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Basin Cove Backcountry Camping
NPSNational Park Service — Laurel Springs · North Carolina · Blue Ridge Parkway
| Agency | NPSNational Park Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Blue Ridge Parkway |
| Location | Laurel Springs · North Carolina · Blue Ridge Parkway · 36.38978, -81.16212 · Map |
| Sites | 8 public sites counted from the federal listing — 8 hike to |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 8 sites Water hookups at 0 of 8 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 8 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 8 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Not reported in the federal data |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Basin Cove Backcountry Campground reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. Backcountry Camping Permit Fee: $15 per night per site. Do not print your permit until you have confirmed you will be completing your backcountry trip. Once the permit has been printed you can not cancel or modify the reservation. Changes/Modifications Changes may be made prior to the day the reservation begins. If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Cancellations Customers may cancel their reservation prior to day of arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from any refund due back the customer. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will have a $10.00 cancellation fee withheld from their refund AND will forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. |
| Check-in / out | In 03:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 8 sites, as reported |
| Phone | 828-276-2300 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-07-06.
From the official listing
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 This year-round backcountry camping area has eight campsites each with individual fire rings, lantern post, and food storage boxes. No pit toilet or privy exists so be prepared to dispose of waste properly. Note: Surface water is unsafe. Water from natural sources must be purified by boiling or filtering and disinfecting.
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.
Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (828) 276-2300. Nearby Attractions Stone Mountain State Park Stone Mountain State Park
Alleghany County Alleghany County
Wilkes County Wilkes County
New River New River
Directions, from the listing
Grassy Gap Fire Road on Long Bottom Road is the shortest and easiest route into the backcountry.
Long Bottom Road from Blue Ridge parkway
· From the Blue Ridge Parkway, Head South on NC 18 for 6.2 miles.
· Turn Left on Longbottom Road and go 6.4 miles to a small Bridge with Black & Yellow Marker signs.
· Parking Area (36.3752 -81.1447) is beside the Bridge. Elevation 1440.
· Trail to Basin Cove Primitive Camping Area is across the Road from the Parking Area. Look for gated road.
Note:
Long bottom road can be accessed from other routes.
1/ Basin Cove from Wilkesboro, NC
From US Hwy 421 in Wilkesboro, take Hwy 18 North towards Sparta. Travel approximately 17.6 miles to Longbottom Road in the community named McGrady.
Turn right on Longbottom Road and go 6.4 miles to a small Bridge with Black & Yellow Marker signs.
2/ Alternative routes from the east include US hwy 21 and from Stone Moutain State Park.
Other locations to park are along the Blue Ridge Parkway as follows:
Bluff Mountain Overlook - Milepost 243.4 (36.408341666666 -81.195863888888)
Basin Cove Overlook - Milepost 244 (36.391030555555 -81.20025833333)
Grassy Gap Fire Road - Milepost 243.9 (36.404694444444 -81.19649722222)
Bluff's Restaurant - Milepost 241 (36.433525000000 -81.17739166666)
Doughton Park Picnic Area - Milepost 241 (36.433525000000 -81.17739166666)
Brinegar Cabin - Milepost 238.5 (36.419452777777 -81.14617222222)
Nearest federal campgrounds
3 mi straight-line · Asheville North CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersFish Dam Creek Park
18 mi straight-line · Wilkesboro North CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersW. Kerr Scott Visitor Assistance Center Conference Room
18 mi straight-line · Wilkesboro North CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersDam Site Shelter
18 mi straight-line · Wilkesboro North CarolinaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersFort Hamby Park
19 mi straight-line · WILKESBORO North Carolina
Trip Card — Basin Cove Backcountry Camping
Laurel Springs · North Carolina · Blue Ridge Parkway
| Agency | NPS · National Park Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Laurel Springs · North Carolina · Blue Ridge Parkway |
| Fees | Basin Cove Backcountry Campground reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis prior to planned start dates. Backcountry Camping Permit Fee: $15 per night per site. D… |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 8 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10323814 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.