Beautiful camp site at Tranquility Point in Panthertown Valley. Approximately 0.4 miles up from Schoolhouse Falls, it can accommodate around 4 tents. Huge rock face to walk on and observe stars (partially shown in picture) or overlook the valley below.

Bring a map an electronics map and a paper backup as well. Bear vaults are suggested, although not required at the time of this review. You will need to camel in water, the nearest source is back at schoolhouse falls.

Stopped here for a rest on a longer hike taking me back to Cosby. It is a large campsite area, but with not a flat spot in site. Roots, rocks, reggae…okay not the last part. I wouldn’t recommend this place if you have more than a one person tent. It’s beside a creek, so plenty of water available, but that seemed to come along with a billion mosquitos. I would never say at this site. Skip it and hike on in to 29 if you can.

Not sure the previous reviewer actually stayed at this campsite or not, but there are no flat spots at all. There are only two spots where you can even think about anything larger than a one person tent. The only spot that’s remotely close to being flat is a spot steps from the trail and pushed up against very tall vegetation. It’s very much sloped (I constantly slide down my pad all night) and narrow. They sell ten permits I think…I assure you there isn’t room for more than 6-8 people at best in this hillside.

The setting is outstanding however if you can deal with the lack of camping spots and get over that. What a beautiful evening as the final rays of sun shown through the tree leaves and into the valley around you. You sit about half up the valley overlooking a beautiful creek. As darkness hits you will be surrounding by a million fire flys. It’s a great spot, but you’ll be uncomfortable for sure.

There isn’t a campsite here. Not sure why it’s listed. Was in the area first of July. Can’t reserve a site here and dispersed camping is illegal in the Smokies

So my title is a little odd…I’ll explain. Normally thru-hikers get first dibs on shelters…also they stink really bad and shelters are tight. However, in the Smokies you can get a permit backcountry permit and camp outside (very clear on the reservation website) the shelter. They sell 10 permits to do this. Problem is, there isn’t a space for even a two person tent outside this shelter. I had to go 500 feet back up the hill to the horse hitching post to find a good spot. There are a few locations that a one person tent could fit, but certainly not ten.

It’s a tough hike in to this shelter as it sits just below Mt Guyot, one of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi. The privy was clean and the water source was running well. Always fun to hang out with the thru-hikers and hear their stories for a while. No views despite the elevation.

Stayed here with my son for a night in June. There are three different areas for tents, all with a metal fire ring, but nothing else. There isn’t a lot of space between tent areas (maybe 20 yards), but that seems to be typical of the Smokies. Water is plentiful as it is situated beside a large creek. The tent spots are mostly flat.

It is very close (approx 200 yards) to an inlet of Fontana lake where Forney Creek runs in. I learned that people often dock there or have someone drop them off and they stay at these sites or just hike. Talked to one dude who said his family does it all the time. He was walking in shirtless with flops on while double fisting beers. Saw at least four different boats while here.

Firewood was a bit of a challenge, but we found a sufficient amount and some of our neighbors gave us a few decent logs later in the evening.

The hiking immediately around this site is mainly forest trails with no scenic views, but it’s a beautiful area.

I did not stay here, but walked through scouting for future trips. Sites are stretched along large creek below the MacKaye Trail about two miles in from the Lakeview TH. This is not right on the trail, you take a small side trail to get to it. You won’t miss it if coming in from the east. Fire rings dot the area but no picnic tables at this site. Easy hike in from Lakeview, including a tunnel. I think it’s a great spot to bring a kid and make base camp.

This location is at a busy intersection for many people heading up Forney Creek looking to get to Clingmans. Plenty of water here for drinking as it is right on a large creek. Great little private spot for reflection just beyond the main trail that overlooks a bend in the creek.

The sites here are unfortunately right on top of each other. Two sections define this site, above and below the chimney. Below it you can fit around 4-5 tents if you do it right. They will all be around a large fire pit area. The other area has two small sites with their own fire pits. The last one before making the turn to go up Forney doesn’t really have a flat spot, so avoid that one unless you really want to avoid the other campers. The last spot is also literally right beside the trail.

No picnic tables here. But plenty of water access and decent firewood opportunity. My picture is from where I gathered water.

This site sits at the junction of Nolan Creek and Springhouse Branch trails. There are picnic tables, fire pits, and several reasonably flat spots for tents. The best spot is to the far left if you approach from the south on Nolan. It essentially is it’s on little campsite away from the other areas. It has smaller creeks and trees running around it that make it almost feel like a secluded island. There is a large creek going around this entire site for water. Was empty other than myself on a Monday night.

Video is creek running right behind the more private site referenced.

There are three campsites located in Victor Road. Victor Road is approx. 2 miles north of highway 80 (highway 80 is is approx 16 miles north of Mount Mitchell) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The road is initially pavement but quickly turns to packed gravel. The road is a little rough in spots, but I had zero issues in my Honda Accord. Sites are free and do not appear to be managed by any official municipal, state or federal authority…but they are in great shape.

Three sites are available from what I could see. The marker on this map is at the site of what I am calling #3. Sites 1 & 2 are located about 1/2 mile down Victor Road on the left and are adjacent to one another, but appear to be large and have foliage separating them. One of the sites had three tents pitched along side a beach tent and still had plenty of open space in the middle around a stone fire pit. I stayed at site number three. 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. The site has a fire pit and is located just before a large(ish) stream that crosses the road. Beyond this campsite, the road turns private. The site is on the left hand side as you approach the stream. There is room on the right hands side of the road for perhaps another tent if one wanted to do so.

This is fairly remote, despite being close enough to the BRP to hear cars occasionally. There are no amenities aside from the fire pit, but it's handy to have a creek for water for filtering or boiling. You should note that there are hunting blinds at the top of the hill between sites 1/2 and 3. These are facing a field that points away from the campsites. I imagine during turkey season (I saw a lot of turkey), you may hear gunshots. 

There aren't any trails down this road, but you are within a few minutes of the BRP where they are plentiful and Mt. Mitchell and associated trail systems are less than 20 minutes. The BRP would have to be open for you to access these sites, so plan accordingly (my suggestion is the real time map on nps.org).

There are approximately 4 primitive sites here. It is located behind the Flat Rock Ridge Trailhead. You can drive your vehicle (4wd not required) up to the sites. A river/creek is beside the campsites, so water could be filtered. There are no amenities. You will find rock campfire circles, but that's about it. The area immediately around the sites have been picked relatively clean of firewood, so that might be a bit of a journey.

Access: I've read a lot about the road leading into this campground/trailhead area. There are two different ways to access it from what I can tell. I came in from the north (despite coming from I-40). Googlemaps took me all the way up Hwy 181 to Gingercake Rd, in the Gingercake residential neighborhood. From there, it is about 7 miles to the Table Rock Picnic Area. Approximately 5 miles of that is compacted gravel/dirt road. I did this in a Honda Accord. You DO NOT need an SUV or 4wd to do this route. You do need patience however. There are some spots where rocks are sticking up and if you don't have tires designed for SUV's, you could risk a puncture. There are some potholes to dodge and some washed out areas. All of this can easily be navigated. I saw a Prius that had made it up. Again, I did this with an Accord with zero issues. The last two miles is a relatively steep paved road. The alternative route up (which you pass on the way to how I went) is about 13 miles off of Hwy 181. I think this is the way that many people go and review that it is very rough. It brings you up to the Picnic Area from the south. The two ways merge just before the paved portion.

I should note that there are campsites all the way up once you hit the dirt portion of the road. Several of those campsites would be good options getting to the northern portion of the gorge. 

At the Picnic Area, there is plenty of parking, a bathroom and well, a picnic area with tables and grills. To the right is the trail to Table Rock and beyond up to Hawksbill. There are no campsites, at least not to the point where you go up to Table Rock. To the left is the picnic area and then the campsite area. I would estimate there are at least ten spots where a tent could be pitched with an accompanying fire ring (made of rocks). This is on the ridge heading up to The Chimneys. I was there in winter and there were still at least four sites taken, so in summer I imagine you would have any privacy for what that's worth.

I stayed at the site further up on the right (they aren't numbered). This was the last spot before you really hit the trail (which by the way is immediate world-class views. I don't know if it was just in my head or not, but the winds were extremely high that night and it felt like some of the sites a little way down the hill closer to the parking lot (maybe 100 yards) had less wind. Not sure if that was real or not, but you may consider that a lower spot. All of the sites are between 100-400 yards from the parking lot. So no need if you decide to bring more than you might need. 

Overall, can't recommend this location enough. Bring what you need though. There are not facilities and the nearest anything is essentially an hour away in Morganton.

Stayed at campsite #10. It sits about 50 yards up the hill from the main river running through the valley. It is of note that the trail is right by the river, so you will see people walk by and there isn’t any real greenery to block that, even in summer. It is however far enough from the nearest sites that you won’t hear or see anyone else after sundown unless they are hiking at night. The river is a great soundtrack for a nights sleep.

The pad that has been cleared isn’t perfectly level, but it’s fine. There are however a few large buried rocks that keep it from being as smooth as you might expect.