Our office operations have changed due to COVID-19. Some offices are closed to the public while others have limited hours or are open by appointment only. Please contact local offices by phone or email to find the current status and how to get the services and information you need.
The campground offers 37 primitive campsites with 3 campsites with electric hookups. The campsites are equipped with picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills. The facility provides hot showers and restrooms with flush toilets. There is a small supply store where campers can purchase firewood, ice, t-shirts, and souvenirs.
At a Glance
Current Conditions:
Briar Bottom Group Camp remains closed for maintenance as of 4.16.21. Please check back for updates.
Reservations:
This campground can only be reserved by contacting Recreation.Gov. For reservations call 877-444-6777 or by visiting www.recreation.gov. General Information, not related to making reservations: 828-675-5616
Usage:
Heavy
Closest Towns:
Burnsville
Water:
Drinking Water
Restroom:
Flush toilets and showers
Operated By:
FIND Outdoors
Information Center:
Current Road Closures on our District that may affect your plans: **Although these roads are closed to motor vehicle traffic, they are open to walking, non motorized bikes, and horseback riding.**South Toe River (472): Open from Highway 80 S to Black Mountain Camground. Closed from Black Mountain Campground to Blue Ridge Parkway. Please be aware that the southern part of that road is closed indefinitely due to extensive infrastructure storm damage and you cannot reach the area from the southern route off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. You will need to drive in from the north (in Burnsville, NC) from 19E and then down HWY 80 to get to the campground.
General Information
Directions:
50 Black Mountain Campground Road, Burnsville, NC 28714
Bounties of trout fill the area's streams. Near Black Mountain Campground, the stream is catch-and-release and lures are limited to artificial flies and a single hook. Farther upstream, the South Toe becomes wild trout waters. Watch for state regulations signs posted along the river.
Hiking
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Day Hiking
The Mount Mitchell Trail climbs 3,200 feet to Mount Mitchell's summit at 6684 feet. Marked with yellow blazes, the trail passes from hardwood to a Canadian forest of spruce and fir. The trail travels 5.7 miles from the campground.
The very steep 3.3-mile Lost Cove Ridge Trail climbs to the Green Knob Lookout Tower beside the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The 0.7-mile Devil's Den Trail is a loop that begins near the restroom next to the amphitheater. The yellow-blazed trail offers an easy stroll through beautiful stands of poplar and oak.
The 1.2-mile Briar Bottom Bicycle Trail starts at group campground gate. The trail follows the South Toe River under giant hemlock trees, crosses two locust bridges and loops around the group campground to the starting point.
Backpacking
Nature Viewing
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Viewing Scenery
A beautiful cascading waterfall awaits hikers on the 0.25-mile trail to Setrock Creek Falls. The trail begins just past the group campground gate.
Another waterfall, Roaring Fork Falls, is three miles down Forest Road 472 near its junction with NC 80. The trail is Roaring Fork Falls is an easy, 0.7-mile hike, starting on FR 5520.
Outdoor Learning
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Interpretive Areas
During the summer, a variety of programs, children's activities and guided walks are featured at Black Mountain and Carolina Hemlocks Campgrounds. The programs focus on wildlife and wildflower identification.
HIDE
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