Basin Cove Backcountry Camping
Basin Cove backcountry is a primitive camp located in historic Basin Cove at Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Multiple trails allow access to the primitive campground. From the parkway, the trails descend over 1500 feet into the Basin Cove Area. Easiest trail is the Grassy Gap Fire Road entrance from Longbottom Road. This year-round campground has eight campsites each with individual fire rings, lantern post, and food storage boxes. No pit toilet or privy exists. Note particularly that surface water is unsafe.
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 | 8 |
Site guide
8 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 2 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 3 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 4 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 5 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 6 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 7 | Partial | Springs | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 8 | 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 03:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Basin Cove Backcountry Campground reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. Backcountry Camping Permit Fee: $15 per night per site. Do not print your permit until you have confirmed you will be completing your backcountry trip. |
This year-round backcountry camping area has eight campsites each with individual fire rings, lantern post, and food storage boxes. No pit toilet or privy exists so be prepared to dispose of waste properly. Water from natural sources must be purified by boiling or filtering and disinfecting.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Grassy Gap Fire Road on Long Bottom Road is the shortest and easiest route into the backcountry. Long Bottom Road from Blue Ridge parkway. · From the Blue Ridge Parkway, Head South on NC 18 for 6.2 miles. · Turn Left on Longbottom Road and go 6.4 miles to a small Bridge with Black & Yellow Marker signs.
| Nearest town | Laurel Springs, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 36.3898° N, 81.1621° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | S & L Outdoor Sprots Supply ↗ | 8.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Robert Handy Camping Center ↗ | 17.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Basin Cove Backcountry Camping, NC from Adam
Worth a stop
Stone Mountain State Park Stone Mountain State Park Alleghany County Alleghany County Wilkes County Wilkes County New River New River
- 3.2 miDoughton Park Visitor Center (Milepost 241) ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Brinegar CabinBuilding · Whitehead · 2.2 mi
- Robert L. Doughton HouseBuilding · Laurel Springs · 5.9 mi
- Downtown Sparta Historic DistrictHistoric district · Sparta · 8.3 mi
Natural features
Basin Cove was a thriving community of over 50 families from 1863 to 1916. Two stalled tropic storms dumped 22.2 inches of rain during a 3-day period in 1916, causing massive mudslides that wiped out all but 1 and half homes. Remnants of homesites and graves are scattered throughout the area. The 3.5-mile Caudill Cabin trail leads the only existing cabin. The campground is situated among a mixed hardwood and conifer forest with multiple creeks. Special Parkway water regulations apply in Basin Cove. Fishing Black Bears inhabit the 6,000 plus acres of public land.
Recreation
Doughton Park trails system offers more than 28 miles of hiking trails. From the campsites, trails ascend 1,500 feet to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The most difficult trail up to the parkway is the Bluff’s primitive trail. The easiest route in and out of the campsite is at Longbottom Road via the Grassy Gap Fire Road.
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 Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Sites at Basin Cove 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 Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Basin Cove Backcountry Campground reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. Backcountry Camping Permit Fee: $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 Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Basin Cove Backcountry Camping have?
8 sites, including 8 hike-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Basin Cove Backcountry Camping is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Yes, pets are allowed at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Doughton Park trails system offers more than 28 miles of hiking trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Basin Cove Backcountry Camping?
Laurel Springs, North Carolina. Stone Mountain State Park Stone Mountain State Park Alleghany County Alleghany County Wilkes County Wilkes County New River New River
Source: Getting there
What if Basin Cove Backcountry Camping is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Doughton Park Campground (2.7 mi, partly first-come), Fort Hamby Park (19 mi), and Bandits Roost (19.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Basin Cove Backcountry Camping in?
Basin Cove Backcountry Camping is a Blue Ridge Parkway campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Blue Ridge Parkway