It’s a typical scene: A sea of crackling fires amid rows of eight-person tents, dogs run loose, a child is crying, somewhere in the distance an acoustic guitar strums the chords of Sweet Home Alabama.

The truth is that camping in National Parks rarely offers an authentic out-of-doors experience. Sure, you can find solitude on a long day hike, and most parks offer backcountry permits, a fine option for the more adventurous. But spending a night in designated campgrounds can be a frustrating and crowded experience.

A good option to avoid whirring RV generators, rowdy family reunions and cramped quarters is to check out a National Forest instead of a park.
With 155 National Forests in the United States containing nearly 190 million acres of land, there are plenty of options. Most of these destinations, often bordering National Parks (and just as stunning), don’t have the same nation-wide appeal as parks — or the same crowds.

Aside from certain guidelines - e.g. the distance between your campsite and a water source - dispersed camping is allowed and welcomed in most forests. You can explore the public land on your own terms and camp wherever you see fit, or you can stick to developed campgrounds of which there are many. Not to mention, fees are usually small or nonexistent.

Here are a few options to consider:

Dixie National Forest

Southern Utah is jam-packed with incredible national parks — eight in total. I am not saying they shouldn’t be explored; some of my favorite camping memories are from time spent in Bryce Canyon, Zion and Arches. But Dixie National Forest offers a great alternative. It’s less commercialized, less crowded and equally breathtaking.

This forest straddles the divide between the Great Basin and the Colorado River. One gem that stands out is Red Canyon, an oasis of crimson sandstone formations that shoot up out of a forested area. Plenty of great hiking opportunities to be had.

There are 26 developed campgrounds to choose from, with drinking water, restrooms and fire pits available.

Sierra National Forest

When I think of Sierra Nevada, the first thing that comes to mind is a delicious beer. Then I’m struck with images of one of the most captivating mountain ranges in the country.

This national forest is nestled on the western side of the mountain range in California. Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are all nearby. This may be a great place to camp in solitude before checking out some of the parks.

Dispersed camping is certainly an option, along with more than 60 developed camping areas. You’ll also find thousands of miles of hiking trails at your fingertips. That’s another thing about so many National Forests: they’re huge. Sierra National Forest encompasses more than 1.3 million acres. Yosemite National Park is 761,268 acres to put things in perspective.

From John Muir himself, a man who explored the Sierra Nevada’s more than most: “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
–From John of the Mountains (1938)

Bridger-Teton National Forest

You could just call this forest “The Greater Yellowstone Region.” And I mean that in a good way.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks seem to have about as many photo-snapping tourists as elk, or bison during the peak summer months. If you are interested in avoiding those Yellowstone traffic jams and the hustle-and-bustle of one or our nation’s most popular parks, the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming offers the same expansive skies, and stark, looming mountains. You’ll find more than 40 peaks, with hiking trails ranging from novice to “you better know what you’re doing.”

There are 17 campgrounds among clear mountain lakes, rushing streams, lush vegetation and a diverse wildlife.

About the author: Eric Voorhis is a journalist, photographer and blogger living on Long Island. As a reporter and freelance writer he?s covered everything from education and local politics to recreation and the environment. He has been camping in nearly every state of the contiguous U.S., from the backwoods of Maine to the beaches of California, and hates it when people burn marshmallows.

Camping is available inside the park. There are 31 sites that are electric/water that accommodate RVs up to 35 feet. Eleven sites are tent only. Showers are available. There is another camping area named Camp Burson that is located just before the entrance to the park. It has 30 sites that are full-hook up (electric, water, sewer) and 22 that are electric/water only. Camping fees range from $20 to $30.

Inside the park is a 108 acre lake with a swimming beach. Guests can rent canoes, kayaks, or paddleboats. Other activities include fishing, hiking and bicycle trails. There is a nice playground, also. Nature and history programs are presented weekly June through Labor Day. There is a visitor center with a gift shop near the entrance to the park (this is where you check-in if camping in the park). The park also has a restaurant if you are tired of camp food.

We have visited Hungry Mother twice. One time we camped in the park and the other time we camped in what is now Camp Burson (it was a privately owned campground at that time). When camping in the park, we had what we considered the best site! It was right beside the creek and had a small beach area. We could take our camp chairs to the beach and sit and relax and watch our kids try to catch crayfish (which was an entire afternoon of entertainment for them and us!).

On one of our trips to Hungry Mother, we rode our bicycles on the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is one of the many Rails-to-Trails linear parks. We
drove approximately 34 miles to Damascus, VA and rode a shuttle van (there are several shuttle companies) to Whitetop Station. From there, the Creeper Trail was 18 miles (basically downhill) back to Damascus (and our truck). I recommend doing this in the fall; the tree color was beautiful! You cross a creek several times on trestles. You can take your own sweet time and enjoy the view or speed on down the trail. This trail is for hikers, bicyclists, and horses. Be careful around the horses!

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is located just north of the Mexico border in Texas, between San Antonio and El Paso. The park contains the gorgeous Rio Grande river canyon pictured blow.

The nice thing about considering Big Bend National Park as a winter camping destination is that it’s a nice warm-up to more extreme iterations of winter camping. January, the coldest month at Big Bend, still has an average high temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit with an average low of 35. Those temperatures are still extreme and require full winter camping preparation, but it’s quite a bit more pleasant than trying to negotiate a winter camping experience where the high temperature never goes above freezing.

There are four campgrounds in Big Bend, many of them located nearby restaurants and convenience stores. Backpacking and bird-watching are two popular activities in the park.

Mojave Preserve

The Mojave Preserve is a National Park in the southeastern part of California between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. This is one place you wouldn’t want to choose as a summer camping destination; the desert climate is scalding hot with highs regularly above 100. The winter is far more suitable although temperatures can get below freezing at night. One must follow normal winter camping protocol when camping here despite the fact that it is a desert.

Two campgrounds in the park are open year round. The park is known for it’s sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, mountains, wildflower and Joshua tree fields. Roadside camping is also allowed. A favorite visitor activity is paying a visit to the abandoned mines and military outposts which can be found all over the 1.5 million acre national treasure.

Killarney Provincial Park

For some real winter camping, give Killarney Provincial Park in central Ontario, Canada a try. The park has a designated area for winter campers. They require all campers in winter months to file a trip plan with the park office. Temperatures at night can sometimes get as low as -20 Fahrenheit! The winter camp site includes a hut with a wood stove for frigid campers eager to warm themselves.

A popular activity for winter campers in Killarney Provincial Park is snowshoeing. The park is considered safe for blazing your own trail on foot in the winter since the terrain is fairly flat and relatively shielded from the elements by the dense forestry.

French Creek State Park

French Creek State Park is located in Pennsylvania in close proximity to Philadelphia.

For those appealed by the idea of winter camping with some amenities, French Creek State Park is a great place to look. They have ten cabins available to rent with electricity and heat. You won’t score many points with the hard-core campers, but it’s a good way to wet your beak to what it means to camp in the winter. The park is known for its hiking trails and is popular as a site of cross-country skiing in the winter. Ice fishing and ice skating is also popular.

South Dakota is a good place to start if you are looking to have a laid back, peaceful getaway. There are plenty of places to choose from here, which typically consist of a more quiet and serene atmosphere than some places. A few of these places are; Newton Hills State Park, Black Hills Snowmobile Trail Systems and Oakwood Lakes State Park.

Another great place to go to do a little winter camping would be Colorado. This beautiful state is well known for it’s lovely snow-capped mountains. Some great areas in Colorado would be, Mueller State Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Parry Peak, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, Meadow Ridge so many more.

If you are looking to go further north, Michigan has quite a bit to offer for winter camping and activites, most of which include cabins, teepees, yurts and lodges. A few of the best campgrounds in Michigan are; Wilderness State Park, Interlochen State Park, Burt Lake State Park, Wilderness State Park, Fisherman’s Island State Park, Ludington State Park and Lake Leelanau RV Park.

Yosemite National Park is as wonderful in the winter time as it is in the summer time. You may actually be limited on the amount of driving and hiking that can be done in this area compared to the warmer months, but the fact that there is a significantly smaller amount of tourists around the park this time of year makes up for it. All lodging options in Yosemite are open year-round, including the non-heated tent cabins in Curry Village. Only a select few campgrounds, though, are open in the winter months, including, Yosemite Valley’s Upperpine Campground, Camp 4, Hodgdon Meadow Campground and Wawona Campground. Also, a lot of the roads are closed to automobiles during the snowy months, but are open as snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing trails this time of the year. All in all, Yosemite is always a beautiful place to be, no matter what time of year it is.

You can always find a wonderful place to camp or lodge in the United States during the winter. Just knowing some of the best places to choose from always helps in your search for your next wonder winterland getaway.

Located about an hour and a half outside of Dallas, Texas, Dinosaur Valley State Park is famous for its dinosaur tracks. Campers can view different dinosaur tracks located in the bed of Paluxy, which is a river that winds through the park.

Yellowstone National Park

There is perhaps no place more famous for its camping than Yellowstone National Park. Located throughout parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. There are a dozen campgrounds in Yellowstone and over 2,000 campsites to choose from. In addition to a vast array of fauna, the park is almost famous for its Old Faithful Geyser which spews hot water into the air every 90 minutes.

Cedar Hill State Park

Also situated near Dallas, Texas, Cedar Hill State Park is renowned for providing something for everyone. The park provides not only convenient access to a major metropolitan area, but also fishing, hiking, mountain biking, boat ramps, swimming areas, golf courses, and an agricultural history center. The park is located on the shore of the Joe Pool Lake where all requests for water activities can be met. This park has become a famous vacation destination thanks to its accessibility and amenities.

Bend, Oregon

From this city of 85,000 people lies access to some of the countries most beautiful and famous camping sites. The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is in this area and a must-see for all camping enthusiasts. Outdoorsy folks will find everything they’re looking for in the parks surrounding this region. It is highly noted for its hiking, mountain biking, fishing, skiing, bird-watching, boating and scenery. Many citizens of Bend live there primarily because of the ease-of-access to these amenities.

Yosemite National Park

Some say Yosemite National Park, located in east-central California, is the most beautiful park in the country. The park is known for its cliffs, waterfalls, Giant Sequoias and diverse fauna. Its most famous cliff, El Capitan, looms over the park and is a rock-climber’s fantasy.

Manistee National Forest

Located in northwest lower Michigan, this national forest is famous for its access to Lake Michigan and diverse seasonal offerings. Popular summer activities include boating, canoeing and hunting. In the winter, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are activities some visitors enjoy. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, are one of the only wilderness areas in the U.S. that contain a dunes system.

Allegany State Park

Not far across the Pennsylvania border into the western part of New York is Allegany State Park. This spacious park offers over a dozen hiking trails, some more than five miles in length. The park has over 300 cabins, some of them winterized, available to rent. Tent and trailer areas are also accessible. One reason this park is so famous is thanks to its proximity to several large metropolitan areas. Residents of Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo can all reach this park within a day’s drive.

And who better to share some great campgrounds in Minnesota than a park ranger who works there. After having worked as a park ranger for 35 years, he should definitely know the best places to camp.

He posted a 4 minute video on YouTube, which is below, showcasing his 4 favorite places to go camping in Minnesota. He is an avid outdoorsman and photographer so his top picks are great places for outdoor lovers and shutterbug enthusiasts.

His picks are:

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with over 2,000 campsites but his favorites are on Clearwater and West Pike Lake.

Split House Lighthouse

Moose Lake

Itasca State Park

Even if you don’t plan to go camping in Minnesota, watch the video for the gorgeous scenery in it!

The United States Forest Service sells thousands of holiday tree cutting permits every year to thin out trees in the forests which helps prevent forest fires.

But don’t think taking a trek through a national forest to find a tree is going to be the same as going to a tree farm to cut down a tree because unlike those nice tree farms, the trees in the national forest are not in perfect straight lines with all other brush and trees removed; nor are you provided with a saw for cutting the tree down or a way to haul it back to your vehicle.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not a fun family outing. A person just needs to be prepared. When cutting a holiday tree in a national forest be sure to pack water and food (and maybe a thermos of hot chocolate) because you may take quite a long walk to find the “perfect” tree in the snowy woods. You’ll also need a hand saw to cut down the tree; along with a a tarp and rope for hauling it back to your vehicle or campsite; and rope for securing it to your vehicle. Snowshoes might also come in handy.

Remember that every national forest has different rules and regulations but many of them issue holiday tree cutting permits through the middle to latter part of December. To find out if the national forest in your area sells permits and to find out the cost and dates you’re allowed to participate, go to the US Forest Service website, use the drop down menu to find a national forest in your area and then either use the “contact us” button to contact officials at the forest or check out its home page to see if it has any information about holiday tree cutting.

I checked to see if permits were available at the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin. I went to the forest’s home page and then clicked on “winter activities” where I found out they sell permits for cutting down holiday trees for just $5 per tree (the cost does vary but I think a permit costs less than $15 in most parts of the U.S.).

You could turn a tree cutting expedition into a camping trip as well. Check to see if the national forest in your area allows winter camping and turn your tree hunting excursion into a memory making camping weekend!

For the last destination in the series we are heading all the way across the county to the west coast and the state of Oregon.

Did you know Oregon has over 150 state parks (187 if I counted correctly), 53 of which have campsites or overnight lodging? Plus it is also home to Crater Lake National Park. That’s a lot of nature to enjoy!

To enjoy the best fall colors call their fall foliage hotline at 800.547.5445 or visit them online at TravelLaneCounty.com. There are weekly updates. The fall color season typically starts in mid-September and can last through October but varies depending on the amount of precipitation the area receives.

Champoeg State Heritage Area is a great place to watch the oak and ash trees change colors and shed their leaves. It is located on the south bank of the Willamette River near St. Paul and is less than 30 miles from Portland.

The park has 12 full hookup campsites, 67 electrical campsites, 6 yurts, 6 cabins, 3 group tent areas, group RV area, group RV camp with meeting hall; 6 walk-in tent sites and a hiker/cyclist camp. So it pretty much has a campsite for every type of camping enthusiast.

Pets are welcome. They need to be on leash no longer than 6 feet in most areas of the park but there is a designated off leash area for pets where they can run around and get rid of their excess energy (or at least a little bit of it). The park is open year around although loop A closes from November through March, the group camps are closed October 1 through May 24 and the yurts are going to be closed October 27, 2008 through March 22, 2009 because of A loop restroom construction. Reservations for Champoeg are available through ReserveAmerica.com.

The park is a great place for history buffs. It is where Oregon’s first provisional government was formed in 1843 and has museums and historical markers so visitors can learn about what life was like for people who lived there in pioneer times.

Also located in the park is the Butteville Store which was founded in 1863 and is considered the oldest operating store in Oregon, although sadly it is closed this time of year (it’s open from Memorial Day weekend until the last weekend in September).

Other activities to do in the park include walking hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, playing disc golf or my favorite activity while camping - just relaxing and enjoying the view!

If you visit the park on Saturday, October 4, 2008 you can enjoy the Apple Harvest Festival being held there from 1 pm to 4 pm. There will be cider pressing, dutch oven baking, apple ornaments, music, garden produce to purchase, plus fresh-pressed apple cider to drink, yummy apple butter to eat, and desserts from the dutch ovens to gobble up.

For a great scenic fall drive, take a day trip to Cottage Grove (about 2 hours away) and drive the Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Tour Route where there are 7 covered bridges to view. It’s a 20 mile drive but allow a couple hours to enjoy it. For more information including the specific driving route, click here to go to the TravelOregon website.

If you enjoy wine, check out some of the wineries in the area. The Williamette Valley (which is where Champoeg is located) is the one of Oregon’s major wine growing regions. Click here for information on 16 wineries located in the area. The trip to visit all of them is 37 miles when starting from Eugene, Oregon, but that’s a lot of wineries to visit even for me and I’m a wine lover!

Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint, with a 1,629 foot elevation is nearby and worth a visit just to see the view. Try to go on a clear day because you’ll be able to not only see a gorgeous view of the Wilamette Valley but of 5 peaks of the Cascade Mountains - Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ranier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson.

And, if you are golfing fanatic like my brother-in-law is, there’s a golf course just 5 miles away - the OGA Golf Course near Woodburn, which in addition to being named one of the most affordable golf courses in America by Golf Digest, it’s a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

To find more things to see and do in the Willamette Vally in Oregon, such as enjoying area festivals, visiting a pumpkin farm or visiting an apple orchard, check out the TravelOregon website.

And, if you a “foodie,” autumn is a great time to visit Oregon because it’s when Oregon highlights the bounty of the state during Oregon Bounty, October 1 to November 30, 2008.

This concludes my fall camping destination series. I sincerely hope you are able to get out and enjoy at least one great fall camping trip. Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, while you are reading this post I am enjoying a 10 day camping trip in Northern, Wisconsin (or at least I hope I’m enjoying it because the weather forecast I checked just before I left on Saturday had a chance of rain all week and cool temperatures). I’ll post pictures of the trip, rain or shine, when I get back the second week of October.

Happy Fall and Happy Camping!

When this post goes live on the blog, thanks to the magic of technology, I will be on a camping trip in northern Wisconsin where I get to be outside in the wonderful fall weather for 10 whole days! I just hope the weather is nice and not too stormy and rainy.

But today, day 4 of my 5 day series (day 1 was Vermont; day 2 was Michigan, and day 3 was North Carolina) on great fall camping destinations, focuses on a state several hundred miles from northern Wisconsin. It’s Georgia, with a focus focus on Vogel State Park and Amicalola Falls State Park.

VOGEL STATE PARK
Vogel State Park is one of Georgia’s most popular state parks and is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is a popular fall destination because the trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains turn from a sea of green to a gorgeous vista of reds, oranges, and golds.

The park has 103 tent/trailer/rv campsites, 18 walk-in campsites, 35 cottages (3 are dog friendly!) and primitive backpacking campsites.

There are 17 miles of hiking and backpacking trails and the 2,174 mile Appalachian Trail is nearby. There are also opportunities for fishing in the park’s 22 acre lake and miniature golf.

A fall hoedown is taking place at Vogel State Park during its prime fall foliage viewing season. The hoedown is on Saturday October 18, 2008 from 2 pm to 9 pm and will feature hayrides, campfire and dancing, a professional storyteller around a bonfire, with chili and drinks available for purchase.

Some of the nearby attractions include the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Trail I mentioned earlier; the Dahlonega Gold Museum which features an award winning film telling the story of the beginning of the gold rush in North Georgia along with exhibits that include a large hydraulic cannon and nozzle that was used to blast soil from mountainsides; and the Cabbage Patch Kids Babyland General Hospital where they are celebrating their 25th anniversary (remember when Cabbage Patch Kids were so popular that people were fighting over them in the stores?).

If being up as high as possible without leaving the ground is your idea of fun, visit Brasstown Bald Mountain, which is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet above sea level. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Vogel State Park and on clear days you can see 4 states (Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina) from the top of the mountain.

And, if you’re looking for a nice scenic drive to take while in the area, drive the Richard Russell Scenic Highway - Highway 515. It’s a 40.6 mile drive that the NSBP (National Scenic Byways Program) suggests allowing three hours to enjoy.

Plus there are ample opportunities for antiquing in the area plus, fall festivals, rafting, fishing, and golf.

Other nearby state parks include Moccasin Creek State Park (55 tent/trailer/rv campsites, wheelchair accessible fishing pier, lake fishing, 1 mile interpretive trail, and 2 mile Hemlock Falls hiking trail); and Unicoi State Park and Lodge (82 tent/trailer/rv campsites, 34 walk-in campsites, squirrel’s nest camping shelters, 30 cottages, tennis courts, hiking, biking, and fishing) are also nearby.

AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK
Amicalola Falls State Park is another popular Georgia State Park and is less than 50 miles from Vogel State Park, so you could split your trip into two segments and camp at both parks.

At 729 feet tall, Amicalola Falls State park has the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River (pretty easy to figure out how the park got its name isn’t it?); gorgeous views; 12 miles of hiking trails; trout fishing; great scenery for “shutter bugs;” and several lodging options with 24 campsites, 14 cottages, 56 lodge rooms, and the unique Hike Inn.

What is the Hike Inn? I wondered that too. It combines getting out into the wilderness and hiking with having creature comforts like soft beds, hot showers, and a family style meals you don’t have to cook!

That means no lugging of food and sleeping gear while on your hike. All you need to bring is water to drink while on the trail, clothing and socks, hiking boots, rain gear, toiletries, sunscreen, insect repellent, a first aid kit and a flashlight - things that you’ll either be wearing or able to fit in a normal sized backpack.

And, if you don’t mind heading there after the color has peaked, consider visiting the park for their Appalachian Thanksgiving on Thursday November 27, 2008 for a traditional Thanksgiving buffet with Appalachian cultural demonstrations, or visit them on Saturday December 6, 2008 for their Christmas Open House where there will be choir performances, gingerbread houses on display, winter hayrides, and visits with Santa!

FOLIAGE REPORTS
Peak fall foliage viewing in north Georgia where Vogel State Park and Amicalola Falls are located is typically from October 15 to October 31, but check the fall foliage report for the area to see for yourself what the color is like before heading there to avoid disappointment like I experienced several years ago when I planned a visit to Vermont but ended missing the best color for that year by a week. Fall color updates for Georgia and the rest of the United States can also be obtained by calling the National Forest fall color hotline at 1.800.354.4595 or by visiting their webpage.

Quote from Elizabeth Lawrence (writer and garden designer born in Marietta, Georgia in 1904) “Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”

If you are a fan of taking scenic drives in the Fall, then a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must. It is a 469 mile road that connects the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina with 250 miles of the parkway located in North Carolina.

Yes, I know it is a long drive and gas prices are sky high, but it isn’t necessary to travel the entire distance to see great views, but if you do plan to traverse the entire parkway the NSBP (National Scenic Byways Program - sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation) recommends allowing 4 days.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is called “America’s Favorite Drive” and has been designated as an “All-American Road” because of its scenic beauty. It is an extremely popular fall destination because of its stunning fall foliage.

Construction of the parkway started in the 1930’s and took over 50 years to complete. It was finished in 1987 when the last stretch of road around Grandfather Mountain was completed.

Because the parkway goes through mountainous areas it is susceptible to periodic closures from storm damage. Always check on the National Park Service’s road closures website page to see if there are current closures on the Parkway; or call the park information line at 828.298.0398. In addition to listing the current closures, the website provides detour information (as of 9/22/08 milepost 367.7 to 355.3 and milepost 285.5 to 291.8 in North Carolina along with milepost 105.8 to 112.2 in Virginia are temporarily closed).

Sadly I have not personally driven the Blue Ridge Parkway or camped in the area yet, but it is definitely a trip I plan to enjoy within the next couple of years. But even if you are not familiar with the area, there is tons of information available to help “newbies” plan a great trip and maybe even help seasoned travelers of the area find a new thing or two to check out.

There are nine campgrounds on the parkway that are open early May through the end of the fall color season. Camping is $16 a night for all campgrounds. For a list of all nine campgrounds, along with their location and reservation information click here to go to the National Park Service (NPS) website. BlueRidgeParkway.org also has information about the nine campgrounds.

Julian Price is the largest campground along the parkway with 129 tent sites and 68 RV sites. It is near Boone, North Carolina and is adjacent to Price Lake.

Mount Pisgah Campground is at milepost 408 near Asheville, North Carolina. It has 70 tent sites and 70 rv sites. It is the most secluded campground on the parkway and also the highest with an elevation of 4980 feet so the views are spectacular. Keep in mind though that its high elevation mean that temperatures are usually moderate to cool during camping season (don’t forget to pack your long underwear, cozy sweatshirts and warm socks!).

For a list of 60 things to see and explore along and near the parkway (that should keep you busy for a while!), go to BlueRidgeParkway.info. The list is sorted by milepost number (for example, Linn Cove Viaduct is on the list at milepost 304.4) and has a handy key that lists available resources at each one such as G for gasoline, H for hiking, C for camping, F for food (all that sightseeing and exploring is going to make a person hungry) and FEE - fee charged.

And for one more suggestion, how about taking a trip back in time and to a place where money was no object - the historic Biltmore Estate. It’s near Asheville, North Carolina and is only 4 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway (take the U.S. Highway 25 north exit).

To stay up to date on when and where color is at its best along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina or anywhere else in the state, check out VisitNC.com’s fall foliage reports or call them at 1-800-VISIT NC (1.800.847.4862).

If you’re still not sure whether or not you want to grab your camping gear and head to North Carolina, check out this great photo slide show of some of the sights along and near the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina to see for yourself “what all the fuss is about.”

North Carolina Fall Scenes