Camping in NC

[TallPaul]

Good luck. Leaving soon myself as soon as my last meeting is over. Gear's in the car. Leaving from Charlotte, so Heading up to either Stone or South mountain. Will decide when I buckle up. Burr.

Enjoy the AT. Should be nice.

Brian

Got to Hot Springs Friday at about 5PM, three of us had to book it up the mountain. Got camp area set up and fire going on the peak of the mountain right as sun was going down. It started sleeting/severe wind and snow around midnight, stayed relatively warm. Will probably plan a better weekend next time, was hard to get around when everything was frozen!

I'm jealous of you both... Enjoy it out there.

[tundracamper]

The Brevard area (and surrounding areas you mention) ... There are some great car spots along Yellow Gap Rd (gravel) between Brevard and Mills River. You can have a fire at either of those and water is nearby (very near) on both.

I'm going to be traveling through this area and would like to hammock camp one night. Since I'll be passing through, car camping via 2WD sedan is best. A gravel road is fine, as long as I don't need 4WD. I've found this Yellow Gap Rd on Google Maps. Is the camping spot near Thompson Creek?

I also found where there was a hang a few weeks ago in this area, but that 8 page thread didn't ever provide specifics on where it was held. Any suggestions, with specifics that I can find on Google Maps would be appreciated. Access to water is not essential, but I always enjoy camping near a stream.

Thanks!

[Titaniumpyro]

Tundracamper,
Yellow Gap rd has several roadside campsites as well as several trails if one wanted to get off the road a bit.
It is a gravel road but it usually stays in pretty decent shape. Should be passable with 2wd.

[jn35646]

I'm going to be traveling through this area and would like to hammock camp one night. Since I'll be passing through, car camping via 2WD sedan is best. A gravel road is fine, as long as I don't need 4WD. I've found this Yellow Gap Rd on Google Maps. Is the camping spot near Thompson Creek?

I also found where there was a hang a few weeks ago in this area, but that 8 page thread didn't ever provide specifics on where it was held. Any suggestions, with specifics that I can find on Google Maps would be appreciated. Access to water is not essential, but I always enjoy camping near a stream.

Thanks!

I've driven that road many times in a 2wd car. Only a few spots you even have to dodge potholes.

Tundracamper,
Yellow Gap rd has several roadside campsites as well as several trails if one wanted to get off the road a bit.
It is a gravel road but it usually stays in pretty decent shape. Should be passable with 2wd.

What TiPyro said. You'll have your pick of sites along the road. There are a few right next to a great little stream, Bradley Fork I think it's called.

[tundracamper]

I've driven that road many times in a 2wd car. Only a few spots you even have to dodge potholes.

What TiPyro said. You'll have your pick of sites along the road. There are a few right next to a great little stream, Bradley Fork I think it's called.

Apparently after the last winter storm nobody informed that rangers that with temps of 65F and a sunny day that ice is not going to be a problem. All of the roads were quite dry. HOWEVER, the gates to ALL of the Forest Service roads were locked. I tried Yellow Gap road from the west end and Mills River road from the east end. I stopped by the ranger station in the early afternoon yesterday on the way out to inquire and even it was locked. There was a small sign that said the roads were locked due to ice on February 25th. Yesterday it was sunny, dry, and warm. Apparently, all of the rangers were off on Saturday and nobody had time to unlock the gates. So, I just moved on. Total waste of taxpayer money!!

[jn35646]

Apparently after the last winter storm nobody informed that rangers that with temps of 65F and a sunny day that ice is not going to be a problem. All of the roads were quite dry. HOWEVER, the gates to ALL of the Forest Service roads were locked. I tried Yellow Gap road from the west end and Mills River road from the east end. I stopped by the ranger station in the early afternoon yesterday on the way out to inquire and even it was locked. There was a small sign that said the roads were locked due to ice on February 25th. Yesterday it was sunny, dry, and warm. Apparently, all of the rangers were off on Saturday and nobody had time to unlock the gates. So, I just moved on. Total waste of taxpayer money!!

Bummer man.

[Loki]

Apparently after the last winter storm nobody informed that rangers that with temps of 65F and a sunny day that ice is not going to be a problem. All of the roads were quite dry. HOWEVER, the gates to ALL of the Forest Service roads were locked. I tried Yellow Gap road from the west end and Mills River road from the east end. I stopped by the ranger station in the early afternoon yesterday on the way out to inquire and even it was locked. There was a small sign that said the roads were locked due to ice on February 25th. Yesterday it was sunny, dry, and warm. Apparently, all of the rangers were off on Saturday and nobody had time to unlock the gates. So, I just moved on. Total waste of taxpayer money!!

Same thing happened to me last year. Big disappointment for sure!
Yes, rangers sometimes close the road during late winter and early Spring (there is no set schedule - it is weather-driven). There is a good reason for this. The repeated freezing/thawing/freezing/thawing weather conditions soften the roadbeds to the point that vehicles quickly turn them into rutted mush. The roads are closed during this type of weather to avoid having to completely rebuild them each year after the freeze/thaw type weather is over. The policy, though inconvenient and impossible to plan around, Actually saves a lot of money in the annual budget and keeps the roads passable using 2wd passenger vehicles for the rest of the year.

Sorry tundracamper, i too have been disappointed in the same way and know it is no fun. If I'd known you were headed there this particular weekend then you would have been welcome to camp with us in a nearby area.
Send a PM next time and we'll gladly try to help.