Basin Cove Backcountry Camping

Overview

Basin Cove backcountry is a primitive camp located in historic Basin Cove at Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.. Multiple trails allow access to the primitive campground. Click to see a map Doughton Park Hiking Trails 

Overnight parking for backcountry is permitted at designated areas.

From the parkway, the trails descend over 1500 feet into the Basin Cove Area. Easiest trail is the Grassy Gap Fire Road entrance from Longbottom Road.

This year-round campground has eight campsites each with individual fire rings, lantern post, and food storage boxes. No pit toilet or privy exists. Note particularly that surface water is unsafe. Water from natural sources must be purified by boiling or filtering and disinfecting.

Thunderstorms are common along the escarpment.

Cell phones most likely do not work in the area.

Multiple creeks provide fishing opportunities.

Recreation

Doughton Park trails system offers more than 28 miles of hiking trails. From the campsites, trails ascend 1,500 feet to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The most difficult trail up to the parkway is the Bluff’s primitive trail. The easiest route in and out of the campsite is at Longbottom Road via the Grassy Gap Fire Road. 

Facilities

Doughton Park trails system offers more than 28 miles of hiking trails. From the campsites, trails ascend 1,500 feet to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The most difficult trail up to the parkway is the Bluff’s primitive trail. The easiest route in and out of the campsite is at Longbottom Road via the Grassy Gap Fire Road. 

Natural Features

Basin Cove was a thriving community of over 50 families from 1863 to 1916. Two stalled tropic storms dumped 22.2 inches of rain during a 3-day period in 1916, causing massive mudslides that wiped out all but 1 and half homes. Remnants of homesites and graves are scattered throughout the area. The 3.5-mile Caudill Cabin trail leads the only existing cabin.

The campground is situated among a mixed hardwood and conifer forest with multiple creeks.

Special Parkway water regulations apply in Basin Cove. Fishing 

Black Bears inhabit the 6,000 plus acres of public land.

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Nearby Attractions

Stone Mountain State Park Stone Mountain State Park 

Alleghany County Alleghany County 

Wilkes County Wilkes County 

New River New River