Johns River Road Backcountry Camping
Old John’s River Road Backcountry Camping is a primitive camping location along the Mountains to Sea Trail near Blowing Rock, North Carolina. There are 2 sites available, each with a fire ring. Maximum capacity is 6 people per site and the maximum stay length is 3 nights. Access this location either by hiking the Boone Fork Trail from the Julian Price Park Picnic Area, or Old John’s River Road between mile 296 and 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Black bears and other wildlife frequent this area, so bring an approved bear cannister or hang food or any scented items from a tree at least 10 feet high and 4 feet from the trunk. No toilets are available.
More like this: reservable in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Hike-in | 2 |
Site guide
2 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site 1 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site 2 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Johns River Road Backcountry Camping reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. The backcountry camping permit fee is $15 per night per site. Do not print your permit until you have confirmed you will be completing your backcountry trip. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Trailhead Parking is at the Julian Price Memorial Park Picnic Area between mile 296 and 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
| Coordinates | 36.1503° N, 81.7332° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Stone Mountain
29 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | The Speckled Trout Outfitters ↗ | 3.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | General Rv Repair, LLC ↗ | 23.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 30.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 2.5 miChina Creek2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miThunderhole Falls0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Randall Memorial Building, FormerBuilding · Blowing Rock · 3.3 mi
- Gragg HouseBuilding · Blowing Rock · 3.4 mi
- Vardell Family Cottages Historic DistrictHistoric district · Blowing Rock · 3.5 mi
Natural features
Julian Price Memorial Park offers hiking through hardwood and coniferous forests as well as open pasture and Creekside riparian zones. The Boone Fork Creek and Price Lake provide fishing opportunities and boat rentals are available at Price Lake near the Julian Price Campground.
Recreation
Julian Price Memorial Park has 3 main loop trails. Price Lake Loop Trail is an easy to moderate 2.3-mile trail around the Price Lake through mixed hardwood forest and rhododendron thickets. The Green Knob Trail is a moderate 2-mile loop that runs along Sim’s Creek through a mixed hardwood forest, with a small section through an open cow pasture. The Boone Fork Trail is a strenuous 4.9-mile loop that traverses a variety of landscapes along Boone Fork Creek. It features stream crossings and trail ladders and lots of uneven footing. The most popular feature of this trail is the Hebron Colony Falls, which is a section of the Boone Fork Creek that cascades through a boulder field. Hikers are advised to allow for 3-4 hours for this trail, bring plenty of water and snacks, and wear sturdy shoes. Price Lake offers fishing and paddling opportunities. A North Carolina or Virginia fishing license is required. Price Lake Boat Rentals offers canoes, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. There is also a public boat ramp. No motors or sails are allowed.
Nearby
Things to Do in Boone, NC Things to do in Boone, NC Grandfather Mountain State Park Grandfather Mountain State Park Julian Price Park Julian Price Park - Milepost 297 Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Moses H. Cone Memorial Park - Milepost 294
Guidebooks for Blue Ridge Parkway
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Lonely Planet Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trips 2Amy C. Balfour and Virginia Maxwell, 2022Find at Bookshop.org- Hiking and Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, Revised and Expanded EditionLeonard M. Adkins and J. Richard Wells, 2018Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Sites at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Johns River Road Backcountry Camping reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. The backcountry camping permit fee is $15 per night per site. Do not print your permit until you have confirmed you will be completing your backcountry trip.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Johns River Road Backcountry Camping have?
2 sites, including 2 hike-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Johns River Road Backcountry Camping is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Yes, pets are allowed at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Johns River Road Backcountry Camping?
Julian Price Memorial Park has 3 main loop trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Johns River Road Backcountry Camping is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Julian Price Campground (0.8 mi, partly first-come), Mortimer Campground (11.1 mi), and Boone Fork Campground (11.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Johns River Road Backcountry Camping in?
Johns River Road Backcountry Camping is a Blue Ridge Parkway campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Blue Ridge Parkway