Tony E.

York, SC

Joined August 2019

I love hiking, camping, fishing, and hammocking any chance I get.

Cool campground

We stayed at site L12 on the Long Arm Campground #2. The paddle in was ok but there was some boat traffic. The site was very nice, however, it would be better to choose a site from 14 or higher. Sites 11, 12, and 13 are nice but the landing is in a shallow algae filled cove. Not ideal for swimming. I've seen complaints about the tent pads holding water but since there are plenty of trees for hammocks, we did not use a tent.

Beautiful park

I camped here at the end of February and did some canoeing on the lake. The lake was beautiful and the park is full of nice trails, including a lot of mountain bike trails. I was not very impressed with the camping location. It was geared more toward RV's rather than tents. They offer hike-in camping as well.

Awesome little campground

I really love this place. There are many spots nearby to fish or hike including the nearby Cliffside Lake Rec. Cliffside Lake is stocked with trout and there is a great hike to Ranger Falls here. If you have your camping pass displayed you get into the Cliffside Lake rec area for free. Additionally, the campground is just a cross hwy. 64 from the Cullasja River which, in addition to being beautiful, offers good trout fishing as well. The campground is close to Highlands NC, a quaint little mountain town with an a few shops and restaurants. My biggest complaint is that there is not enough room in the campground. It seems to always be booked up when I want to go back.

Nice campground with a great little hike

I stayed here in early March of 2018. The campground is so prone to flooding that they have the picnic tables on the lower loop chained down so they don't float away. The hike to Bee Rock is very enjoyable. Lots of small falls and cool views of the muddy river.

Off the beaten path

This campground is down a pretty long gravel road, so it's best to have what you need when you arrive. No quick trips to Wally World for resupply here. Some of the sites can be a little muddy after wet weather. Many are closed off because they are prone to flooding. It is convenient to a few trails and waterfalls and there is a spot nearby where a lot of people like to float on tubes kind of like a lazy river type thing. It's a unique place. My family and tried swimming at the base of Thorp's Creek Falls here, but the cray fish chased us out.

Incredible back country camping

This is my favorite back country camping spot. The sites near the middle of Macs Gap trail are huge and there is easy access to a couple streams. Bring a good map and stick to the trails that your map covers. It's an easy place to get lost because of all the unofficial trails. Waterfalls are everywhere.

Pretty ok

The best thing about this campground to me is that it has a nice spot for my son to splash in the water and a nice playground as well. The facilities are clean enough, but there's nothing especially remarkable about this place to me.

Excellent Location

Let's cover the negatives first- The "tent pads" are small. The sites are exposed. The bugs are vicious.

Now, the good stuff- This place is right in Nags Head, which is a gorgeous little town. It's basically on the beach (short walk through the dunes). Nice, hot showers. Not far from Bodie Island lighthouse. Near some great fishing. Close to the pier. Probably 20 minutes from the Write Brothers Memorial. I could go on and on.

If you stay here, do yourself a favor and bring a big beach umbrella. There are no trees. Also, be aware, you'll need bug spray especially right when you get out of the shower. The mosquitoes can be horrific.

Get away from the city

This is a cool little spot not far from Charlotte NC which doesn't seem as busy as other nearby campgrounds. Staff are friendly. There are cites right next to a lake which is perfect for paddling around in a canoe or kayak just watch out for stumps. Fishing wasn't great when I was there, but it might be better in cooler weather.

Nice spot to camp

This place is close to some good hiking and not too far from towns. They have a playground which is cool and the staff is very friendly. Unfortunately, they do not allow hammocks any more since people were cutting off tree branches to make hanging hammocks easier.

So-so campground

The area is beautiful and the falls are a worthy destination, but the campground leaves a little to be desired. The spaces are close together and many of them are not shaded very well. There are better campgrounds nearby.

Hidden gem

I've camped here three times and never seen it full. Sites are spacious and there are flush toilets and hot showers. Winding Stairs trail connects to the campground and offers good hiking. Just across the street is the Big Bend trail which takes you to Big Bend falls on the Chattooga River. There's a creek that runs through the campground with many sites along it's bank. My favorite site is #2.

Something for everyone

Wat do you like? Solitude? Try the dispersed campsites, they're awesome. Swimming? There is a roped off area for swimming in one of the lakes. RV camping? Full hookups available. Cabin? Cabins available for rent. Hiking? Trail head for the Foothills Trail as well as Secret Falls. Fishing? There's a lake stocked with bass and bream and even trout in cooler weather. Put-put? They have that too. Kayaking? Bring your own or rent one there. Hot showers? Got 'em. Waterfalls? Convenient to dozens including Station Cove, Yellow Branch, Issaqueena, King Creek, and Spoonauger to name a few. You seriously can't go wrong here unless you go in the summer and stay in a tent. It does get hot here.

Cool but spooky

The best part of this campground is Crabtree Falls. It's absolutely beautiful and there is plenty of room to picnic on a rock and swing in a hammock near by. The sites are large and many are very private. On that note, I have never heard as much animal activity outside my tent as I did camping here. It sounded like something, perhaps a fox or coyote, was hunting mice in the leaves right next to my tent.

Great as long as it's not spring break

I've stayed here on two separate backpacking trips. Sites are ok for car camping but awesome for backpacking. Good trout fishing. Lots of hiking, including the Foothills and Chattooga River trails. I've heard it gets overrun with spring breakers. Both times I've been there, there were few other campers. If you are going to drive here, keep in mind it is at least a couple hundred yards from the parking area to the nearest camp sites. The best sites are along the river toward the back of the campground. There are other good sites on King Creek to your left as you enter the campground. The pit toilet in the parking area tends to be better maintained than the one in the campground.

Great spot to relax or explore

There are a LOT of sites at this campground. First come first served sites are available on the lake and thought the campground. Many sites are reservible as well. There is hiking and fishing within the campground. Additionally, it is convenient to the towns of Blowing Rock and Boon as well as Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. The sites on the lake are small but fairly private. Many of the sites a cross the street from the lake are larger and some are fairly private as well. Showers and restrooms can be a bit dirty at times, but showers are hot

Nice but crowded

There are multiple campgrounds here. I stayed in the drive up campground for people without horses. There is also equestrian camping and campsites one can hike to. My experience was the campsites were a little close to each other and, since it's a small loop, they fill up fast. I prefer more space and privacy when camping. My tent pad was a little uneven as well. There is a lot of good hiking in the park and horse back riding for those with horses. I'd like to try the back country camping at some point.