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Reunion planners, scout troops, or friend groups who can fill sites B or C (up to 50 people for $150/night) will get a secluded mountain setting, 20+ miles of trails, and trout streams nearby. Host Ernest is a real asset. Book by phone.
Price
$75 - $150/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
4 campsites
Season
Open April 1 – Octob...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$75 - $150/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
4 campsites
Season
Open April 1 – Octob...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734
Reunion planners, scout troops, or friend groups who can fill sites B or C (up to 50 people for $150/night) will get a secluded mountain setting, 20+ miles of trails, and trout streams nearby. Host Ernest is a real asset. Book by phone.
Zero cell service is non-negotiable here, so anyone needing connectivity is out. Gear theft has been reported near the Bartram trail, so plan accordingly. The curvy access road also has reviewers reaching for Dramamine.
Reference information about Appletree Group Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><strong><em>Sleep under the Stars.</em></strong> Looking for a campsite for a group of people near the Nantahala River? The four sites at Appletree Group Campground accommodates two sites (A and D) for up to 25 people each and two sites (B and C) for up to 50 people each. </p><p>Each site has its own picnic shelter, outdoor group gathering area with a fire ring and lantern posts, restroom with flush toilets, water hydrant, designated parking area and a grassy field for tents and activities. The campground offers a shower house.</p><p>Open April 1 – October 31, the campground is most popular during summer weekends and quieter on the weekdays. Reservations are required at 828-524-6441. Only the occupants have access through a combination lock on the gate.</p><p><strong><em>Follow the Trail. </em></strong>Hike near the campground on more than 20 miles of interconnecting loops. Nearby, catch a section of the long-distance Bartram National Recreation Trail, named for William Bartram, an American naturalist noted for his botanical expeditions in the late 1700s.</p><p><strong><em>Get in the Water.</em></strong> Avid anglers can cast their lines for rainbow, brown and native brook trout that live in the cold mountain streams near the campground. State fishing regulations apply, and licenses are required for fishing in national forest streams. Nantahala Lake is 10 minutes away.</p><p>If you enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting, use your personal craft to raft the lower section of the Nantahala River or use local outfitters’ services.</p><p><strong><em>Check out the Sights.</em></strong> From Appletree Campground, you can sightsee along the 61-mile Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. This scenic drive links U.S. 19 and U.S. 64, and it winds through the Cullasaja and Nantahala River gorges, passes Nantahala Lake, Wayah Bald’s restored fire tower, numerous waterfalls and the rural countryside.</p><p><strong><em>Be Safe. </em></strong>Your safety is your own responsibility.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5300569.pdf"><strong>Check out the brochure</strong></a><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3844905.pdf">.</a></p>
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Summer is the prime season for group camping. Daytime highs reach the mid-70s to low-80s F, while nights cool to the 50s and 60s, good conditions for campfires and covered shelter meals. Streams and nearby lakes warm up enough for fishing, wading, and small-boat activities. Trails stay generally dry. Weekends get busy, especially around holidays, but the four large sites and covered shelters handle the traffic. The drive in is curvy enough that some reviewers recommend Dramamine or ginger.
Prime season: mid-70s to low-80s days, cool nights, busiest on summer weekends.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Appletree Group Campground offers basic amenities, tailored for group camping, with a focus on tent camping. Each of the four campsites has individual picnic shelters, fire rings, lantern posts, grassy fields for tents and activities, and designated parking areas. Restrooms with flush toilets are available, along with water hydrants and a shower house. The campground is operational from April 1 to October 31 and has a combination lock for gate access, ensuring restricted entry for occupants.
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