U.S. Forest Service · National Forests in North Carolina · Burnsville, NC

Briar Bottom Group Campground

Briar Bottom Group Campground is the perfect getaway for visitors to enjoy mountain scenery and easy access to hiking trails. The campground sits at the base of Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, in Pisgah National Forest.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov6 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina · group sites in North Carolina

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Sample picnic areaBRIAR BOTTOM GROUP CAMPGROUND 1BRIAR BOTTOM GROUP CAMPGROUND 4BRIAR BOTTOM GROUP CAMPGROUND 7
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Rx - Stone Mountain (prescribed burn) · 32 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Group tent areas6
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

6 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
ASHASHGravelFull30 / 10YesYes
DOGWOODDOGWGravelFull30 / 10YesYes
LAURELLAURGravelFull30 / 10YesYes
MAPLEMAPLGravelFull30 / 10YesYes
POPLARPOPLGravelFull30 / 10YesYes
RED OAKROAKGravelFull30 / 10YesYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites ASH, DOGWOOD, LAUREL, MAPLE and 2 more are listed accessible

The facility has six separate campsites; each can accommodate up to 30 people. Sites are organized around a single loop with individual parking spurs, providing plenty of space for tents. The campground is equipped with flush toilets and campers can use showers at the adjacent Black Mountain Campground. A campground host is available for visitor assistance.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonApril 14 to Oct 30
ForestNational Forests in North Carolina
FeesThis is a reservation only campsite.

National Forests in North Carolina recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Briar Bottom Group Campground20°30°40°50°60°January: 7.47 inches of precipitation, 19.2 inches of snowFebruary: 5.62 inches of precipitation, 18.6 inches of snowMarch: 7.22 inches of precipitation, 18.5 inches of snowApril: 6.52 inches of precipitation, 7.1 inches of snowMay: 6.08 inches of precipitation, 1.4 inches of snowJune: 5.46 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 6.92 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 7.69 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 8.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 6.29 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowNovember: 6.17 inches of precipitation, 3.9 inches of snowDecember: 6.89 inches of precipitation, 19.7 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.1°F averageFebruary: 27.0°F averageMarch: 32.3°F averageApril: 41.1°F averageMay: 49.5°F averageJune: 56.3°F averageJuly: 59.6°F averageAugust: 58.6°F averageSeptember: 53.8°F averageOctober: 45.2°F averageNovember: 36.2°F averageDecember: 29.6°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mt Mitchell, 3 miles from the campground at 6,240 feet, station USC00315923 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 81 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 89 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, April 14 to October 30.

Getting there

From Asheville, North Carolina, take I-26 west to exit 9 onto 19 east toward Burnsville. Follow 19 to Micaville and turn right onto Highway 80. Continue south approximately 12-14 miles to Mount Mitchell Golf Course. Turn right on South Toe River Road and follow signs to Black Mountain Campground.

Nearest townBurnsville, North Carolina
Coordinates35.7528° N, 82.2214° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rx - Stone Mountain

    32 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceBobs RV Body Shop & Service Center ↗8.5 mi
Outdoor gearTake A Hike Outfitters ↗10.9 mi
Dump stationRV Dump ↗29.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Black Mountain Camping, Briar Bottom Campground

Worth a stop

Groups can easily head out for a day of scenic driving along Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking in Mount Mitchell State Park.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Devils Den Nature
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    North River Loop
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Briar Bottom Bike
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Green Knob
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Mt. Mitchell ↗
    5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Setrock
    0.2 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.

Natural features

The campground sits at an elevation of 3,040 feet. The 6,684-foot Mt. Mitchell towers over the area, with several other high peaks of the Black Mountains nearby. The lush forest in this part of the Appalachian Mountains is rich with wildlife, plants and scenery.

Recreation

With the South Toe River located near the campground, visitors will have no shortage of things to do, including picnicking, day hiking, scenic driving and trout fishing. Hikers will be pleased with a variety of trails from which to choose, including a leisurely half-mile walk through the forest or a challenging 5.6-mile hike up Mt. Mitchell. The adjacent Black Mountain Campground has a playing field, volleyball courts and horseshoe pit available.

Guidebooks for North Carolina

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: the Carolinas
    Johnny Molloy, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping North Carolina
    Melissa Watson, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea Trail
    Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020
    Find 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 Briar Bottom Group Campground?

Sites at Briar Bottom Group Campground 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 Briar Bottom Group Campground?

This is a reservation only campsite.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Briar Bottom Group Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Briar Bottom Group Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 14 to Oct 30.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Briar Bottom Group Campground have?

6 sites, including 6 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Briar Bottom Group Campground?

Briar Bottom Group Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Briar Bottom Group Campground?

The campground is equipped with flush toilets and campers can use showers at the adjacent Black Mountain Campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Briar Bottom Group Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Briar Bottom Group Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Briar Bottom Group Campground?

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

Are there accessible sites at Briar Bottom Group Campground?

Sites ASH, DOGWOOD, LAUREL, and MAPLE are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 6 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Briar Bottom Group Campground?

With the South Toe River located near the campground, visitors will have no shortage of things to do, including picnicking, day hiking, scenic driving and trout fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Briar Bottom Group Campground?

Burnsville, North Carolina. Groups can easily head out for a day of scenic driving along Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking in Mount Mitchell State Park.

Source: Getting there