Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area

We love it here. The only large campsite by the river is #13, which has plenty of room to spread out. Stays booked the entire season! There are smaller, side parking sites on platforms near the river, with a common picnic area in-between, which are nice. The upper loop is across the road and the sites are somewhat smaller. You’ll hear road noise in all areas , but the sound of the river is amazing and mostly drowns it out. The picnic area is huge, on the river, with a multitude of wooded sites. The picnic pavilion is beautiful, with water, large grills (you could cook a pig there) and a fireplace…and can be reserved. There is one bath house each in the upper and lower loops, but they continue to have water and plumbing problems. In winter, 2024, we hear that the bathrooms will finally be renovated with commercial toilets which will hopefully fix the issues. When we stayed, only the lower bath house was open and just 2 of 4 showers were available. Only the 2 of the 4 toilet stalls were open, but there were 5 portalets in the parking lot that were clean and are dumped every Wed. The hot water in the showers is just the right pre set temperature of hot and are on timers. Just keep pushing the button. The park staff is very nice and helpful. A bundle of wood is $7 and we burned 3 bundles in just one evening, due to lots of soft wood inside. We used our solar panels for lights, so we were self contained in our camper and had a wonderful time. Note to RV’s: there is no dump station, but there are multiple places to fill your water tanks.

One of the most scenic camp grounds I’ve stayed at. Went during cold weather. Going to return in the summer months to enjoy the awesome swimming hole there. Place is really beautiful.

Swimming by the campsite?, this is it! We loved the hosts! They were super helpful and flexible. We had the best time ever! Totally coming back.

This is a beautiful recreation area inside of Pisgah National Forest. There is a campground, reservations are needed for most of the campsites. They have an office with a small store for essentials (including firewood), showers, and working bathrooms. The reservation process is easy, just like check in.

This part of South toe is perfect for swimming, and there is a swimming area with a little beachy spot on the river. It was clean, though some visitors did leave some litter which was disappointing. The hosts did a good job of keeping the place clean, and we only noticed what looked to be a few pieces of trash left by day-use visitors which had all left around the same time.

Such a beautiful place to Camp fish and swim.

A great place for tubing and swimming. The water was so clear and really cold. Love this place, completely worth the 30 minute drive up the mountain.

Really loved this watering hole camp ground. Has every thing you want from a fresh north Carolina river site. Right off the road. Multiple areas for car and rent. I used the day picnic tables. Plenty of those available with table and grill station. Water isn't as cold as you think so jump right in! Wish I had brought tubes. And if you fish make sure to get a license and catch some trout for dinner right there up and down stream. Was very much fully stocked. Kids enjoyed. Moderately easy to get in and out but not if you are hobbled. That's only down side is no stairs or ladder in and out of water. It's a sea wall step down. We had so much fun in our main area didnt even travel up or down stream from here. Have been here multiple times over 20 years as a kid to bringing my own. Lovely gem of a spot. Will come and over night camp next time.

Great place to Camp! I love coming up here! So quiet and serene! They have new host for the 2021 season and they are really cool people. Can not remember their names but they are a good bunch.... Cant wait to come back in a couple weeks. If you have never been here you should come its worth the trip!

Great place to spend an afternoon or a day on the river. We take our tubes and enjoy going down the river over and over. Water is so clear. Some good spots to jump in as well. Recommend weekdays since this is a popular place.

I have been camping there 48 years, I am not a fan of continual “improvements” cutting trees and leaving them laying around in unmanageable sizes so that campers can not dispose of the remnants in campfires makes eye sores here and there for years until they finally dissolve.
Those newer sites that mowed down the rare Indian peace pipes that grew under the foliage there by The road are not natural and unecessary, this could have been planned out much better and could have blended into not detract from the beauty of this place.
I remember when there were only 2 host and not a fleet running a commercial business selling ice cream, T-shirt’s, hats, firewood and renting tubes.
I remember when the trash was in a can in the ground at each site that was bear and raccoon proof and pick up came daily instead of big ugly dumpsters. I remember when they came and sanitized the bathrooms each morning and it smelled heavily of pinesol. I remember when I COULD CAMP IN MY FAVORITE SPOT BY THE RIVER and when it rained heavily all week we kept our eye on the water level- because were smart like that, (never ever had a problem).
I remember the good ol days. I remember getting my first real kiss sitting on a stump by the swimming hole. I remember hand sculpting clay pottery with a new friend fellow camper who brought clay. I remember meeting the same 3 families from Florida year after year the last week of July and we all became family.
I remember taking my daughters tent camping there even before they were a year old and every year since. Each have grown up and become outdoor adventure coordinators at different universities and I think it’s because of the time they have spent tubing, climbing, camping and hiking there.
Please leave “OUR HEAVEN” alone, no more modifications.
No white pea gravel!
*****And please visitors take your trash with you, keep our rivers clean.

Gorgeous river and forest, secluded picnic spots and nice bathrooms. Lots to explore with a wonderful swimming hole. Great for crews of all ages, not too strenuous to be enjoyed fully by all!

Great clean campground. Hosts were extremely personable and nice. Clean bathrooms and showers (this should never be taken for granted!!) Small camp store. Clean, level camp sites. Lots of beautiful hemlock coverage on almost all sites. Equal mix RV and tent campers. Two loops though with an upper loop on east side of nc80 and lower loop on west side of nc80 (the lower is the river loop). Neighboring canpers respected all rules and quiet time. Lots of families. Easy access to water at multiple points. Lots of fishermen nearby. Nice trails and walking paths. Close to Mount Mitchell and surrounding waterfalls/ trails. Gate locks at 10pm and reopens at 7am so be mindful of that if you need to leave earlier.

Beautiful primitive campground with showers and restrooms. Great place to fish, tube, and relax.

We camped on river so nice to listen to river was muddy from heavy rain but people still enjoying very quiet place

Beautiful place. The river was pretty rapid on day I visited. I really enjoyed my afternoon here.

I called on a Friday night after work to see if there were any vacant tent sites available for one night. The guy who answered said they were all booked up. Five minutes later I get a call from Burnsville and the same guy, Keith, said he had good news - 2 sites were available because the group left earlier than expected. Keith also assured me that he had firewood set up for me when we arrive, mind you we wouldn’t get there til about 8 pm. Less to say, Keith was very accommodating and was very friendly. South Toe River is beautiful!

Wonderful place to swim and explore. The water was a bit too cold for the little ones, but for me it was perfect. However, I'm used to cold water as I grew up in Oregon.

I love this place. Several spaces had 'RESERVED' signs when we arrived. Since when do they take reservations? I always thought it was first come, first serve. But, we were still able to get a good spot and had a great time. The river is beautiful... Please take care of it!

Breathtaking everywhere you look here. A very quiet beautiful place with a beautiful view I love loved it

Loved our experience here. Loved that it was right next to the river, made for a good time after our hike.