Dispersed camping near Valdese, North Carolina offers sites primarily in the Pisgah National Forest area. At elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet, these primitive camping areas feature varied terrain from riverside flats to mountain ridges. Weather conditions change quickly in this region, with summer temperatures typically 10-15 degrees cooler than in Valdese proper.
What to do
Swimming spots: Explore Upper Creek's natural swimming holes. A visitor noted, "There's a walking trail at the end of the road about 100 feet from our site, that had the best swimming hole at the end of it, where you can jump in. It has a couple small waterfalls to add to the ambience."
Hiking opportunities: Visit Linville Gorge Wilderness for moderate to challenging trails. "We hiked down to the gorge and also enjoyed the dispersed camping available right along the riverside, which was pretty cool but... that hike back up is a DOOZY especially with a pack on," reports one camper.
Fishing access: Try trout fishing in mountain streams. According to one visitor at Pisgah National Forest Dispersed, "The fishing there is absolutely beautiful and the trout are pretty plentiful up there."
Scenic drives: Take forest roads through mountain terrain. "There were a couple of good washouts in the road, so 4WD or AWD would be recommended but maybe not required," advises a camper about access routes.
What campers like
Secluded sites: Steele Creek offers creek-side camping with privacy. A camper shared, "This is my favorite spot in the pisgah national forest. I have stayed at all the free campsites around and left my review for each. This is by far the quietest, nicest, cleanest site yet!"
Mountain views: Find panoramic vistas from ridge campsites. A visitor to Old NC 105 Dispersed wrote, "Old NC 105 is a dirt road which goes on for miles with views both sides. Camping spots are available all along the road some with better views than others. Some spots are very shaded deep into the trees while others afford superb views of the gorge."
Water sounds: Enjoy camping beside flowing water. "Spent two nights here at a site right next to the creek, which was awesome listening to the running water as you fall asleep," notes a camper at Upper Creek.
Fire rings: Most sites have established fire rings. "There are plenty of sites to pick from all along the creek, all of which appear to be well maintained, each with a fire ring," reports a Steele Creek visitor.
What you should know
Road conditions: Access varies widely by location and weather. A visitor to Old NC 105 - Dispersed Camping observed, "I went solo camping for 5 days and stayed at the overlook, got really lucky finding my spot in the middle of the night but nonetheless, I drove the whole road South end to North in my fwd sedan."
Weekend crowds: Popular sites fill quickly Friday through Sunday. "Traffic wasn't bad through the week but weekend it was busy. The next site up had over 25 cars and they were partying pretty loud," reported a camper.
Limited facilities: Plan to pack out all trash and waste. As one camper noted, "The sites are pretty spread out but there are a few within shouting distance (which could be annoying if the site next to you decides to bring a battery powered Sawzall to cut firewood at 2am)."
Water availability: Bring sufficient water or filtering equipment. "Biggest con for me is I use a pump filter to fill up water no camp sight that I could find had access to the river that runs along this road so make sure to bring plenty of bottled water," warns one camper.
Tips for camping with families
Easy access sites: Choose locations with shorter approach roads. "Several dispersed camping sites where you can easily park a vehicle. There are several along Roses Creek road and along New Ginger Cake road," advises a visitor.
Creek play areas: Select spots with gentle water access. A camper at Victor Road Dispersed reported, "Great place by Blue Ridge Pkwy. Not very far off Pkwy, we had no problem getting there with our Artic Fox truck camper and pulling a Jeep. Stayed next to a creek at the end."
Trash monitoring: Scan sites for glass and debris before setting up. "The site is very clean other than some glass that I've been picking up," mentioned a camper at Steele Creek.
Space considerations: Look for multi-vehicle sites for group camping. "This has enough room for two cars and a four person tent at most. I have a three person tent and it covered most of the flat pad area," noted one visitor describing site dimensions.
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions: Most dispersed areas accommodate smaller rigs only. A camper observed, "Maybe I missed this in the reviews, but all but 1 site were best for tents. I drove in to camp in my car and there was only 1 spot, which is by the creek crossing, and it was already taken."
Surface conditions: Inspect sites for levelness before committing. A visitor noted, "This site had plenty of room however. My mistake was not paying attention to where the runoff was. This morning I had a small stream running through my camp."
Turnaround space: Check for adequate maneuvering room. One camper at National Forest Road/Steele Creek advised, "The terrain is definitely rough but cars, trucks and vans can get down there just not RVs. Know that there is no signal when you are out there."
