Best Dispersed Camping near Gray, TN
Dispersed camping near Gray, Tennessee includes several primitive sites in the Cherokee National Forest and surrounding areas. Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area provides free tent camping along Watauga Lake, while Unaka Mountain Overlook and Beauty Spot Gap offer additional options in the Tennessee highlands. Across the state line in North Carolina, campers can access Grassy Ridge Bald for backcountry camping and multiple dispersed sites throughout Pisgah National Forest. The Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Area in nearby Virginia permits camping for up to 14 days with proper permits.
Access to most dispersed sites requires careful navigation on unpaved roads. Little Stony Creek Road features walk-in tent sites that require carrying gear from parking areas. Many forest roads leading to Unaka Mountain and Pisgah sites may have rough sections requiring high-clearance vehicles. According to one visitor, "The narrow road to go up/down is a little sketchy but we made it." Most areas lack amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Fire rings are common at established sites, though campers should check for seasonal fire restrictions. Hidden Valley WMA requires a Virginia Wildlife Access pass with camping authorization.
These primitive camping areas provide varying experiences from lakeside settings to mountain vistas. Sites along Little Stony Creek offer water access for fishing and boating, though reviews note "lots of road noise" due to the valley location. A camper at Grassy Ridge Bald described it as a "Beautiful 6000' bald off the AT and along the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee, plenty of places to pitch a tent." Many locations suffer from trash accumulation, with one reviewer reporting they "spent about an hour cleaning the entire campground." Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites. Campers seeking more remote experiences might prefer the higher elevation sites on Unaka Mountain or the backcountry options in Pisgah National Forest.
