3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Pisgah National Forest Wash Creek Horse Camp provides specialized facilities for equestrians with horses. Located at 1600 Pisgah Highway in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, this established campground features drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables, and toilets. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with drive-in access. Horse owners note the campground's rustic setting offers a true escape from civilization with no cell service available. Individual sites along the river provide privacy while still maintaining access to equestrian amenities. The campground remains open year-round for horse camping.
Harmon Den Horse Campground in Pisgah National Forest connects riders to an extensive network of horse trails. The campground requires advance reservations to obtain an access code for the entry gate, ensuring security for horse owners and their animals. Spacious campsites accommodate horse trailers and provide areas to secure horses overnight. Cold Springs Creek runs alongside the campground, offering water access for horses after trail rides. The nearby Max Patch, accessible via connecting trails, provides spectacular mountain views for day rides. Horse manure management is an important consideration as reviewers note evidence of previous equine visitors throughout the camping areas. South Mountains State Park also offers an equestrian campground with clean bathrooms, air conditioning, and creek access for horses.
"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 location can’t be beat. Nestled between Asheville and Brevard, close to Pisgah NF and Sierra Nevada brewing! We loved the access to fishing here, even though we didn’t catch anything."
Available this weekend
from $31 - $62 / night
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $30 / night
"bit of a drive through the forest to get here, but great spots if you're looking to get away from civilization."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 / night
"It’s a 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground."
"A little below where we set up camp, we found a natural spring for water and theres a decent amount of firewood around. We parked at the top of Mt."
"*this is just for the free campsites- there appears to be paid campsites and maybe RV hook ups very close by."
"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"
Available this weekend
from $30 - $900 / night
from $125 - $149 / night
"Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room."
"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."
"This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
GuideMother nature is amazing and helps relieve stress from the ones who never deserved to be around you to take and cover it up. So I'll run to God's beauty, and enjoy my fire at the same time. Come on baby light my fire! ;)
GuideThis location can’t be beat. Nestled between Asheville and Brevard, close to Pisgah NF and Sierra Nevada brewing! We loved the access to fishing here, even though we didn’t catch anything. The streams were pristine, the campground very well kept and the hosts were kind. And our dog obviously loved it!
GuideHave camped here before. Very quiet campground.
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutThe camp host was unprofessional, rude, and threatened to call the sheriffs department because he said we were talking too loud. We were not loud and are filing a complaint. We have been coming here for years but will not pay to be treated this way.
ScoutThe camp hosts here are very attentive and clean the bathrooms daily. The river is stocked and also has native rainbow trout exceeding 20 inches. Some fly-fishermen showcased their trophy catches while we stayed here. There are full hookup spots and no-hookup spots. If you want more than 1-2 days, make sure you book online, as the hosts will point you to the website for longer stays. Beautiful and serene river with large swimming pools. The trout are stocked in addition to native, so call in and track the schedule for best results. Catch and release only - no bait.
ScoutFR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you are caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out. The water system is also destroyed as well as the road network in the campground. There have been no announcements by the Forest Service about plans to repair the facility and, after a year, my guess is that there never will be.
GuideThis place is nice. It is in the middle of nowhere. Since there were reported construction delays on I 40, I took the alternative route offered by google maps. Do not go that way. The roads were very bad and when I was 1 mile from making one of my last two turns, the road was closed. I went around the signs and came to an area of the road washed out by the hurricaine. They was a crew working on the road. I asked if I could get through to make my turn a mile ahead and a very nice fellow said I could, but at my own risk. I had barely enogh room to drive my van past the washed out area that was about 500 feet above a river with a sheer drop. The gate to this camp is locked but they email you the combination with your booking confirmation. The lock is a little hard to open. You have to pull and push on it once you have the right numbers dialed in. There is a horse camp here to the right at an intersection, the regular campground is to the left. Very nice picnic tables in the sites . I believe there is a trash dump here someplace, but have not looked for it yet. You need to be self contained to camp out here. The nice thing is , the camp is at 3144 feet in elevation according to my altimiter app so it is nice and cool. If not for the picnic table and trash dump, this would be about the same as a dispersed camping area. Price was good, $7.50/night with lifetime pass. A very remote campground but it is very, very quiet, at least it was last night which was a Thursday.
Scoutbig plus on the clean facilities(a must after a long hike😅) and the South Toe River sounds like a perfect spot to relax. I don’t mind the lack of cell service— sometimes it’s nice to truly unplug. Definitely adding this to my shortlist!
https://3pattishowy.net/
North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest and surrounding areas offer designated equestrian camping sites at elevations ranging from 1,400-3,000 feet. The South Toe River watershed provides water access for horses at several sites, while mountain trails connect to multi-use paths throughout Pisgah's 500,000+ acres. Seasonal closures affect some horse trails from November through March.
Fly fishing access points: North Mills River Campground connects to multiple fishing spots. "This is a great campsite if you like fishing! We stayed here and were close to some amazing spots to fish! The campsite was great, not very crowded," shares Natalie M.
Summit Mount Mitchell: The tallest peak east of the Mississippi is accessible from Black Mountain Campground. "From here you can climb 4000ft to the summit of Mt Mitchell. It's a great, challenging hike with many rewards along the way," notes David M.
Wildlife viewing: Cataloochee Campground offers prime elk watching opportunities. "Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, you can drive about a mile, and sometimes less, to see elk and lots of them," says Myron C.
Off-grid experience: Many campers appreciate the lack of connectivity at horse camps. "We were the only campers there. It was very quiet. The stream ran right by the campsite so listening to the stream as we went to bed was wonderful," reports Julie T. about North Mills River.
Clean facilities: South Mountains State Park equestrian area maintains excellent restrooms. "Cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!! The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent, and lewve us plenty of room for our kitchen setup and room around the fire pit," explains Erica F.
Mountain solitude: Paradise Ridge Permaculture offers a rustic alternative for horse campers. "This location was amazing. We couldn't have been happier with a spot. The host was extremely gracious, there is an outdoor shower, the camp fire setup is awesome, and the animals are friendly," says Joseph S.
Limited cell service: Communication can be challenging at most equestrian sites. "No cell service (Verizon) without driving 10 minutes, and then patchy for another 10-15," explains Tavi C. about Mills River Dispersed.
Water access varies: Not all horse camps provide drinking water for animals. Always bring backup supply during dry periods.
Reservation requirements: Some equestrian sites require advance booking. Cataloochee needs planning due to limited availability: "The campground requires reservations to obtain an access code for the entry gate."
Road conditions: Access roads to horse camps can challenge large trailers. "The road is quite the trip just in a car, and I can't imagine driving a large RV on it. There are two approach roads," advises a Cataloochee visitor.
Kid-friendly water access: South Mountains State Park offers creek-side sites ideal for children. "We camped at the family camping area, it was great, we had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it!" shares Jessica L.
Educational experiences: Historical structures provide learning opportunities. "There are historical homesteads, a school, a church, barns, old houses, etc."
Park gates close: Plan evening activities accordingly. "Gates to the park are locked up at 9pm so there's no getting in or out late at night."
Bring backup activities: With limited cell service, pack games and activities for children during downtime between trail rides.
Site size constraints: RV sites at equestrian campgrounds typically accommodate smaller rigs. "Though many campsites will accommodate large rigs, motorhomes over 32' and trailers over 25' in length are not recommended due to the access road."
Backup power essential: Generator restrictions apply at most sites. "No electricity, so if you need to charge your battery, you'll need to have a generator."
Limited hookup options: Most equestrian sites lack full hookups. "A few have electric" but water and sewer connections are rare at horse-focused campgrounds.
Consider proximity to horse areas: Choose sites that allow easy access between RV and horse containment areas for monitoring animals overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gerton, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gerton, NC is North Mills River with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gerton, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 30 equestrian camping locations near Gerton, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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