NF Campground Review – Lake Powhatan, Pisgah Forest (Asheville, NC)

Another wonderful National Forest campground only ~6 miles from Asheville, NC in the Smoky Mountains
Link to campground here: Lake Powhatan, Pisgah National Forest
Link to map here: Lake Powhatan, Bent Creek Recreation Area

1. Site Quality = 4.5/5
   Very nice forest sites here. They are all hard gravel back-ins with picnic table and fire-pit. There’s an assortment of sizes as well as some tent-only sites, but all are nicely level and beautifully shaded with very good separation between campers. Some sites are wider than others. There’s a selection of either water/sewer or electric (50 AMP) hook-ups.
2.  Facilities = 4/5
   Good selection of facilities. There’s flush toilets, showers, dump station and potable water. In addition there’s a swimming area, fishing pier and picnic sites all around the lake. Only slight ding is the showers have a push-timer (although it gives a decent time), plus they’re not quite as hot as we’d hoped.
3. Location = 5/5
   Another fabulous location. You’re only ~6 miles from downtown Asheville and yet you’re in the middle of a gorgeous and serene forest setting surrounded by miles of fabulous hiking and biking trails. You’re also right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway and within a 40-min drive of Smoky Mountain National Park.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Awesome place for doggie. Lots of space to hang out, hike and even bike with your favorite furry friend. Lots of cold-mountain creeks and streams for pooch water-lovers too.

Overall Rating = 4.6
BONUS ALERT = Gorgeous deep-forest mountain campground right next to Asheville, NC

Summary: Once again it seems we’ve hit the jackpot. This is a gorgeous, deep-forest campground with lovely flat and shaded sites just ~6 miles from downtown Asheville, NC and right next to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The sites offer a selection of either water/sewer or electric hook-up and there’s always a set of first-come-first-serve for those non-reservation folks like ourselves. The whole area is part of Pisgah National Forest and is a hiking and biking paradise with miles of different trails right on your doorstep interspersed beautifully with forest, the lake, streams and creeks. To top it all off Asheville and the surrounding area is super dog-friendly allowing dogs on all trails and in restaurants with outdoor spaces. So, you can have an expresso downtown in the morning, go for a bike-ride with pooch in the afternoon and relax by your campfire in serene forest in the evening. Another keeper-campsite for us, for sure!

 Extra Info:  No connectivity here, but we were able to get a slooow (just barely usable) internet w/ Verizon using our external amplifier and antenna. Selection of reservation and first-come-first-serve sites. Sewer/water or 50 AMP hook-ups. Sites are $23/night for sewer/water, $25/night for electric. Central dump and potable water. Fishing pier and swimming beach on Lake Powhatan.

Our site (#35) in Bent Creek Loop

Typical campsite view

View down Big John Loop

View down Bent Creek Loop showing one of smaller pull-through sites (#26)

Picnic table and fire-pit/grill

One of the many, gorgeous hiking trails

Bent Creek stream

Fall Colors Part II & Adieu to the Smokies

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower (Albert Camus)

Hiking in Pigsah Forest, NC

Well, we’re almost done with our stay in the Smokies and it’s been a perfect 3 weeks. When we arrived the mountains were still green with summer. Then, with a few days of frost and autumn sun they burst forth with all the glory of fall color. 

Our last week has been spent just outside Asheville, NC, a bohemian mountain town with the feel of San Francisco and a strong link to the land. In fact farmers are a such a big part of the culture that the local food guide is over 100 pages long. We’ve had expresso downtown, bought pastured eggs from a side-stall in the country and driven the warm-hued hills of the Smokies along the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway.  The entire area is also incredibly dog-friendly with pooch’s on every trail and pets accepted in every outdoor restaurant. And to top it all off the people are as warm as their furry friends. It’s the perfect mix of city, outdoors and good Southern charm.

View from the Blue Ridge Parkway

There’s so much more to do in the area, but the leaves are falling and moving on and so are we. As the colors fade in our windshield we’ll say adieu to the Smokies and hope we meet again.