for about a half mile down the road. Having been on Max Patch before, I knew it was not going to be a pleasant experience. Overall, the campground is probably okay for horse campers except that there was no water. The pit toilet needed more attention than it was given, but it was a toilet. There’s a good chance I will not go back to this campground. It’s not that I do not recommend it in general. I just don’t recommend it if you are just camping in a tent without horses. However, I do recommend one of the dispersed camping areas not too far down the road, especially if you want to be close to Max Patch. Just don’t go in the more popular seasons.
TravelerCompared to some other state parks in SC, this one was less crowded and more peaceful. It had rained right before we arrived, and we got stuck in the mud trying to back-in our pop-up on a hill (lake campground #29). The campers all pitched in to pull us out. It was silent at night. Nice hiking around lake, fishing, and boat rental. Saw some turtles while paddling, and there were frogs and lots of fireflies near our campsite. We enjoyed seeing the equestrian visitors too.
Dispersed camping options near Flat Rock, North Carolina extend beyond established campgrounds, with several areas in Pisgah National Forest allowing backcountry camping. The region's elevation ranges from 2,100 to 3,400 feet, creating varied forest environments with numerous water features. Temperatures typically average 45-65°F in spring and fall, with summer highs reaching 85°F.
Fly fishing opportunities: The North Mills River area offers excellent trout fishing conditions. At North Mills River Campground, anglers can access prime spots directly from the campground. "We've enjoyed this campground mainly for the fly-fishing. The local Trout Unlmiited group has also spent many hours upgrading the walkways and fence lines to protect the river," notes Shannon K. The river's cool, clear waters support healthy fish populations year-round.
Waterfall hiking: Several cascades can be reached within a short drive from camping areas. The SetRock Falls trail is accessible directly from Black Mountain Campground. A short half-mile walk leads to Roaring Fork Falls from a nearby parking area. "The trail to the falls is marked by a blue diamond blaze. Its a bit of a root infested scamper, but worth it," according to a visitor.
Mountain biking: The area provides technical trails for experienced riders. Lazy J Campground serves as a convenient base camp with direct trail access. "This place is close to some good hiking and not too far from towns. They have a playground which is cool and the staff is very friendly," reports Tony E. The campground's location provides quick access to both forest trails and town amenities when needed.
River proximity: Many campsites sit directly alongside flowing water, providing both ambiance and recreation. At Mills River Dispersed, "Gorgeous lush forest and ice-cold flowing stream (in May) immediately off most camp spots" are standout features according to Tavi C. The sound of moving water creates a natural white noise for sleeping.
Off-season value: Some campgrounds offer significantly reduced rates during quieter months. "Usually starting at $22 per night, after November 1st the prices get cut in half, so I stayed for $11," reports Jonathan N. about North Mills River Campground. Facilities remain functional but may be limited during winter months.
Animal interactions: Several campgrounds allow respectful wildlife viewing and farm animal experiences. At Paradise Ridge Permaculture, visitors appreciate the working farm environment. "Amber, the host, was very kind and accommodating. She showed us around the grounds which has horses, pigs, chickens, a natural spring, and fruits/vegetables/mushrooms growing around the property," explains Taylor.
Cell service limitations: Most camping areas have limited or no connectivity. At Mills River Dispersed, expect "No cell service (Verizon) without driving 10 minutes, and then patchy for another 10-15." For those needing to stay connected, research signal availability beforehand or identify specific spots with reception.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Approximately half of North Mills River Campground closes after November 1st, with corresponding price reductions. Winter camping options exist but with reduced amenities and fewer open sites.
Road conditions: Forest service roads leading to dispersed sites can be challenging. At Upper Cove Creek - UCC1 Dispersed, visitors note "All dirt roads back here" and recommend vehicles with adequate clearance. Low-clearance passenger cars may struggle with potholes and uneven surfaces on these unmaintained access roads.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. Lazy J Campground provides a playground within the camping area, making it suitable for families with younger children who need regular activity options.
Swimming opportunities: Natural swimming holes provide cooling options during summer months. "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," notes a visitor to Black Mountain Campground.
Animal experiences for children: Bent River Equestrian offers unique opportunities for kids to interact with farm animals. "Cute horses and barn cats to pet and watch," reports Leslie. These interactions provide both entertainment and educational value for children learning about different animals.
Limited hookup options: Most equestrian camping near Flat Rock provides minimal RV amenities. Wolf Ford Horse Camp has "No running water or electricity" according to Katie M., making it suitable only for self-contained units with adequate water storage.
Site privacy considerations: At campgrounds accommodating both RVs and tents, privacy varies considerably. "We camped here as a base camp for day hikes in the area. It is very wooded, in a valley with a creek running alongside the tent camping sites," notes Kirsten J. about Lazy J Campground, highlighting how site selection impacts the camping experience.
Seasonal road challenges: Forest service roads accessing horse camping areas can become impassable after heavy rains or during winter. Research current road conditions before attempting access, particularly with larger vehicles or trailers transporting horses to equestrian-friendly campsites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Flat Rock, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Flat Rock, NC is North Mills River with a 4.3-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Flat Rock, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 equestrian camping locations near Flat Rock, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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