Appletree Group Campground
Open April 1 through October 31. Reservations required by phone through the Nantahala Ranger District at (828) 524-6441. Summer weekends are popular; weekdays are quieter.
FS Road 225B Closed to All Traffic
The Pisgah Ranger District on Pisgah National Forest is conducting stream improvements for fish passage due to Helene storm damage on Forest Service Road #225B. Improvements include removing culverts to create a natural bottom ford. For public safety the road is temporarily closed to all traffic,…
John Rock Overlook Parking Area Partial Closure
The Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest has partnered with The Pisgah Conservancy and the Blue Ridge Parkway on a project to create the Upper Falls Connector Trail— a new 0.9-mile trail originating at the John Rock Overlook parking area to access Graveyard Fields. Graveyard…
Elk River Falls Temporary Re-Closure
Temporary Closure: Elk River Falls AreaClosure Order Closure Order MapStarting March 18, the Elk River Falls Area will be temporarily closed on the Pisgah National Forest. This includes closing the Elk River Trail, Elk River Falls and Elk River Road within the closure area in Avery County. The…
Connely Creek Road (NFSR 86) Closure
Connely Creek Road (NFSR 86) on the Nantahala Ranger District will be closed until October 2026 for road improvements. The closure will extend from the intersection of Cowee Bald Road (NFSR 70) to the intersection of Barkers Creek (NFSR 7062). Access to Cowee Bald will only be available from Macon…
Roan Mountain Fire Restrictions
Fire restrictions are now in effect for the Roan Mountain area of Appalachian Ranger District due to heightened fire danger caused by Hurricane Helene. The fire restriction is in effect on all National Forest System land from Hughes Gap to Doll Flats on the Appalachian Trail.This…
Pisgah National Forest Driving Safety Alert
Please use caution as you travel in and around the Forest. We have a lot of heavy equipment and repair crews in the area working on roads damaged during Hurricane Helene. Up to 2,000 tons of gravel are being placed EVERY DAY on our Forest Service roads through the summer and fall. That's around 60…
Paint Rock Closure
Effective through May 1, 2035, certain National Forest System lands in the Paint Rock area, located on the Appalachian Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest and the Unaka Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest, will be closed to protect cultural resources.This closure is intended to…
Appalachian Trail Detour- Iron Mountain Gap
The Iron Mountain Gap detour is now in place to route hikers around the final remaining 6 miles of closed section of the Appalachian Trail from about a mile south of the destroyed Cherry Gap Shelter to about a mile north of Iron Mountain Gap (approx. NOBO mile 360.6 to 365.9). The detour is mapped…
Kings Mountain Point Fishing Pier Closure
The fishing pier at Kings Mountain Point Day Use Area on the Uwharrie National Forest is closed till further notice due to storm damage. The Day Use area remains open and the three smaller accessible fishing platforms are available for public use.
Pisgah Camping Limitations
The following act is prohibited within 1000 feet of a road open to public vehicle travel on the Pisgah Ranger District in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties in North Carolina.Camping is prohibited in any area not designated as a campsite depicted on the attached map. This…
Max Patch Restrictions
Restrictions on camping, fires, animals, aircraft and bicycles in Max Patch area.
About
Appletree Group Campground sits within Nantahala National Forest on the Nantahala Ranger District, offering four dedicated group sites for organized camping. Sites A and D accommodate groups up to 25 people, while sites B and C can host up to 50 people each. Every site includes a covered picnic shelter, an outdoor gathering area with a fire ring and lantern posts, flush toilet restrooms, a water hydrant, designated gravel parking, and an open grassy field for tent camping and group activities. The campground serves as a base for exploring over 20 miles of interconnecting hiking trails nearby, including access to sections of the Bartram National Recreation Trail. Mountain streams in the area hold rainbow, brown, and native brook trout for anglers with valid North Carolina fishing licenses. Nantahala Lake lies about 10 minutes away, and the Nantahala River offers whitewater rafting opportunities. The 61-mile Mountain Waters Scenic Byway passes through the region. Reservations are required and must be made by calling the Nantahala Ranger District. Only one wheeled camping unit is permitted per site and must remain in the gravel parking area. The campground sees its heaviest use during summer weekends but remains quieter on weekdays.
Directions
From Knoxville: Take U.S. 129 south to Topton, NC. Turn left onto U.S. 19. Turn right at the Nantahala River Launch Site onto SR 1310 (Wayah Road). Go about 8 miles and turn right onto SR 1401 (Junaluska Road). Go about 2.5 miles; the campground entrance is on the right.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $75 - $150 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (828) 524-6441 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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