USDA Forest Service · North Carolina
Carolina Hemlocks Rec Area
USDA Forest Service · North Carolina, United States
- Sites
- 39
- Hookups
- 3 electric, 36 no hookups
- Season
- April 4 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 35 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,802 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CAROLINA HEMLOCKS UPPER LOOP (NFSR 161) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- National Forests in North Carolina
- Nearest town
- BURNSVILLE
- Address
- 8516 HIGHWAY 80 SOUTH, BURNSVILLE, NC, 28714
- Phone
- 828-675-5509
- Activities
- Camping, Educational Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Picnic Tables, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Tubing
39 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
39 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area sits in the scenic mountains of Pisgah National Forest. This is a great place for small to medium-sized groups to swim, fish, tube, hike, camp, picnic and simply relax in the cool shade of the forest.
Recreation
The river provides endless hours of fun for families and water enthusiasts, including swimming and tubing. Anglers can also try their luck for trout and smallmouth bass from the shore. Picnickers will enjoy relaxing in the shaded picnic shelter set amidst the deep woods. After eating, visitors can take a leisurely walk along a one-mile trail or get a workout on a 3.8-mile trail.
Facilities
Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area offers 35 primitive campsites, sites equipped with picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts and campfire rings with grills. The facility provides hot showers and restrooms with flush toilets. Campers can purchase firewood, ice, tee shirts, souvenirs.
Natural Features
As the name suggests, Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area is shaded by a thick hemlock forest with a mix of deciduous trees and rhododendrons. The facility is adjacent to the South Toe River and sits at an elevation of 2,900 feet.
Nearby Attractions
Visitors can enjoy scenic driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking in Mount Mitchell State Park.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 26° | 10° | 62° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 50° | 33° | 16° | 73° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 60° | 40° | 15° | 74° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 65° | 46° | 30° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 72° | 55° | 39° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 78° | 62° | 50° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 66° | 56° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 66° | 57° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 76° | 62° | 48° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 46° | 32° | 78° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 38° | 22° | 69° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 32° | 17° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- State Highway 80 MP 344.1 · 3.3 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Singecat Ridge Overlook MP 345.5 · 3.7 mi as the crow flies
Mountains-to-Sea Trail 269 mi Hike · Drive there - Mt Mitchell Parking Area · 4.3 mi as the crow flies
Mountains-to-Sea Trail 269 mi Hike, Balsam Nature Trail 0.3 mi Hike · Drive there - Mt. Mitchell Access Road · 7.0 mi as the crow flies
Mountains-to-Sea Trail 269 mi Hike · Drive there - Balsam Gap Overlook MP 359.7 · 8.2 mi as the crow flies
Mountains-to-Sea Trail 269 mi Hike, Big Butt Trail 5.8 mi Hike · Drive there
All 611 trails in National Forests in North Carolina · All 224 trails in Blue Ridge Parkway
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Briar Bottom Group Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 6 sites
- Black Mountain Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 41 sites
- Mount Mitchell State Park · North Carolina State Parks · 5 mi · 9 sites
- Curtis Creek Campground (Nc) · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 24 sites
- Curtis Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
All public campgrounds in North Carolina · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.