Basin Cove Backcountry Camping
Open year-round. Free permit required via Recreation.gov; permits allow a maximum of 3 consecutive nights and 6 people per site (18 total). No toilets or potable water available. All trash must be packed out.
Flash Flood Warning issued August 11 at 4:42PM EDT until August 11 at 10:45PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
FFWRNK The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Central Wilkes County in northwestern North Carolina... * Until 1045 PM EDT Tuesday. * At 442 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... North Wilkesboro... Wilkesboro... Mc Grady... Wilbar... Fairplains... Mulberry... Wilkes County Airport... This includes the following streams and drainages... Cane Creek, Bussels Creek, Camp Branch, Clear Branch, Cub Creek, Darnell Creek, Hunting Creek, Fish Dam Creek, Church Branch, Dobbins Creek, Dugger Creek, Bee Tree Branch and East Swan Creek.
About
Basin Cove Backcountry Camping is a primitive campground located in the historic Basin Cove area within Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The area was once a thriving community of over 50 families from 1863 to 1916, until catastrophic mudslides from 22 inches of rain over three days destroyed nearly all structures. Remnants of homesites and graves are scattered throughout, and the 3.5-mile Caudill Cabin trail leads to the only surviving cabin. The campground features eight designated backcountry sites, each with an individual fire ring, lantern post, and bear-proof food storage box. This is true primitive camping: no toilets or privies exist, and campers must bury human waste at least 6 inches deep and 100 feet from water sources. Surface water from the multiple creeks must be purified before drinking. All trash must be packed out. Black bears inhabit the 6,000+ acres of surrounding public land, so proper food storage is essential. Access requires hiking, with trails descending over 1,500 feet from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the campground. The easiest route is via Grassy Gap Fire Road from Longbottom Road. Doughton Park's trail system offers more than 28 miles of hiking, and special parkway fishing regulations apply to Basin Cove's creeks. Thunderstorms are common along the escarpment, and cell phones typically do not work in the area.
Directions
Grassy Gap Fire Road from Longbottom Road is the shortest and easiest route. 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 the small bridge with black and yellow marker signs. Parking is beside the bridge at elevation 1,440 feet. The trailhead is across the road from the parking area at a gated road. Alternative parkway trailheads include Bluff Mountain Overlook (MP 243.4), Basin Cove Overlook (MP 244), and Grassy Gap Fire Road (MP 243.9).
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | No |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| blri_campgrounds@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (828) 348-3510 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!