Best Tent Camping near Hays, NC
Tent campsites near Hays, North Carolina offer a mix of primitive and established options in the Blue Ridge Mountain region. Basin Cove Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway provides walk-in tent sites that require a one-mile hike from the parking area. Blue Bear Mountain Camp in nearby Todd features spacious tent sites with varying levels of seclusion, while Self Sufficient Holler offers unique tent camping experiences including suspended tree tents. Dusty Trails Outfitters in Crumpler provides riverfront tent camping with basic amenities along the New River.
Most tent-only sites in the area feature fire rings and primitive facilities. Basin Cove requires campers to filter their own water from nearby streams, as no clean water source is available on site. Many campgrounds provide pit toilets or portable facilities, but lack showers or running water. Blue Bear Mountain Camp maintains clean bathhouses, though the access road requires careful navigation. A camper noted, "When they say that 4WD is recommended, they aren't joking. The road back into the camp is long and VERY rough." Walk-in tent sites often require carrying all gear from parking areas, sometimes up to a mile on established trails.
The region's tent camping experiences vary from riverside settings to mountain meadows. Sites at Basin Cove are well-spaced for privacy, with each featuring wood log seats and food storage lockers. The surrounding area offers excellent hiking trails, making it an ideal base camp for day hikes. Tent campers at Dusty Trails enjoy riverfront sites with private portable toilets and hand-washing stations. During summer months, fireflies create spectacular natural light displays at riverside campsites. One visitor described the experience at Blue Bear Mountain Camp: "The campsites are very spaced out. The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat." Most tent areas provide good tree cover for shade and protection from elements, with many sites situated near creeks or rivers for ambient sound and water access.