Mortimer Campground

0.21

77 reviews

Mortimer Campground

Quick Facts

1,400 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

17 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

RV FriendlyShowers

Opens booking site

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Quick Facts

1,400 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

17 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

RV FriendlyShowers

Opens booking site

Get Directions

Mortimer Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(828) 652-2144

What Campers Say

0.21

Mixed Reviews

Based on 77 reviews

107 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewspeacefulcleanshowers

"Reviewers are overwhelmingly positive about Mortimer Campground, consistently describing it as small, quiet, clean, and beautifully situated along Wilson Creek with easy access to trails, waterfalls, and fishing. The camp host (often mentioned by name as David/Dave) is repeatedly praised as attentive, friendly, and proactive, and facilities like restrooms and showers are described as immaculate or very clean. A few minor drawbacks include road access, lack of cell service, occasional noisy neighbors or dogs, and some water system quirks, but these don’t significantly affect overall satisfaction."

Read all reviews

Best Time to Camp at Mortimer Campground

Each season paints Mortimer in different colors, transforming your camping experience throughout the year. Spring brings carpets of wildflowers that blanket the forest floor, while summer's lush canopy provides cool respite along the creek. Come autumn, the hardwood forest erupts in a spectacular display of reds, oranges, and golds that draw photographers and leaf-peepers from across the region. Even winter offers its own stark beauty, with bare branches revealing views and creek sounds echoing through the quiet woods.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.

Planning Tips

About Mortimer Campground

Tucked into the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Corridor just south of Grandfather Mountain, Mortimer Campground offers 17 intimate sites where history whispers through the trees. This former Civilian Conservation Corps camp now serves as your gateway to a forested paradise along Thorps Creek, where towering hemlocks shade your path to swimming holes, fishing spots, and miles of scenic exploration.

17-site campground with an upper loop of 14 accessible sites that can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft and a lower loop of 5 tent-only walk-in sites.

Historical SignificanceYour tent stakes drive into ground that once bustled with the activity of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the 1930s. The young men who lived and worked here carved trails, built infrastructure, and helped shape the landscape you enjoy today. Nearby, you can still discover remnants of Mortimer, a timber town that thrived when logging was king in these mountains, along with traces of the old CCC work center—silent testaments to the generations who called these woods both workplace and home.

Weather and SeasonsEach season paints Mortimer in different colors, transforming your camping experience throughout the year. Spring brings carpets of wildflowers that blanket the forest floor, while summer's lush canopy provides cool respite along the creek. Come autumn, the hardwood forest erupts in a spectacular display of reds, oranges, and golds that draw photographers and leaf-peepers from across the region. Even winter offers its own stark beauty, with bare branches revealing views and creek sounds echoing through the quiet woods.

ElevationAt 1,400 feet above sea level, Mortimer Campground sits in that perfect mid-elevation sweet spot where mountain hardwoods flourish and temperatures stay comfortably cool even in summer.

Natural Features and SceneryAncient hemlocks and stately pines tower overhead, creating a cathedral-like canopy that dapples the forest floor with dancing light. Below, Thorps Creek tumbles over rocks on its journey to join the federally protected Wilson Creek, its clear waters inviting you to dip your toes or cast a line. Multiple feeder streams crisscross the landscape, each creating its own microhabitat where wildflowers thrive in spring and summer—trillium, lady slippers, and mountain laurel among them. Swimming holes carved by centuries of flowing water offer natural pools perfect for cooling off after a day on the trails, while the surrounding hardwood forest creates an ever-changing backdrop that shifts with the seasons.

Geological RegionNestled within the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains, Mortimer sits in the heart of the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Corridor, where millions of years of geological forces have carved dramatic gorges and created the rugged terrain that defines this corner of North Carolina. The campground lies in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, one of the region's most iconic peaks, where the oldest rocks in the eastern United States tell stories written in stone.

Campsite details

AccessibilityUpper loop includes 14 fully accessible, barrier-free sites.

Sites SizeMost sites have tent pads; upper loop sites can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft; lower loop consists of 5 tent-only walk-in sites.

Sites PrivacySecluded streamside setting shaded by large hemlocks and pines.

Total Campsites17 campsites

Recommended CampsitesThe campground has an upper and lower loop: the lower loop contains five tent-only walk-in sites served by a central parking lot; the upper loop contains 14 fully accessible, barrier-free sites that can accommodate small RVs up to 35 ft. Most sites include a tent pad, picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive are not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutTwo loops (upper and lower). Lower loop: five tent-only walk-in sites with central parking. Upper loop: 14 accessible sites suitable for small RVs (up to 35 ft).

Amenities available

Showers

Potable water

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Flush toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Activities include fishing, swimming, day hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, picnicking, and scenic driving. Two Forest Service trails depart from the campground (Thorps Creek trail to Thorps Creek Falls and the Bill Vines connector to Schoolhouse Ridge Trail) and many other trails and mountain biking routes are within a short drive. Wilson Creek and Thorps Creek offer swimming, wading, trout fishing, and kayaking opportunities.

Hiking

Thorps Creek Trail (~1/4 mile) to Thorps Creek Falls; Bill Vines connector (.2 mile) to the more strenuous Schoolhouse Ridge Trail (3-mile ridgeline); additional nearby trails include Hunt Fish Falls, North Harper Creek Falls, and Little Lost Cove Cliffs.

Fishing

Wilson Creek (a National Wild and Scenic River) is well known for excellent trout fishing; nearby creeks also provide fishing opportunities.

Swimming

Swimming holes and wading opportunities along Thorps Creek; Wilson Creek is also popular for swimming.

Biking

The area boasts a network of scenic mountain biking trails within a short drive of the campground.

Boating

Kayaking is popular on Wilson Creek and other local waterways.

Water Sports

Kayaking; swimming

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed

Hazards

Weather at Mortimer Campground

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Clear sky

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 74%

Wind: 5.5 mph

Clear sky

Weather History

Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

Detailed 7-Day Forecast

Reveal forecast

Emergency Services

Medical facilities available in the towns of Blowing Rock and Morganton (both within about an hour's drive).

Good to know

Trash and recyclingBear-proof trash and recycling receptacles provided.

Proximity to water featuresThorps Creek runs along the east side of the campground before feeding into Wilson Creek; swimming holes along Thorps Creek and access to Wilson Creek for swimming, fishing, and kayaking.

HostA Campground host is on site to provide visitor assistance.

Campground Map

Mortimer Campground

Nearby places

Wilson Creek Visitor Center: 3.2 miles

Julian Price Memorial Park and Campground: 24 miles north

Linville Falls and Linville Gorge Wilderness Area: 21 miles

Grandfather Mountain State Park: 17 miles.

Nearby supplies

Restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores available in Blowing Rock and Morganton (both within about an hour's drive).

Reviews from booking and map sources

0.2

77 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Mortimer Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers are overwhelmingly positive about Mortimer Campground, consistently describing it as small, quiet, clean, and beautifully situated along Wilson Creek with easy access to trails, waterfalls, and fishing. The camp host (often mentioned by name as David/Dave) is repeatedly praised as attentive, friendly, and proactive, and facilities like restrooms and showers are described as immaculate or very clean. A few minor drawbacks include road access, lack of cell service, occasional noisy neighbors or dogs, and some water system quirks, but these don’t significantly affect overall satisfaction.

Review Summaries

Based on 77 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers love the peaceful, secluded, and intimate feel of this small campground, deep in the woods and set by a creek/river with the sound of running water at night. Cleanliness and maintenance stand...

Based on 77 reviews

Common Concerns

A few reviewers note practical drawbacks rather than major problems: one mentions lack of phone/internet service, and another comments on washboard gravel roads to and from the campground. One Google...

Based on 77 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

One camper advises that in cooler months, creekside sites are several degrees colder than others, which can matter for tent campers with kids, so bringing appropriate cold‑weather gear is...

Based on 77 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Mortimer is a small campground located in the Wilson Creek NRA. One feature is that it is very quiet there day and night and promotes relaxation. The facilities are immaculate and closely...

Based on 77 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

Site 11 (Upper Loop) is repeatedly mentioned as part of a secluded, clean, quiet experience, with reviewers praising the helpful, caring camp host and overall enjoyment of their stays. Site 10 (Upper...

Based on 77 reviews

Accessibility Features

One reviewer notes that accessing the creek/river for fishing can be challenging because the banks are steep and deep, making the approach to the water difficult even though the fishing itself is...

Based on 77 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One Google review mentions barking dogs at neighboring sites as a downside, indicating that pets are present and occasional noise from them can be an issue, but there are no detailed comments about...

Based on 77 reviews