North Carolina / Wilkes County / Doughton Park / Blue Ridge Parkway

Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

Open — Open year-round for backcountry camping with reservations required through Recreation.gov. Limited to 8 campsites with a 10-person total area capacity.

About

Basin Cove Backcountry Camping offers a true wilderness experience in the historic Basin Cove area of Doughton Park along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. This primitive campground features 8 designated campsites, each equipped with an individual fire ring, lantern post, and food storage box to protect against the black bears that inhabit the 6,000+ acres of surrounding public land. The area was once a thriving community of over 50 families from 1863 to 1916 before devastating floods wiped out nearly all structures. Remnants of homesites and graves are scattered throughout, and the 3.5-mile Caudill Cabin trail leads to the only remaining cabin. Access to Basin Cove requires descending over 1,500 feet from the Blue Ridge Parkway via multiple trail options. The easiest route is the Grassy Gap Fire Road entrance from Longbottom Road. The most challenging is the primitive Bluff's trail. Doughton Park's trail system offers more than 28 miles of hiking opportunities through mixed hardwood and conifer forests alongside multiple creeks offering fishing opportunities under special Parkway water regulations. This is true backcountry camping with no toilet facilities and no potable water. All water from natural sources must be purified by boiling, filtering, and disinfecting. Cell phone service is unlikely in the area. Thunderstorms are common along the escarpment. Overnight parking for backcountry access is permitted at designated areas along the parkway and at the Longbottom Road trailhead.

Directions

Easiest access is via Grassy Gap Fire Road from Longbottom Road. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, head south on NC 18 for 6.2 miles, turn left on Longbottom Road and continue 6.4 miles to a small bridge with marker signs. Parking area is beside the bridge at 36.3752, -81.1447. Trailhead is across the road at the gated fire road. Alternative parking areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway include Bluff Mountain Overlook (MP 243.4), Basin Cove Overlook (MP 244), Grassy Gap Fire Road (MP 243.9), and Doughton Park Picnic Area (MP 241). Trails descend 1,500 feet from the parkway to the campground.

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