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

Rocky Bluff Campground

Rocky Bluff Campground offers solitude in a wooded setting located just 3 miles south of the quaint town of Hot Springs and the majestic French Broad River. The campground is conviently located off of NC Scenic Byway 209 in the Spring Creek Gorge Area.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov17 sites55 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in North Carolina · big rigs in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
ViewSite exampleBear SafeSpring 2
Photos courtesy of Yearack, USFS · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Rx - Stone Mountain (prescribed burn) · 42 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups17
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

17 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
1Back-in50GravelPartial4 / 2Yes
2Back-in40GravelPartial4 / 2Yes
3Back-in25GravelPartial4 / 2Yes
4Back-in22GravelPartial4 / 2Yes
5Back-in55Gravel4 / 2Yes
6Back-in40Gravel4 / 2Yes
8Back-in18Paved4 / 1Yes
9Back-in18Paved4 / 1Yes
10Back-in20GravelPartial4 / 1Yes
11Back-in20Gravel4 / 1Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length55 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers 18 rustic campsites that are designed for passenger car and tent camping. Accessories include picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills. There are potable water sites located throughout the campground. As of 2023, Restroom building is closed and porta-johns are available.

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.
SeasonWeekend of Memorial Day to Weekend of Labor Day
ForestNational Forests in North Carolina

National Forests in North Carolina recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Rocky Bluff Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.66 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowFebruary: 3.34 inches of precipitation, 2.6 inches of snowMarch: 3.99 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowApril: 3.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 4.50 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 5.22 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.67 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.35 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.40 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.86 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowDecember: 3.91 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 38.4°F averageFebruary: 41.6°F averageMarch: 48.6°F averageApril: 57.4°F averageMay: 65.7°F averageJune: 72.9°F averageJuly: 76.3°F averageAugust: 75.5°F averageSeptember: 70.3°F averageOctober: 59.3°F averageNovember: 48.4°F averageDecember: 41.5°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Hot Springs, 2 miles from the campground at 1,345 feet, station USC00314260 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 47 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 6 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Asheville (40 miles): Take U.S. 19/23 N to U.S. 25/70 NW toward Marshall and Hot Springs for about 30 miles. At junction of U.S. 25/70 and NC 208, take a left and continue on U.S. 25/70 to Hot Springs. From Hot Springs take NC 209 for 3 miles. Rocky Bluff Campground is on the left.

Nearest townHot Springs, North Carolina
Coordinates35.8617° N, 82.8461° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rx - Stone Mountain

    42 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 gearBluff Mountain Outfitters ↗2.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗21.6 mi
RV sales & serviceBlue Ridge Adventure Vehicles Inc. ↗34.1 mi

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

Explore

Video

Rocky Bluff looks different in the Summer

Worth a stop

Hot Springs has been a well-known relaxation destination for centuries. The natural hot springs are a main draw for the town, along with the abundance of recreation. Visitors can also find several restaurants, art galleries, shopping, live music and festivals here.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Spring Creek Nature
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • under 0.1 mi
    Van Cliff Loop
    2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Spencer'S Overlook
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.7 mi
    Shutin Creek
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.5 mi
    Lover'S Leap
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.6 mi
    Pump Gap Loop
    4.3 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.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Cherokee National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Rocky Bluff Campground located near Spring Creek, a North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Water. Winding it's way through deciduous oak forests, stocked with Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout, this creek is touted as a trout angler's paradise, making Rocky Bluff a perfect destination for your fishing camp.

Recreation

Recreation opportunities abound in and around the Hot Springs area. Located on the Appalachian District of the Pisgah National Forest, Rocky Bluff Campground itself is host to three different trail heads. If you are looking for longer-distance hiking opportunities, the famous Appalachian Trail runs right through the town of Hot Springs. Other popular recreation in the area include white water rafting, kayaking, tubing and fishing on the French Broad River.

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 Rocky Bluff Campground?

Sites at Rocky Bluff Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Rocky Bluff Campground?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Rocky Bluff Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Weekend of Memorial Day to Weekend of Labor Day.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Rocky Bluff Campground have?

17 sites, including 17 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Rocky Bluff Campground?

The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Rocky Bluff Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Rocky Bluff Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Rocky Bluff 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

What is there to do at Rocky Bluff Campground?

Recreation opportunities abound in and around the Hot Springs area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Rocky Bluff Campground?

Hot Springs, North Carolina. Hot Springs has been a well-known relaxation destination for centuries.

Source: Getting there

What if Rocky Bluff Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Round Mountain Campground (6.2 mi, first-come), Paint Creek Campground (8.1 mi), and Houston Valley (8.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby