High Country Life

Camping in the High Country during summer camping trips can be an unforgettable experience, but it is essential that campers know how to keep themselves cool during this hot and muggy time of year.

High Country campgrounds boast some of the finest views in North Carolina and Colorado, along with historic mountain towns with vibrant music scenes. Here are some tips and suggestions for planning your summer camping adventure!

1. Camping in National Forests

National forests offer thousands of campgrounds for all camping styles and needs, from fully developed campsites tailored towards families to primitive backcountry spots that offer more of a wilderness camping experience. Most national forest campgrounds do offer amenities like bathrooms and toilets as well as fire rings; most also remain free to camp at as long as you do not camp within designated Wilderness areas or near key wildlife habitats.

Some national forests allow dispersed camping, which allows campers to set up tent wherever within the boundaries of a forest as long as it doesn’t interfere with others or park in prohibited spots. While some national forests have limited this form of camping in recent years, Washington Gulch in Crested Butte and Spread Creek in Grand Teton National Park still permit it.

Dispersed camping can be both enjoyable and challenging to locate in the dark, making it essential to know exactly what you’re getting into before attempting this approach. Give yourself plenty of time for finding your site before attempting this method alone in remote parts of the forest; follow Leave No Trace principles if camping solo there too.

As an example, never cut down a tree for firewood – instead use fallen branches or limbs from the ground for this purpose. Additionally, make sure your campsite is tidy before departing for the day.

National forests offer a diverse array of camping experiences that make them the ideal summertime camping spot. From enjoying lakeside views at Julian Price Memorial Park and Campground to hiking a mountain trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the High Country boasts numerous scenic campgrounds that make camping unforgettable.

Crater Lake National Park provides an incredible off-the-beaten-path camping experience, featuring the country’s deepest lake and its dormant volcano. While Mazama Campground may be open during summertime, for the best scenery opt for camping at a backcountry site overlooking Annie Creek Canyon for maximum beauty.

2. Camping in State Parks

State parks provide an ideal option for family camping trips in the summertime. Many parks feature amenities like playgrounds and family activities in addition to swimming and fishing opportunities, plus hiking or bike riding trails that bring nature close up – plus campgrounds can be found across the country in different landscapes including pine forests, sandy beaches or marine habitats!

Some state parks even provide unique experiences, like kayaking or exploring the history of a national park. North Carolina state parks don’t disappoint either: from campgrounds right along the coastline to more remote hiking experiences (e.g. camping next to sea stacks at Olympic National Park); others boast more seclusion with rain forest settings.

New York offers another option for family camping: Allegany State Park is one of the state’s largest parks, boasting two miles of Long Island Sound beaches, as well as bike paths, picnic areas, fishing piers and lakes for fishing enthusiasts to use. In addition to all this is there two museums as well as plenty of other outdoor activities available here.

Badlands National Park of South Dakota provides the ideal camping experience. Boasting diverse landscapes of sandstone canyons, prairies and fossil finds – not to mention two campgrounds dedicated to tent and RV camping, Cedar Pass and Sage Creek each offer 96 sites with scenic views as well as amenities such as electricity.

There is also an abundance of state parks across the country to choose from, many within short driving distance of major cities for an escape from city life. You might even discover an unusual camping experience like Flintlock Campground in Kentucky – run by a family and featuring peaceful mountainside camping along a relaxing stream!

So why wait? Plan your summer camping trip now. You won’t regret it!

3. Camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Start playing your fiddle-and-banjo tunes, pack a picnic lunch, and take to the road on the Blue Ridge Parkway for scenic camping! This popular scenic byway encases the rugged Appalachian Mountains while connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina via hiking trails that lead to scenic overlooks and charming small towns along its route.

Eight Parkway campgrounds provide tent and RV camping with shower facilities, water sources, and dump stations. Sites are first come, first serve from May through October with vacancies decreasing toward the end of each season; due to no commercial developments along the Parkway if campsites become full you may also explore nearby state parks or mountain towns for camping options.

Campers must abide by Parkway rules when camping on its premises, such as fire restrictions requiring all campfires be contained within an approved grate or ring and regulations prohibit bringing in wood from outside 100 yards; dead and downwood within this radius can still be collected for use at campsites. Furthermore, no alcohol may be consumed within or near campsites while loud music must end by 10 pm.

The Parkway’s lush forests and rugged cliff faces offer endless outdoor adventure. Hike a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, picnic by waterfalls or enjoy autumn on Skyline Drive; additional must-see attractions include Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock and Asheville Ale Trails.

Camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway is an enjoyable summertime activity in Western North Carolina, and there are also privately-owned campgrounds within Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests and New River State Park located off US-221 near Ashe County.

4. Camping in the Mountains of North Carolina

Mountains make an excellent destination for summer camping due to their cooler temperatures and scenic beauty. Hikers, mountain bikers or those simply seeking relaxation will all find North Carolina mountains an enjoyable camping destination.

Hikers should consider camping near state or national forests with trailheads to take advantage of all that hiking offers in these locations, including plenty of opportunities to get outside, exercise and experience nature’s splendor in the high country.

Rocky Bluff Campground in Pisgah National Forest is an intimate campground ideal for tent campers. Situated close to Hot Springs, NC and Tennessee’s border, there are 17 campsites here which can be reserved up to six months in advance.

Black Mountain State Park provides another wonderful camping option in the mountains near Asheville. Here, a network of trails criss-cross the backcountry and Mount Mitchell (east of Mississippi). Although hiking here can be difficult at times, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of mountain ranges and wilderness terrain.

Linville Gorge and Grandfather Mountain offer camping in the mountains. Both parks feature hiking trails that lead through towering forests to sandy beaches where you can take in stunning landscapes while exercising your body at the same time.

These parks provide plenty of lakefront and Corps of Engineers campgrounds where you can relax and unwind, pitch your tent or set up an RV, soak up some sun by the lake and hike 14 miles of trails in search of America’s iconic bird, the bald eagle.

Glamping offers an ideal introduction to camping for beginners! Glamping offers luxury camping accommodations ranging from tents and domes, vintage trailers and fully furnished treehouses – each one equipped with running water, electricity and hot tubs! Glamping makes for the ideal way to experience camping without forgoing any comforts of home!