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Carolina Hemlocks Campground in Blue Ridge Parkway

Campground · Blue Ridge Parkway

Carolina Hemlocks Campground

Shaded riverside camping with swimming, tubing, and trout fishing

Type
Campground
Nearest trail
3.5 mi
  • Restrooms
  • Parking
  • Picnic tables
  • Store
DirectionsMap
Parkwolf audio tour277 stories across Blue Ridge Parkway’s roads

Overview

About Carolina Hemlocks Campground

Tucked along the clear South Toe River in Pisgah National Forest, Carolina Hemlocks Campground is a classic summer basecamp near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mount Mitchell. Expect shade from towering hemlocks and hardwoods, the white noise of the river, and a laid‑back scene that’s all about getting in the water.

Why stop

  • Riverside sites with easy swimming, tubing, and trout fishing
  • Handy base for Mount Mitchell and Blue Ridge Parkway day trips

Heads up

  • No hookups for RVs (dry camping only)
  • Can fill and feel busy on summer weekends
Direct river access is the star: swim, wade, tube, or cast for trout a few steps from many sites.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy go

Map

Where it is

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CampgroundCarolina Hemlocks Campground35.80451, -82.20478
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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Carolina Hemlocks Campground

  1. Arrive before noon on summer weekends—first-come sites go fast.

  2. Bring tubes, water shoes, and a towel to enjoy the South Toe River.

  3. Plan for dry camping: there are no site hookups for RVs.

  4. Confirm current restroom and potable water status before you go.

  5. If it’s full, check nearby Black Mountain or Briar Bottom campgrounds.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to go

Late spring through early fall—especially summer weekends—brings crowds for river time. First-come sites can disappear by midday on busy days, and day-use visitors add to the energy. If you prefer a quieter scene, aim for weekdays or shoulder-season windows when nights run cool and the river stays clear.

Campsites & facilities

Sites accommodate tents and small RVs/trailers, with picnic tables and fire rings. There are no hookups. Restrooms and showers are reported by many visitors, but availability has varied at times; official updates have noted periods when restrooms and potable water were unavailable, so check status before you roll in. A small on-site operation sells basics like firewood and ice.

The campground spans both sides of NC Highway 80; the riverside loop is closest to swimming areas, while the upper loop sits across the road and may require crossing to access the river or shower facilities.

2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

  • ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
  • ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details
Blue Ridge Parkway alerts
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Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide

Your drive to Carolina Hemlocks Campground, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

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More stories near here in the app

  • Black Mountains Overlook: Highest Peaks in the East
  • Crabtree’s Rich Cove Forest
  • Buck Creek Gap and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail
  • Crabtree Falls and its Waterfall Loop Hike
  • 277 audio storiesacross Blue Ridge Parkway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Elk, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 112 trails, 232 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Guide

More about Carolina Hemlocks Campground

Setting, wildlife, and vibeYou’re camping in a cool, shaded cove forest with rhododendron, mossy rocks, and that constant…

You’re camping in a cool, shaded cove forest with rhododendron, mossy rocks, and that constant river hush. Look for warblers, woodpeckers, and thrushes; deer and squirrels are common, and black bears are possible, so store food properly. The South Toe holds trout and is popular with anglers.

Best time to visitSeason: Late spring–early fall for swimming and tubing; shoulder seasons for fewer people and…
  • Season: Late spring–early fall for swimming and tubing; shoulder seasons for fewer people and cooler nights.
  • Weekly rhythm: Weekdays are notably calmer than Fridays–Sundays.
  • Daily timing: Arrive before noon for a better shot at first-come sites and easier parking; mornings and late afternoons make for softer light and gentler river traffic.
Why goIt’s close to marquee high-country drives and hikes on the Parkway and at Mount Mitchell, so…
  • It’s close to marquee high-country drives and hikes on the Parkway and at Mount Mitchell, so you can cool off in the river after a big day out.
campsiteriverswimmingtubingfishingpicnic

Wildlife

Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway

All Blue Ridge Parkway wildlife maps
Black Bear1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapElk1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapWhite-tailed Deer2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapCoyote200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapWild Turkey1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapRed-tailed Hawk255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Carolina Hemlocks Campground

See it all on the map

Trails nearby

ModerateCrabtree Falls Loop Trail3 mi · 2 hr · 3.5 mi awayA moderately strenuous Parkway waterfall loop with a steep descent and a longer, gentler climb backChallengingDeep Gap Trail (Mount Mitchell)7.2 mi · 5.5 hr · 4.2 mi awayRugged high-elevation crest hike from Mount Mitchell to Deep GapEasyBalsam Nature Trail (Mount Mitchell)0.8 mi · 30 min · 4.3 mi awayShort, moderate summit loop through rare Fraser fir and red spruce forest

More stops nearby

Scenic pullout · 2.4 mi awayBlack Mountains Overlook (MP 342.2)Quick stop with big views of the highest peaks in the EastScenic pullout · 3.3 mi awayBuck Creek Gap Parking Overlook (MP 344.1)Quiet overlook with MST access and Pisgah ridge viewsSight · 3.3 mi awayCrabtree FallsThe Parkway’s tallest single-drop waterfall via a rugged, rewarding loopScenic pullout · 3.7 mi awaySingecat Ridge Overlook (MP 345.3)Small pullout with MST access and decent, not dramatic, viewsSight · 4 mi awayMount Mitchell State ParkEasy summit of the East’s highest peak with sweeping viewsSight · 4.4 mi awayMount MitchellShort walk to the East’s highest peak and sweeping 360-degree viewsScenic pullout · 4.6 mi awayHewat Overlook (MP 347.9)Small pullout with a clean view toward Mount Mitchell

Parkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking

Top sights in Blue Ridge Parkway

All 232 places
  1. 1Linn Cove ViaductSight
  2. 2Mount MitchellSight
  3. 3Mount Mitchell State ParkSight
  4. 4Craggy Pinnacle OverlookSight
  5. 5Linville FallsSight
  6. 6Peaks of OtterSight

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