Initially, I was not impressed with Paris Mountain State Park. I was told to take a picture of the state park map at the kiosk unless I wanted to buy a park map. Things got better after that, however. There is a variety of sites from which to choose, and most of them are level. There were a few tent campers, but most sites were filled with RVs and travel trailers. Although we didn’t have sewer hookup(and didn’t really need it for a teardrop camper), there were electric and water hookups. This is to be expected at a state park. There was also lots of shade, something I have come to expect at a state park. I sometimes take it for granted until I have stayed at other campgrounds that have very little shade. I also didn’t feel as if I were“on top of” the next campsite since there was plenty of space between most of the campsites, but not all campsites are equal. There is a swimming beach… and it was open. Not too many campgrounds have opened their swimming pools or beaches since the pandemic, so I was happy to see this. At the swimming beach, there are peddle boats and perhaps(I’m not sure) a place to rent kayaks. It was during the middle of the week, so I don’t know if the empty kayak racks were because of this or if they really don’t have kayak/canoe rentals. As far as other activities, there were hiking trails, a volleyball net, and a playground. The trail I liked most was the one beside the lake, which led to the dam. There are plenty of picnic tables for day use, but the bath rooms were being renovated. Fortunately, the ones at the campground were fully functional. Overall, I enjoyed Paris Mountain State Park and I would highly recommend it.

This state park is small, but it does not lack things to do. Unfortunately, the swimming area was closed because of the pandemic. However, the visitor’s center is fairly new and has several historical and geological exhibits. Although there are not a lot of hiking trails, there are enough to make it interesting. I have been to this state park in decades past, and it has changed significantly. The bath house is modern and now has showers. The road is paved, and it seems to have moved into the 21st century. Even though the swimming and boating area is closed, you can hike down to the river for fishing. During the summer, it will be hot, but when I went, the weather wasn’t too bad. The main concerns are mosquitoes and ticks. Overall, I recommend this campground but probably not during the heat of summer.

To get to backcountry campsite 60, you have to hike past Tom Branch Falls, and if you backpack there through the summer months, you will most likely hike past hundreds of people hiking the same trail with float tubes. Once you past the final put-in point for tubers, you get some solitude after crossing a foot bridge and walking parallel to the creek. You get very close to Indian Creek Falls, but if you want to see Indian Creek Falls, it’s best if you turn to the right before you cross over the bridge. This waterfall is only 200 feet out of the way—a worthwhile side trip. Site 60 is in the backcountry, so there will not be any hookups—electrical or water. You will need to take water or a water filter with you. Years ago, I backpacked to this same campsite with my wife, and after carrying my overloaded backpack that far, I went to a flat rock near the middle of the creek and took a nap. It’s a beautiful area and offers plenty of solitude. I was hesitant about going since there was a sign at the trailhead warning hikers about a site a litter farther away about bear activity. However, that would be a couple of miles farther up the mountain, so I don’t think I had much to worry about. Nevertheless, I felt pretty safe at site 60. Overall, I recommend site 60, but just know that you will be passing a lot of people to get there if you go during the summer.

There are so many things to experience at or near this state park. My favorite section was the Living History Farm. There was also the old bath house at the lake, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Adjacent to the state park is King’s Mountain National Battlefield, so if you want things to do, there is no shortage if you like history, like to fish, and like to hike. However, my campsite was not favorable to tent campers. If you are in an RV or a travel trailer, it would be great, but the gravel is uncomfortable to sleep on unless you are sleeping on a cot. The bath house(the one not on the National Register), is air conditioned and modern. However, you will need to take your own towel if you want to wash your hands. I did not see any paper towels. With that said, the bath house was great. The office fits right in with the theme of history. It has a charming cottage feel to it, and it has an old gas pump from the 1930s(?) out front. You can rent boats and PFDs from there as well as get some basic supplies. Additionally, there is a volleyball area and a basketball goal for the young at heart. As I stated earlier, my favorite area was the Living History Farm. I had to restrain myself from including too many photos of it. Overall, this was a great experience for things to do, but staying in a tent there was not ideal.

I hardly ever give a campground five stars, but for me, this one deserves five stars. It is not perfect, but which campground is? I was bouncing between four and five stars since there is no real camp store that I know of, and the tent pads are hard gravel. However, rating campgrounds is sometimes subjective. I feel, though, that this one deserves a 4.5. 

Except for the beach area, the campground at this state park is fairly clean, and the park has taken measures to make sure people are safe from COVID-19. The restrooms and showers had tile floors and were clean. The staff members that I encountered were friendly and gave me the information I needed to know. There are two tenting areas and another area for RVs and tents, which provide water and electricity. We chose to be close to the water, however, and the walk from the car to the tent sites are no more than a hundred yards or so. Our site didn’t have water, but it was close. Electricity was not a concern since we have lanterns and the evenings this time of year are not hot. I loved the different framed-in gravel levels at the site we chose. This gave us more room for our tent and for other gear. Lower down at our tent site, there was a place for us to sit and enjoy the lake. This was especially great since it was almost a full moon when we were there. 

There are several things to do, including hiking, but since I had my grandson, he enjoyed the water more. There is a large area to swim, but officially, there is no swim beach. I believe the park posts the signs for its own protection. There were well over a hundred people at the waterfront and many of them swimming or playing in the water. Kayaks and SUPs were available for rent for campers and for day visitors. 

There are several places to launch your own kayak, and there is also a boat ramp area with at least three ramps. Although the day use areas were crowded, the campground was not overly packed, especially the tent area. The RV/tent sites were a combination of pull-throughs and back-ins. Most of them were spacious enough that there were RVs and tents at the same site. I was truly impressed with the arrangement of the individual campsites, although I thought they were a little too close to each other. 

Overall, the campground at this state park is in good condition, and its proximity to Lake Jocassee scores bonus points for me. I would definitely recommend this campground.

I have stayed at this campground before, and it was as peaceful as I remembered before. The sites are level and shaded. The river is close, and it makes for a restful night. When I was there this time, it was not as crowded. However, that didn’t really matter since there is a little more privacy between the campsites than a lot of large privately owned campgrounds and RV parks. As far as facilities, there are no sewer, electrical, or water hookups. However, water is available. The bath house has not changed since I was there before. There are still no showers. The main reason people come to this campground is to see the elk or the historic structures. The valley is a peaceful place, and there are a lot of day dwellers in the valley. There are also lots of trails and great places to fish along the creek. During peak season, you will not be able to get a site unless you book ahead of time since it is a popular destination. To get to this campground, you have to drive over ten miles on narrow, curvy roads with steep drop-offs, which is partly paved and partly gravel. Overall, I recommend it highly. It’s pretty obvious since I keep going back.

Every once in a while, you will find a campground that gets into the spirit of the seasons and holidays. When I first pulled up to the office, I could tell this was such a place. The person behind the desk was very friendly and let me select a site before I paid for it. 

This campground has sites for RVs and RVs. It also has several cabins. I chose a site with water and electricity. The site was sloped, but it was not too bad. If I had been in a tent, it might have been a bad night. There not much privacy between the sites where I was, but it was well shaded. Most sites are within earshot of the creek, which makes for a pleasant night. The bathrooms are modern and clean. 

Overall, I really liked this campground. The only drawback would be for tent campers. There is a lot of light during the night. However, that may be a good thing when you are walking to the bath house in the middle of the night. Also, as a tent camper, the slope of the site and the fact that it is gravel isn’t ideal. With that said, I was in my SUV conversion, and it did not bother me. I highly recommend this campground.

Croft State Park is a really nice campground for RV and travel trailer camping. For tent camping, it is just okay. I say that because of the gravel surfaces at the campsites. Fortunately, I took a cot to sleep on, for even with a foam pad and an air mattress, I think sleeping would be uncomfortable. The site I stayed on did have water and electricity, which was fortunate since it is very hot there in August. My mistake was not taking a large enough fan. 

The bath house was conveniently located, and it was air conditioned. There were hot showers, and when I say hot, I mean hot. If you take a shower in their bath house, I suggest that you do not turn the water all the way to hot to begin with. Otherwise, you will burn yourself. Although there was a soap dispenser in the bath house, you will need to take your own soap. The dispenser was empty. 

There is a beautiful lake at the campground, which allows several opportunities for fishing. There is a fishing dock and several types of watercraft rentals. There is also miles and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. I was amazed at the number of trails. 

Another section of the park is devoted to equestrian camping, and there is even a show arena. For those who want to primitive camp, there is a place for that as well. I would have given the campground four stars, but because of the gravel sites and the yellow jackets, I could only give it three. The yellow jackets were out of control. 

I would suggest some pest control measures. I realize that most campers are in RVs and travel trailers, but tent campers also need a more appropriate place to camp than on large gravel surfaces.

Lakeshore Drive, better known as the“Road to Nowhere,” has a sad history, but today it has become a beautiful place to drive. I will not go into detail about the history, except to say that the road ended in the middle of construction and terminates at a vehicle tunnel. A barricade prevents vehicles from entering the tunnel, but it provides an interesting hike, which leads to campsite 67. There is a trail that bypasses the tunnel for those who don’t want to walk through it, but walking through the tunnel is much more exciting. Once you get to the other side of the tunnel, the only things you will hear might be the rustling of leaves or an occasional jet in the distance. It is one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited in the mountains of western North Carolina. 

To get to campsite 67, walk through the tunnel and for another two miles(give or take a half mile). Along the way, there will be some remnants of at least one home and a stone chimney. You will walk to the far reaches of Fontana Lake before you get to it. You will need to take water unless you have a good water filtration system. Bears have been present in the area, so you also want to make sure you do not eat near your tent or leave garbage that would attract them. There are no facilities there, so everything you take is what you have there. Obviously, there is no way an RV or a travel trailer can camp there. It is walk-in only. 

Overall, it’s great for solitude and peace. The trail is moderate and sometimes steep, but I highly recommend it.

To get to these backcountry sites, you have to drive over eleven miles from a main road and then hike one and a half miles. The hike is easy with very little gain in elevation. However, it is rocky, and you have to cross three footbridges. Obviously, this is specifically a hike-in area. Site 40 has room for four or five tents, and it has at least two cable systems for hanging food bags. Considering there was aggressive bear activity in site 41, it’s a good thing. When I was there, I saw what I believe to be at least two large piles of bear scat. 

One of the best things about site 40 is that you can hear water from the stream all night long. Another interesting thing about site 40 is the trail itself. It passes by a house and a spring house that were built before the land was turned into a national park. You can actually go inside the house and explore its rooms. 

Bears may not be the only wildlife you have to worry about. There are also herds of large elk, which can also be aggressive. Unless you have a water filter, you will need to pack in water. Also make sure to pack EVERYTHING out. Garbage is the main reason the bears are aggressive.

I gave this campground four stars, but only for RVs and travel trailers. I would not give it four stars for tent campers. Tent campers would have a hard time finding a suitable site that would not be too rocky. When I checked in, the lady was nice enough to find a site with grass behind the gravel so I could set up my tent. She didn’t warn me that it was sloped. With that said, it is a campground in a beautiful setting. The lake and the sitting area beside the lake are both beautiful. There is a paved walkway down to the lake to a sitting area and a dock. The bath house was air conditioned, almost too much. It is a shock to the system moving from the intense South Carolina heat into the bath house. However, it was a nice break from the heat. Be aware that when you take a shower, you may have to wait a few minutes for the hot water to start. When I first turned it on, I wondered if there was any hot water. Eventually it came, and it was HOT, so I had to adjust it quickly. Also, take your own hand soap with you. There are paper towels but no soap. There are several trails, and you can rent boats, peddle boats, canoes, and kayaks. There is also a disc golf course. If I had known beforehand, I would have taken my own discs. That’s my fault for not doing the research. My favorite part of this camping experience was waking up early in the morning and sitting by the lake. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to capture a photo of the ducks taking off and flying in a perfect v-formation, but it was so peaceful there. Overall, this is a great campground to get away from civilization.

This is a remote campground in the national forest, and it is close to equestrian camping as well. With that said, there will be horseflies. However, it is a quiet campground. A big disadvantage, as far as I am concerned, is that it does not have water access. With that said, plan to dry camp and bring your own water. There is a pit toilet, so that is one good thing I can say about this campground. 

Avoid campsite 4 if you are in a tent, unless you have a rake. There are a lot of sweetgum balls. Since I was there at the beginning of the week, there were only two or three other campers and they were in RVs. 

Overall, it’s not bad for camping if you are prepared and know that you will need to take everything in, including water.

It was difficult for me to find Woods Ferry, but after talking with a park official, I finally got there. It is off the beaten path, so it is quiet. Apparently, there had been a lot of rain recently, and the area showed it. Woods Ferry is a campground mainly for campers who have horses. There are corrals at many of the campsites, so there are also a lot of horseflies. Horseflies and the actual site itself are my two main concerns. Selecting my campsite was my mistake. It was sloped, but there are a few others that were not sloped. There is running water and a pit toilet. Otherwise, you will have to take everything else in that you need. 

Since South Carolina is hot during this time of year, I was a bit uncomfortable, especially since I was on a slope.

There is a separate section for group camping. However, I think it caters to groups of horse campers, as there are corrals at the campsites. 

Overall, it’s not too bad for those who camp in an RV or a travel trailer, but it’s not ideal for tent campers.

If you want to get away from civilization, this might be the place to camp. However, it is beside a road, but the road is not used very much since it is a national forest road. 

I was glad to see that it had running water and one of the cleanest pit toilets I think I have ever seen. The Palmetto Trail runs through it, so if you are thru-hiking, this would be a good place to camp for the night. I was at campsite 5, which was the one farthest from the road, and I could tell it was the most popular. I picked up a small bag of trash left by previous campers before setting up. There are trash receptacles nearby, but alas, some people leave their trash at the campsite anyway. 

There is a spacious grassy area in the middle of the campsites for whatever activities you want to engage in. There is also a large, separate grassy area for group camping. It includes a communal fire pit. 

Overall, it is a great area for primitive camping and for dry camping if you are in a small RV.

There are two great things about this campsite. It’s free, and it is close to great views of the mountains near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located off of Highway 215, you do hear road noise, but that is not too much of a problem. During the day, you get a lot of day use hikers since the largest campsite is right beside the trail. There is a large flat area to set your tent if you are lucky enough to be the first one there, and there is a fire pit. Beyond that, there are no facilities. You can hear the sounds of water all night long from Flat Laurel Creek. The last time I was in that area, I tried to cross Flat Laurel Creek over slippery rocks against my better judgment, and the weather was in the upper 30s. I fell, got soaked, and nearly froze to death. This time, it was summer and I learned to cross in my bare feet despite the fact that the rocks were dry this time. The trail eventually takes you to Sam’s Knob, which offers beautiful views, and there is lots of scenery along the way. This campsite is fairly high in elevation, so it gets cool at night. Don’t make the mistake of taking a summer sleeping bag. You could, but you take a chance of being cold even during the peak of summer. This is not a good place for RVs or travel trailers. It is mainly for tent camping even though you do not have to hike in. Just make sure to take water or a water filter. Overall, I recommend this campsite if you are going to hike somewhere else during the day. However, you will not get solitude of any kind here because of all the day hikers.

I have stayed at this shelter a few times, and it has not changed much the last three or four times I went. The main difference was the time of year and the ability to see past the trees. During December when I went, you can see much more than I could this time because of the foliage. Another great thing about staying at this shelter during late summer is that there are fewer people staying there. I have stayed at this shelter when there were over a dozen people, some of them sleeping right beside you Not only are you sleeping beside a stranger, but you also have to hear his/her snoring, plus the snoring and groans of several other people. Make sure to carry a good sleeping pad since you will be sleeping on a wooden platform. One of the good things about this shelter during the summer is that you don’t have to carry your zero degree sleeping bag to be comfortable. However, don’t make the mistake of taking a summer sleeping bag either. I’m not sure of the elevation, but it is close to a mile or higher and the temperatures at night usually run in the fifties. Another good thing is that when you wake up in the morning, you can see the morning light without having to unzip a tent door or open any other door. The view from the platform is pretty nice. Make sure to take a water filter since the only fresh water is from a pipe in the ground about a couple of hundred feet away. There is a shelf under the shelter for cooking or eating, but make sure you don’t leave scraps for the critters, including mice, which will be present while you are there. This shelter is extremely popular during late spring when thru-hikers are on their way to Maine along the Appalachian Trail. Unless you are a thru-hiker, the main attraction is Charlie’s Bunion, which is less than a mile away on a side trail. When I went in December, nobody could reach the Bunion because of the ice. This time, it was perfect weather, and the views from Charlie’s Bunion were absolutely spectacular. I have been before when clouds prevented anybody from getting a good view. I highly recommend Icewater Spring Shelter, especially if you can make it to Charlie’s Bunion. Although the only facility is a pit toilet, it is well worth it.

I have stayed at this campground before in another year, another place, and in another season. It was great then, but it was not during peak season. This time I stayed in July, and it was crowded with people. My site was in the middle of several other sites, so there was very little privacy. I started setting up when I first go there, but for at least five minutes I had to listen to somebody’s diesel engine running just a few steps away. Perhaps in a less crowded season, it would have been all right, but this time was not good. 

As far as the site is concerned, it was a gravel pad and had a picnic table and a fire pit(which had trash left by previous visitors). The bath house was a short walk away and was very Spartan with no showers. Neighboring sites were almost within spitting distance of each other, and I didn’t have anywhere to tie up my hammock. That may not be important to most people, but it was to me. Because it was such a busy time, I couldn’t enjoy the sounds of the creek as much as I would like because of other campers talking. 

The biggest attraction here is not getting back to nature, even though it is a national park campground. The biggest attraction is the tubing, the fishing, and the playing in Deep Creek. Overall, I do recommend this campground during the off season, but you if you want a little more privacy, avoid the summer months.

Located beside the Tuckaseegee River, this is a great family campground if you don’t require a swimming pool or recreation activities offered by some of the larger franchise campgrounds. It does have swimming and fishing opportunities and a great family atmosphere. There are several places along the river to play in the water, set up a lawn chair, or float in a tube. It is also close to all the attractions near Bryson City such as the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, Deep Creek tubing, whitewater outfitters, quaint shops and breweries, The Road to Nowhere, and more. This is a great place for RVs or travel trailers, and there is a“village” of tipis. The tipis are great for a family that has small children and love the idea of staying in a tipi. I do recommend the option of renting an air conditioner for the tipi if you are staying in one during the summer. It makes staying in one much more comfortable, even though it has water and electricity. It is a small campground and is usually full during peak seasons, including summer and fall when the leaves change colors. My favorite activity was tubing in nearby Deep Creek, although you can rent a tube and give it a try at the campground. However, the Tuckaseegee is a wide river, so you have to be careful. Overall, I highly recommend this campground. The hosts are friendly, and the bath house is modern and clean.

I have never stayed a more kid friendly campground than this one. There are craft activities for children and even a“mining” experience. The children’s recreation building is adjacent to restrooms, the arcade, and a playground. The recreation director was working with some children when I visited the rec room. The signs throughout the campground are themed around Yogi Bear, and there are“statues” of Yogi and the ranger, as well as a playing field known as“Boo Boo Meadow.” 

The camp store has everything campers need in case they forgot something, and the pool is next to it. Ice cream is also a featured item. 

As far as campsites, the sites are shady and there is a variety of spaces for different types of camping. Our tent was close to the bath house, but we weren’t bothered with traffic. A lot of the campers had RVs with their own bath rooms. With the Raven Fork River running beside the campground, the sounds of the river could be heard all night. However, it is also close to the road, so road noise could also be heard. 

Just be aware that if you get a campsite next to the river, scout it out first. Some of the sites are not level and full of roots. Other tent sites have gravel, which is not ideal for tents that are not free-standing. 

Overall, this is a great campground for families with small children, but some of the sites are not ideal. I highly recommend this campground.

To get to this camping area, you have to travel down a forest road with a gravel bed. It is in a great spot, other than being beside the road. There are two fire pits and both places are beside the creek. Since it is primitive camping, there are no facilities, but you get the benefit of being away from people. However, to do the business of going to the“bathroom,” there will not be much privacy. Another problem is that you are encouraged to do your dirty work at least 200 feet away from water sources. That presents a problem since it’s difficult to go 200 feet away unless you climb a cliff or walk down the road. Nevertheless, staying here is so peaceful because you hear the sounds of the creek all night long. The biggest attraction, other than the solitude, is Courthouse Falls. To get there, it’s best to drive further up the road(and I do mean“up”) and park beside the road. There will be a trail sign on the left just past one of the bridges, and the hike is about a half mile or less. When I went, I walked past the falls because I heard the water but didn’t see the falls because of all the dense foliage. I finally got back to the falls to take pictures. I found out too late that there is a side trail somewhere that takes you to the base of the falls. If I ever go back, I will try to find that trail. Normally, I would give this camping area four or five stars, but there was standing water near the campsite, and finding a place to do your private duty was difficult. A small RV or travel trailer MIGHT be able to park here, but be aware of the bumpy gravel road. Overall, it was a good experience and I would recommend it, especially for tent campers.