The Uwharrie National Forest surrounding Southmont, North Carolina offers several primitive tent camping options with varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Deep Water Trail Camp in Troy stands out as a free, walk-in tent campground with sites scattered along both sides of the access road. East Morris Mountain Camp provides just three secluded tent sites on a remote fire trail, ideal for backcountry tent camping experiences. Uwharrie Hunt Camp offers six rustic tent sites for just $5 per night, with basic amenities including drinking water and pit toilets. Lake Curriher Wilderness, though slightly farther from Southmont, provides tent-only camping in a more developed setting with reservable sites.
Road conditions vary significantly between campgrounds, with several requiring high-clearance vehicles for safe access. Deep Water Trail Camp features particularly challenging access roads, with the final half-mile described as steep, rocky, and muddy. Campers report needing trucks or vehicles with good ground clearance to reach waterfront sites. Most primitive tent sites have simple rock fire rings but lack amenities like picnic tables or potable water. Tent campers must pack in all supplies, including drinking water, and pack out all trash. Pit toilets are available at some locations like Uwharrie Hunt Camp, but many sites are completely primitive. Sites typically consist of ungraded dirt or grass surfaces with minimal site preparation.
Tent campers seeking seclusion often find March and early spring offer the quietest experience. According to reviews, Deep Water Trail Camp provides excellent privacy, with one visitor noting they "stayed 3 days and 2 nights with only one other vehicle down there." The tent sites at East Morris Mountain Camp are particularly isolated, with a camper reporting they "go to the end of the road for complete privacy." Fishing opportunities abound near many tent campsites, especially those near Badin Lake and the Yadkin River. Tent-only areas typically offer better access to hiking trails than developed campgrounds, with networks of paths connecting to lakeshores and forest routes. Campers should practice proper waste disposal, as several reviews mention trash accumulation at some primitive tent sites.
"I’ve got a 13 foot pull behind. Backed in mostly but a few could be pulled in an out. Road posted 25 mph but recommend 10 mph. Was also narrow in spots. Very bumpy. Last 1/2 mile don’t go."
"It is a amazing area to visit if you are into OHV(Off Highway Vehicle) trail riding, mountain biking or hiking."
"Horse trail riding is second on the list of activities within the park judging by the number of trails."
"My husband and I took our two dogs backpacking for a weekend at Uhwarrie Park. After a long drive trying to find my husbands original spot we found a new one. Beautiful scenery."
"It’s the quietest stay we’ve had yet, and we go camping nearly every weekend. I will say, having the ADA tent site makes a huge difference."
"Very close to my home. I hike in to the remote campsite on the lake. Lots of fishermen and trash since the scum can’t seem to pick up after themselves. The cabins here are also great."
from $10 - $30 / night
"This area is popular for the Off Highway Vehicle trail systems which are open April through December."
"Too much trash left by previous campers"
"Only three sites on this little out of the way fire trail. We go to the end of the road for complete privacy. No amenities other than a fire pit."
"A nice campsite off of Tower Road with is also part of the TransAmerica Trail. It is a flat site with a with a great fire pit."
"There aren’t really any extras here but if you’re just looking for reliable water/electrical/sewer and wifi near Charlotte this is a fantastic option."
from $35 - $65 / night
from $25 - $50 / night
GuideDriving 14 1/2 hrs I was cooked called and had the most easiest booking. There was a sites available so I booked it. Needless to say I got there in the dark and a kind person helped me to my site and got me backed in. Soo exhausted I hooked up electric only hit the bed passed out
ScoutGreat location , clean bathhouse
GuideStopped here after our fiasco with holly bluff. Beautiful campground with trees. Very quiet during the day and peaceful. The only thing we found curious was the vehicle in and right back out activity between 10:30-pm and 1am back and forth to campers that were long term stays. Made nighttime hard to sleep in site 3 with vehicles back and forth for hours .
GuideStopped in to get a spot for a few nights nights because it said they had available rv spots Unfortunately they didn’t know which end was up and tried to squeeze us into a spot that might have hookups that maybe worked but they couldn’t be sure. It was a joke. We left after waiting several minutes waiting while they were looking for a place to maybe squeeze us in because we had a small camper. No thanks. Would not recommend staying here til they get there act together
ScoutThis is not a resort type campground. It is a place for people to bring old campers to live full time and long term. The electric and water utilities are original from the 50's and there are constant problems with both. There is a lot of unrecognized potential because the owners do not reinvest any money into anything for the campground.
ScoutLooking for a nice place for a camping getaway? We highly recommend checking out the Deep River Campground in Asheboro, NC. The location itself is beautiful. It is literally on the Deep River and features a hiking trail that runs along the river past the remnants of a historical damn, where a small area of rapids gently swirls around the big rocks spanning the river. There’s also a large lake with a nice grassy expanse for picnics, playing games or just lazing around lakeside. This campground has been around for a while, but it has new owners now and they are breathing some for real new life into the place. They have already made lots of repairs and improvements, and you can see more in progress. There are sites for RVs with all the hook-ups, and great primitive sites for tent camping, several located right on the river. If you don’t have an RV and sleeping on the ground doesn’t spark joy, they have a few small rustic but nicely-appointed cabins. You’ll find two pools, several covered picnic shelters, a playground for the small ones, and several options for older kids and adults to play, like a horseshoe pit and a nice game room. They also have planned activities like movie nights and weiner roasts most evenings to entertain and create community among campers. They are pet friendly and have their own pet mascots on site— a flock of ducks including beautifully colored teals and mallards. We were just there for 2 nights, but I have a good feeling we’ll be visiting there again soon. Definitely worth a visi
RangerWas a monthly Camper when I came in to the campground. Nobody was cleaning the men’s room. No one was trying to collect the fall leaves. This is an old run down campground. I cleaned the men’s room for free because there was no staff to clean. I regret helping the owner for free on multiple occasions.
TravelerThis is/was marked as dispersed camping but this is primarily an OHV area, with a shooting range nearby that can be heard from some campsites. Most, if not all, of the campsites are intended to be large group sites. The empty site we found was filled with trash, discarded tents, air mattresses, and trashed electronics from OHVs. There's so much trash we would not even be able to take it all out with us if we wanted to. This may be a national forest, but it is not peace and quiet as one would expect from "dispersed and primitive" camping.
GuideThere was other people camping and running their generators all night. Some low lifers on ATV blasted in and out of the parking area and blasting music at 2 am. Good luck getting any sleep here. But enjoyed the trail to it and the forest. Got at least 2 hours of sleep before I packed up.
Tent camping near Southmont, North Carolina offers primitive camping opportunities throughout the Uwharrie National Forest at elevations ranging from 350 to 1,000 feet. The forest's 51,000 acres feature mixed hardwood forests with pine stands and small streams feeding into the Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers. Fall and early spring camping provides moderate temperatures in the 50-70°F range with notably less competition for the limited primitive sites.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide direct water access for fishing. At Deep Water Trail Camp, one camper reported catching "channel cats" including "one enormous female catfish we released because she had eggs on board." The camp provides river access for bank fishing within walking distance of campsites.
Wildlife observation: The Uwharrie forests support diverse wildlife populations year-round. At Uwharrie Hunt Camp, campers can explore hiking trails around the lake where one visitor noted: "It is very quiet and enjoyable. Hung my hammocks from nearby trees and slept very well. Doing a little scouting for the upcoming hunting season."
Rock collecting: The Uwharrie Mountains contain significant mineral deposits accessible to campers. One visitor to Deep Water Trail Camp mentioned: "The big pieces of quartz we found were gorgeous, and so was the view at the water!"
Off-season solitude: March through early April offers the quietest camping experience with minimal crowds. A camper at Lake Curriher Wilderness noted: "It's the quietest stay we've had yet, and we go camping nearly every weekend." Another camper at Uwharrie Hunt Camp described it as "FREE. large size nobody else here in March but I'm sure as summer rolls around it fills up more."
Budget-friendly options: Most primitive sites in the area are either free or low cost. Uwharrie Hunt Camp costs just $5 per night and includes basic amenities. One camper was pleasantly surprised, writing: "$5 per night...What? What?" noting that the "campground is a quaint" area with "only 6 sites."
Waterfront locations: Many campers value sites directly adjacent to water. At Deep Water Trail Camp, a visitor explained: "We stayed at a campsite next to the river bend, not on the actual Deep Water Trail, because it got super bumpy & didn't want to damage our car. But it gave us a nice path downward to get to the Yadkin River."
Vehicle clearance requirements: Many primitive camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. At Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp, a camper warned: "I would highly recommend 4WD if you're going all the way to the water sites. I attempted in my van and made it down to a sweet spot, but was stuck in the mud." Road conditions worsen after rain.
Limited facilities: Most primitive sites lack basic amenities. One camper at Deep Water Trail Horse Camp noted a "Rough road in. Too much trash left by previous campers." Bring trash bags and pack out all waste as garbage service is not available at most primitive sites.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between sites. At Deep Water Trail Horse Camp, a camper reported: "Cell service is about 1 bar for Verizon and ATT" which may be important for emergency communications or work requirements.
Safety precautions: Scout campsites before bringing children. A Lake Curriher Wilderness camper mentioned: "The gates close at 5pm during the fall/winter. Slightly around that time, the retired police chief came around to introduce himself and give his cell number. He is just up the street and was kind to offer this for extra safety."
Pet-friendly options: Most primitive sites allow pets with proper management. At East Morris Mountain Camp, visitors can find "Only three sites on this little out of the way fire trail" where many bring dogs due to the seclusion.
Water recreation: Many campgrounds offer swimming and wading opportunities. One camper at Deep Water Trail Camp mentioned: "We brought our two pups & they had a blast playing & laying in the water!" Supervise children closely as areas lack lifeguards or designated swimming zones.
Site selection for small trailers: Most primitive sites accommodate small trailers only. At Yates Family Camping, a camper noted: "There aren't really any extras here but if you're just looking for reliable water/electrical/sewer and wifi near Charlotte this is a fantastic option." This provides a more developed alternative when primitive camping isn't suitable.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping requires additional preparation. One Yates Family Camping visitor reported: "Well not much here, no office or bathrooms. Water and electric and a dump station." During colder months, RVers should verify which facilities remain operational.
Backup plans: Have alternative sites ready if primary destinations prove inaccessible. At Deep Water Trail Camp, a camper advised: "Like the one review above said the drive down/up is a little sketchy but if your vehicle doesn't sit super low you should be able to make it with only a couple minor bottom outs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Southmont, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Southmont, NC is Deep Water Trail Camp with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Southmont, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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