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National Forests of North Carolina Recreation Sites Now Open in the Mountains

The U.S. Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina announced that most campgrounds and recreation sites in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests are now open for business for the 2015 season.

Campgrounds 

Nantahala National Forest

  • Cable Cove (Cheoah District)
  • Cheoah Point (Cheoah District)
  • Horse Cove (Cheoah District)
  • Rattler Ford Group Camp (Cheoah District)
  • Tsali (Cheoah District)
  • Appletree Group Camp (Nantahala District)
  • Balsam Lake Lodge (Nantahala District)
  • Standing Indian (Nantahala District)
  • Van Hook Glade (Nantahala District)

Pisgah National Forest

  • Black Mountain (Appalachian District)
  • Briar Bottom Group Camp (Appalachian District)
  • Carolina Hemlocks (Appalachian District)
  • Curtis Creek (Grandfather District)
  • Mortimer (Grandfather District)
  • Cove Creek Group Camp (Pisgah District)
  • Lake Powhatan (Pisgah District)
  • North Mills River (Pisgah District)
  • Sunburst (Pisgah District) – with vault toilets and no drinking water until mid-May

Davidson River and North Mills River Campgrounds are open year-round, as are the Pisgah District’s four group camps, Cove Creek, Kuykendal, Wash Creek and White Pines.

Day-use Areas

Nantahala National Forest

  • Cheoah Point Beach (Cheoah District)
  • Cliffside Lake (Nantahala District)
  • Nantahala River facilities (Nantahala District)
  • Wayah Bald (Nantahala District)
  • Cherokee Lake (Tusquitee District)
  • Hanging Dog (Tusquitee District)

Pisgah National Forest

  • Murray Branch (Appalachian District)
  • Stackhouse Boat Launch (Appalachian District)
  • Linville Gorge Information cabin (Grandfather District)
  • Old Fort (Grandfather District)
  • Table Rock (Grandfather District)
  • Cradle of Forestry (Pisgah District)
  • Lake Powhatan Day-use and Beach (Pisgah District)

Many other day use areas in Nantahala and Pisgah national forests are open year-round.

Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Complexes

  • Wayehutta (Nantahala National Forest)
  • Brown Mountain (Pisgah National Forest)

Opening May 1

Jackrabbit Mountain Campground and Beach (Nantahala NF, Tusquitee District)

Poplar Boat Launch (Pisgah NF, Appalachian District)

Opening May 22

Harmon Den Horse Camp (Pisgah NF, Appalachian District)

Roan Mountain Day-Use ((Pisgah NF, Appalachian District)

Rocky Bluff Campground (Pisgah NF, Appalachian District)

Opening May 23

Sliding Rock, lifeguards on duty and facilities open (Pisgah NF, Pisgah District)

For more information about recreation in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, visitwww.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc and click on “Recreation,” or click here.