Closed
— Closed for the season. Reopens the last Saturday in May and operates through late September. First-come, first-served only.
About
High Knob Campground is the highest campground in the Clinch Ranger District of Jefferson National Forest, situated at 3,800 feet elevation. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s, this remote recreation area offers a peaceful mountain retreat with cooler summer temperatures and well-preserved historic structures. The campground features 14 campsites, including both single and group sites, accommodating vehicles up to 16 feet in length.
The centerpiece of the recreation area is High Knob Lake, a 4-acre cold water lake with a 300-foot sand swimming beach. Bath houses provide hot showers and flush toilets, and potable water is available throughout the campground during the operating season. A small amphitheater sits on a hillside behind the beach house, and the lake is stocked for fishing with a Virginia license and Forest Service Stamp.
The area offers access to hiking trails in Jefferson National Forest and provides picnic areas for day use. Original CCC-era structures remain in use, adding historical character to this mountain getaway. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservations, and visitors can pay by cash, check, or by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app.
Directions
From Kingsport, TN: Follow U.S. 23 north to the first Norton, VA exit. Take this exit and make a right onto State Route 619. Travel 3.8 miles to the intersection with Forest Service Road 238 East. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 238 East and travel 1.6 miles to campground entrance. From Abingdon, VA: Follow U.S. 58 West/U.S. 19 North to Hansonville, VA. Turn left onto U.S. Route 58 Alternate West and drive to Norton. At Norton, turn south onto State Route 619. Travel 3.8 miles to the intersection with Forest Service Road 238 East. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 238 East and travel 1.6 miles to campground entrance.
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