Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

4 reviews

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens booking site

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Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens booking site

Get Directions

Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

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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Provider

(828) 276-2300

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Best Time to Camp at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

Open throughout all four seasons, Basin Cove Backcountry welcomes adventurers year-round, though summer visitors should prepare for the dramatic thunderstorms that frequently roll across the escarpment. The journey to your campsite involves a significant elevation change—approximately 1,500 feet of descent on the way in, which means a challenging climb back up to the Parkway. Plan your trip accordingly, allowing extra time and energy for the ascent with a full pack.

Spring (Mar-May)

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

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

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

Operating Season: Year-round

About Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

Tucked away in the historic Basin Cove within Doughton Park, this primitive backcountry retreat offers eight secluded campsites accessible only by trails that wind 1,500 feet down from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring, lantern post, and food storage box, inviting you to experience true wilderness camping year-round in a landscape steeped in Appalachian history.

Primitive backcountry campground in historic Basin Cove with eight primitive campsites and no developed toilet facilities; access is by multiple trails descending roughly 1,500 feet from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Historical SignificanceBasin Cove holds the haunting memory of a once-thriving mountain community where more than 50 families carved out lives between 1863 and 1916. Their story came to a tragic end when two stalled tropical storms unleashed 22.2 inches of rain over three days in 1916, triggering catastrophic mudslides that swept away nearly every home in the valley. Today, scattered remnants of homesites and weathered gravestones serve as quiet monuments to these resilient settlers, transforming your camping experience into a journey through Appalachian history.

Weather and SeasonsOpen throughout all four seasons, Basin Cove Backcountry welcomes adventurers year-round, though summer visitors should prepare for the dramatic thunderstorms that frequently roll across the escarpment. The journey to your campsite involves a significant elevation change—approximately 1,500 feet of descent on the way in, which means a challenging climb back up to the Parkway. Plan your trip accordingly, allowing extra time and energy for the ascent with a full pack.

ElevationYour adventure begins with a descent of over 1,500 feet from the Blue Ridge Parkway, dropping you into the sheltered embrace of Basin Cove far below. The trailhead parking area at Longbottom Road sits at 1,440 feet elevation (coordinates 36.3752, -81.1447), marking the threshold between the modern world above and the historic wilderness waiting below.

Natural Features and SceneryBasin Cove cradles you in a lush tapestry of mixed hardwood and conifer forest, where multiple creeks thread through the landscape offering peaceful fishing spots for anglers. The 3.5-mile Caudill Cabin Trail leads intrepid explorers to the sole surviving cabin from the settlement era, a tangible connection to the families who once called this valley home. As you explore the 6,000+ acres of surrounding public lands, remember you're sharing this wilderness with black bears—proper food storage isn't just required, it's essential. Special Parkway water regulations apply here, so come prepared with your own water or proper filtration, as surface water is unsafe for drinking.

Geological RegionDoughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway, perched along the dramatic escarpment where the Blue Ridge Mountains plunge toward the piedmont below.

Campsite details

Total Campsites8 campsites

Recommended CampsitesEasiest access is via the Grassy Gap Fire Road entrance from Longbottom Road; follow posted trail/road gates from the designated parking area (36.3752, -81.1447). Treat or filter all water from natural sources, pack out or properly dispose of human waste (no privy), and store food in provided food storage boxes to reduce bear encounters.

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Tents

Tents are not allowed

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RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutEight primitive campsites, each with an individual fire ring, lantern post, and food storage box. No pit toilets or privies on site; access is by hiking trails descending/ascending roughly 1,500 ft to the Parkway.

Open and Closed SeasonYear-round

Walk-in AvailabilityOvernight parking for backcountry is permitted at designated areas (parking at specified trailheads/areas as described in driving directions).

Amenities available

Fire rings

Food storage lockers

Activities you can enjoy

Recreation centers on hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing within a mixed hardwood and conifer forest with multiple creeks and historic features. Trails connect the campsites to the Blue Ridge Parkway and provide varied difficulty.

Hiking

Doughton Park offers more than 28 miles of hiking trails. From the campsites trails ascend about 1,500 feet to the Blue Ridge Parkway; the Grassy Gap Fire Road (Longbottom Road) is the easiest access and the Bluff’s primitive trail is the most difficult. The 3.5-mile Caudill Cabin trail leads to the only existing cabin.

Fishing

Multiple creeks provide fishing opportunities; special Parkway water regulations apply. Surface water is unsafe for drinking and must be purified before use.

Wildlife viewing

Black bears inhabit the more than 6,000 acres of public land; the area contains mixed hardwood/conifer forest, creeks, and remnants of historic homesites and graves which may be of interest for wildlife and historic viewing.

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed
Each campsite is equipped with an individual fire ring (campfire availability implied by presence of fire rings).

Hazards

General hazardsThunderstorms are common along the escarpment. Surface water is unsafe without purification. Black bears are present in the area. Cell phone service is likely unavailable or unreliable. Trails involve significant elevation change (about 1,500 ft) and include primitive/difficult routes (Bluff's primitive trail noted as most difficult).

Weather at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Clear sky

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 83%

Wind: 5.6 mph

Clear sky

Weather History

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Detailed 7-Day Forecast

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Good to know

Trash and recyclingNo onsite toilets; visitors should be prepared to pack out or properly dispose of waste as directed.

Proximity to water featuresMultiple creeks run through the campground area and provide fishing opportunities; surface water is unsafe without treatment.

Campground Map

Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

Driving directionsGrassy Gap Fire Road on Long Bottom Road is the shortest/easiest route. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, head south on NC 18 for 6.2 miles, turn left on Longbottom Road and go 6.4 miles to a small bridge with black & yellow marker signs. Parking area is beside the bridge (36.3752, -81.1447), elevation 1440 ft; trail to Basin Cove primitive camping area is across the road (look for gated road). From US Hwy 421 in Wilkesboro take Hwy 18 north ~17.6 miles to Longbottom Road (McGrady), then 6.4 miles to the bridge. Other parking locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway include Bluff Mountain Overlook (MP 243.4) (36.408341666666, -81.195863888888), Basin Cove Overlook (MP 244) (36.391030555555, -81.20025833333), Grassy Gap Fire Road (MP 243.9) (36.404694444444, -81.19649722222), Bluff's Restaurant (MP 24) (36.433525, -81.17739166666), Doughton Park Picnic Area (MP 241) (36.433525, -81.17739166666), and Brinegar Cabin (MP 238.5) (36.419452777777, -81.14617222222).

Accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway via NC 18 to Longbottom Road. Other approach routes noted include US Hwy 421 (to Hwy 18) and US Hwy 21/Stone Mountain State Park approaches.

Nearby places

Wilkesboro: from US Hwy 421 take Hwy 18 north approximately 17.6 miles to Longbottom Road (McGrady).