Primitive camping near Zionville, North Carolina offers solitude at elevations ranging from 2,500 to 6,000 feet throughout the Appalachian Mountains. The mixed hardwood forests provide natural shelter with limited cell service in many locations—surprisingly good in spots along ridge tops and virtually nonexistent in creek valleys. The region experiences significant temperature variation between day and night, even during summer months.
What to do
Creek exploration: Upper Creek in Pisgah National Forest features multiple swimming holes along a two-mile gravel forest road. "A two mile long gravel road that parallels with a beautiful river with a bunch of pull offs to camp or hangout at. Will be coming back again soon," notes a Upper Creek visitor.
Mountain hiking: Scales Trailhead Basecamp provides direct access to the Appalachian Trail with opportunities to spot wild ponies. The location attracts through-hikers regularly. "It's right on the AT, so there are lots of through hikers that you'll see stop in for a night. That also means that there's lots of great hiking options," reports a Scales Trailhead camper.
Fishing: Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites offer multiple creek access points for fishing. "At the intersection of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia state lines, sits this national forest which offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek. Opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling are abundant," explains one visitor.
What campers like
Ridge-top views: From Old NC 105 Dispersed camping, mountain panoramas extend for miles with unobstructed vistas. "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 and distant Lake James," says a Old NC 105 Dispersed camper.
Star-gazing: Whitetop Mountain provides exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution at higher elevations. A camper reports, "Absolutely stunning views! I was a little sketched out going up as it was my first time driving up a mountain like that, but it really wasn't bad. Watching the sunset was spectacular, then being able to star gaze."
Water features: Steele Creek sites sit directly on a creek with natural swimming areas. "My favorite part is definitely The creek, it is a great spot to swim so we are excited about that. There is 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," shares a Steele Creek camper.
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Many dispersed sites require careful navigation on rough forest roads. "The road in is....rocky. High clearance 4wd needed. Not ADV friendly, unless you're very adventurous. Access by horseback would be my #1 pick," warns one Scales Trailhead visitor.
Site availability: Sites fill quickly on weekends, especially those with views. "I got here late, around 5 pm on Saturday, so I had difficulty finding a spot. There was lots of sites but they were all filled up," notes a Steele Creek camper.
Safety awareness: Always be cautious when camping in remote areas. "Be aware of your surroundings and always carry something on you to protect yourself," advises a Washington & Jefferson National Forest visitor after an uncomfortable encounter with other campers.
Weather preparation: Mountain conditions change rapidly at higher elevations. "When we got here, it was a pretty drizzly day through the forest raining off and on. Making our way up the mountain the fog was thick and it was incredibly difficult to see much," reports a Whitetop visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Accessible water play: Steele Creek offers shallow areas suitable for children. "The site is very clean other than some glass that I've been picking up. Definitely highly recommend these camp sites out of any others in the pisgah national forest! This area is beautiful and pure peace compared to the others in the area!"
Educational hiking: Linville Gorge Wilderness provides opportunities to teach wilderness skills. "We often camp in and around the Linville Gorge area, mostly in the primitive campsites down in the Gorge on Linville River. We stayed before Hurricane Helene but haven't been back since then," notes one visitor who recommends teaching children about Leave No Trace principles.
Wildlife viewing: Scales Trailhead Basecamp offers chances to see wild ponies. "Our favorite parts are the beautiful views, wild ponies, & it's (usually) relatively quiet!" reports a regular visitor to the area.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most primitive camping near Zionville accommodates tents and small vehicles only. "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," explains a visitor to Steele Creek.
Roadway challenges: Forest roads often feature tight switchbacks and rough surfaces. "The dirt road must be taken slowly with careful attention to avoid damaging larger vehicles. "The road wasn't as bad as I was expecting as a whole, but there were some spots that were rouuuuugh," notes a Whitetop visitor.
Alternative options: Consider staying at established campgrounds if traveling with larger vehicles. Most dispersed sites cannot accommodate standard RVs due to limited turning radius and uneven terrain.
