5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Equestrian Campground at South Mountains State Park features clean air-conditioned bathrooms and access to a beautiful creek where horses can cool off. Located in Connelly Springs, this established campground offers electric hookups with both thirty-amp and fifty-amp service for RVs, while still accommodating tent campers. The campground provides water hookups, showers, and toilets for campers, with picnic tables at each site. Sites are reservable and allow pets, making it convenient for equestrians traveling with dogs. Horses enjoy splashing in the creek that runs through the property, providing natural refreshment after trail rides. Fire rings with swing-over grates allow for cooking meals while camping.
The 23,000-acre South Mountains State Park connects riders to an extensive network of mountain trails suitable for various skill levels. Approximately 16.5 miles of mountain bike trails intermix with hiking and equestrian paths throughout the park. Riders access multiple routes directly from the campground without needing to trailer horses to trailheads. The trails offer diverse terrain through wooded areas with creek crossings. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends and holidays when the park fills quickly. The park office provides trail maps highlighting horse-permitted routes. South Mountains remains relatively unknown compared to other North Carolina equestrian destinations, offering a less crowded experience for horse enthusiasts seeking peaceful mountain camping.
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"Beautiful but crowded trails. There are equestrian trails and camping facilities. Dogs welcome. Ice cold creeps and lovely waterfalls."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $32 / night
"Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"I took my horses and grandson to camp in the equestrian campsite. The bathrooms are very clean with AC. There a beautiful creek you can ride your horses in or just play if you want."
from $12 - $27 / night
"Site 3&4 are my favorites because they are close to water access (bring a good filter). Plenty of trees to choose from for a hammock setup."
from $15 / 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
"There is a nice playground, hiking trails, a lake, canoe rental, and a trading post with some food, ice, camping supplies, firewood and souvenirs. There is also a separate Equestrian campground!"
"When not in the side, a short walk takes you to the Trading Post, a small store selling firewood ($7), ice, souvenirs, and sundries. Next to that is a large playground connected to a pavilion."
Available this weekend
"The part of the park that is best to go to is the Sparrow Springs access, some folks may not be aware that there are actually several entrances to the park, and the main entrance with trails to the Crowder"
"The trails are strenuous but views are amazing! Its definitely worth it and right outside town, not far out."
Available this weekend
from $17 - $47 / 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."
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.
LegendA quiet, easy-access campground with good site privacy and great lake views. Some site boundaries feel a bit unclear and the bathrooms can get crowded, but the location is perfect for exploring the Blue Ridge. A solid stay, especially with the RV and primitive areas kept separate.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/3NspCX_Zgnw
TravelerMost campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.
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.
ScoutProbably the second cleanest campground I had ever been to
ScoutCampground is closed due to hurricane damage.
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/
ScoutMany camping sites are very much in need of leveling. Sites slope from left to right, front to back, and some slope in both ways. Some sites are listed as RV sites but are half as large as they need to be to accommodate a medium size RV. If that wasn't enough, sites are very close to each other and there are almost no plants other than tall trees to offer any privacy. SC Park system needs to take a serious look at making improvements.
GuideI recently stayed for 3 nights with my popup in site#10. The site is a good size for a tent or small camper only. Overall we were surprised by the campground based on other reviews . In my opinion The sites are close together, poorly maintained, and most are very small. The Trading Post is nicely stocked, and open all day. The bathrooms near my site were the best part…it was modern, clean and the showers were hot with good pressure. But other than the bathrooms everything felt like it hadn’t been maintained at all. Won’t be coming back.
South Mountains State Park is the primary camping destination near Valdese, North Carolina, located approximately 30 minutes away. The park features 18,000 acres of rugged terrain with elevations up to 3,000 feet, providing campers with a variety of microclimates. Water access is abundant throughout the area's campgrounds, with the South Toe River and several mountain streams offering natural cooling during hot summer months when temperatures typically range from 75-85°F.
Hiking to waterfalls: South Mountains State Park offers multiple trails leading to waterfalls. "We had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it! Cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!!" shares Jessica L. from South Mountains State Park Family Campground.
Rock climbing: For those seeking vertical challenges, Crowders Mountain State Park provides rock climbing routes suitable for various skill levels. "I visited Crowders Mountain in December, and the weather only required a sweatshirt. My brother and I spent the day rock climbing. It was his first time climbing, and we were able to set up some beginner-friendly routes," notes Les R.
Horseback riding: Equestrian campgrounds near Valdese, North Carolina offer dedicated facilities for horse lovers. At South Mountains State Park's Equestrian Campground, Jackie S. reports, "I took my horses and grandson to camp in the equestrian campsite. The bathrooms are very clean with AC. There a beautiful creek you can ride your horses in or just play if you want."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the exceptional cleanliness of facilities near Valdese. At Black Mountain Campground, Katrin M. notes, "The bathrooms and showers are always clean and good taken care of. The camp hosts made sure several times that we had everything we needed."
River access: Many sites feature direct access to rivers or creeks. Tracy S. appreciates Black Mountain Campground's "Large smooth tent pads, great location to hiking trails, one of the cleanest bathroom/shower facility around."
Wildlife viewing: The area's biodiversity makes for excellent wildlife observation opportunities. At Julian Price Park Campground, campers can enjoy diverse habitats. Anna R. shares, "This is a great place to camp and chill by the lake. Rent canoes and kayaks on site, the showers are good although you have to drive to a different loop to access them."
No cell service: Many campgrounds in the mountains have limited or no cellular connectivity. Stephen M. from South Mountains notes, "Very quiet with NO cell service which is a big draw for us. Far from a town, so don't forget anything."
Seasonal availability: Several campgrounds operate seasonally. Kings Mountain State Park remains open year-round, though Sarah W. advises, "Great campground with clean facilities and lots of amenities. Convenient country store at the park office. Hook ups for both RVs and tent campers. Sites are very close together."
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during peak seasons. "South Mountains is a great campground. Bath facilities are new and kept clean. Rangers are helpful and will bring firewood (charge for the wood)," notes Stephen M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Valdese, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Valdese, NC is South Mountains State Park Family Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Valdese, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near Valdese, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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