Located in the Smoky Mountains, Allegheny County, North Carolina offers a myriad of hiking trails that take you along flowing creeks and through beautiful forests and mountains. The area offers a variety of camping options perfect for trailer campers, all located close to the county’s outdoor recreational opportunities.
Location
The county includes Blue Ridge Parkway, an area known for its scenery, waterfalls and hiking trails as well as the Blue Ridge Music Center. The New River runs through part of Allegheny County, meandering through the mountains. Other areas of the county include Grayson Highlands State Park, the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Jefferson National Forest. All of these areas offer hiking and biking trails as well as trails for horseback riding.
Campgrounds
Several campgrounds offer trailer campers a great place to stay. Rivercamp USA is located on New River in Piney Creek. The campground makes a great base camp from which you can enjoy canoeing, hiking, biking and fishing. You’ll find riverfront sites with water and electric as well as a shower house with restrooms. A playground and laundry complete the amenities. Rent canoes, kayaks or inner tubes from the office so you can explorer the New River. The New River Campground, located between Sparta and Independence, Virginia, offers shaded sites in the woods with water and electric. Facilities include a bathhouse with restrooms, playground and a large picnic pavilion as well as smaller picnic shelters located along the river.
New River also provides canoes and kayaks as well as a shuttle service to the entry point, then you can paddle or float your way back to the campground.
Water Recreation
Grab a canoe or kayak and paddle your way around the New River. Or, take an inner tube down the river. As you go, take time for a picnic or a swim, or just explore the woodsy shoreline. Guided canoe trips are offered by the Park from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The six-mile rides take about six hours, so plan to bring a lunch and water. Fishing is also popular with Grayson Highlands State Park offering access to 10 miles of wild trout streams.
Hiking and Biking
Grayson Highlands State Park helps you explore the area on foot with nine hiking trails. The park offers access to the Appalachian Trail, the longest foot trail in North America. Take the one-mile Appalachian Spur Trail to get a taste of this incredible path. The park also provides trailheads that lead into Jefferson National Forest. Mountain biking is available on the trails; you can rent bikes in several of the nearby towns including Whitetop.
Preparation
Fishing in the area requires a Virginia State fishing license, available at sporting good stores in the nearby towns. Becoming familiar with the fishing regulations is important since some of the streams require certain types of hooks and lures.
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