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Marion, North Carolina

Looking for the best camping in Marion? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Marion. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Camping Spots in and near Marion

  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

    5.0
    The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, also known as the Grand Canyon of the East, is one of the wildest, most rugged gorges in the eastern United States. It's also an outdoor paradise for hikers and backpackers. Camping here is always a treat and you are sure to enjoy your time spent in the gorge.D...
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  • Micaville, North Carolina

    Crabtree Falls

    4.9
    2.83 mi / 525 ft gain
    Starting from the old store parking area at MP 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the trail through a meadow past the campground amphitheater. After crossing the paved road to the campground, the trail will come to a T-intersection. Take the trail to the right for the shortest way to the fal...
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  • Linville, North Carolina

    Shortoff Mountain Summit

    4.8
    4.64 mi / 1178 ft gain
    Start your hike from the Shortoff Mountain Trail off of Wolf Pit Road at the base of Lake James. From the summit there is a small grassy area off a side trail that provided awesome cliff side views of the Gorge and Linville River! You can setup after making the hour and a half trek (maybe just in...
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  • Marion, North Carolina

    Camp in the Linville Gorge via the Pinch In Trail

    1.5 mi
    We are pretty notorious for passing up a good campsite but we are learning our lessons. We got a late but interesting start on Pinch-In trail. We climbed down a steep 600+ feet after passing this ledge only to climb right back to it a third of a mile in. If we come up to an awesome spot, we somet...
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  • Marion, North Carolina

    Hike the Rock Jock Trail

    6 mi / 700 ft gain
    One of the first things I noticed when researching this hike was the conflicting information regarding finding the trail head, length of the hike, and the hike's correct route. Hopefully, as of September 2017, this report will contain the most up-to-date information currently available. To find t...
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  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Camp at the Chimneys in the Linville Wilderness

    5.0
    1 mi / 138 ft gain
    The Chimneys area is a lesser-known camping destination within the Linville Wilderness. The Chimneys are a series of rock formations that rise above Linville Gorge and provide unobstructed panoramic views of the gorge and surrounding mountains. These rocks sit adjacent to Table Rock which hosts w...
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  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Hawksbill Mountain Trail

    4.9
    1.87 mi / 633 ft gain
    Hidden far above the beautiful Linville Gorge stands Hawksbill Mountain, among many other fantastic hikes. The roughly 1.7 mile hike from the dusty gravel parking lot is steep but worth every step. It took me about an hour to conquer with a few water bottle-guzzling stops. At the top, you are al...
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  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Photograph Hawksbill Mountain at Sunrise or Sunset

    5.0
    1.5 mi / 860 ft gain
    The trail to the summit of Hawksbill begins on an unpaved road for the Pigsah National Forest. In about a half a mile the trail turns left just before reaching the Jonas Ridge Trail. This turn is an clearly marked turn with a sign for "Hawksbill Summit". The trail then becomes steeper and rocki...
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  • Burnsville, North Carolina

    Backpack the Black Mountain Crest Trail

    12 mi / 5390 ft gain
    The Black Mountain Crest Trail is legendary among hikers in the southeast. It is the highest trail east of the Mississippi, as it traverses the summit of several peaks over 6,000 feet. It is also widely acknowledged as one of the premier hikes on the east coast. To whit, the trail immediately asc...
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  • Burnsville, North Carolina

    Camp at Snaggy Mountain

    Snaggy Mountain is privately owned land that offers a beautiful camping spot located just outside of the Pigsah National Forest. It's completely secluded by an Apple Orchard and is a great home base for several hiking adventures in the area. The location on the map will get you to the parking spo...
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  • Connelly Springs, North Carolina

    Sawtooth Campground via Chestnut Knob Trail

    5.0
    6.18 mi / 1299 ft gain
    This 6.2-mile total trip will take you through the highlights of South Mountains State Park with an overnight stay in one of the drier campsites.  OPTIONAL: You can get a warm-up in by starting with a 2.5-mile loop to High Shoal Falls that you can do without packs before picking up with a 3-mile...
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  • Connelly Springs, North Carolina

    High Shoals Waterfall and H.Q. Loop Trail

    4.83 mi / 1043 ft gain
    High Shoals Waterfall and H.Q. Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Connelly Springs, North Carolina.
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  • Bakersville, North Carolina

    Grassy Ridge Bald in the Roan Highlands

    5.0
    4.84 mi / 932 ft gain
    Once you've parked at Carver's Gap (5500'), the trailhead is pretty easy to find. Simply cross the highway and jump onto the Appalachian Trail, right on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Head north on the AT as you head through the Roan Mountain Balds. In the very beginning of the hike,...
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  • Bakersville, North Carolina

    Round Bald via Carver's Gap

    4.3
    1.72 mi / 338 ft gain
    This super easy hike to the campsites near Round Bald is the perfect intro to backpacking for kids or newbies, but serves just as well for the more experienced backpackers who can't squeeze a longer trip in over the weekend. This short (.5 mile) hike in leads to a grassy opening with amazing vie...
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  • Bakersville, North Carolina

    Backpack to Overmountain Shelter in the Roan Highlands

    5.0
    5.5 mi / 900 ft gain
    Starting from the Carver Gap Parking area (do not leave belongings visible in your vehicle) head North on the Appalachian Trail (cross the road and head up the hill past the kiosk). Stay on the Appalachian Trail for 5.5 miles climbing across open balds and treking through forests and wildflower p...
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  • Bakersville, North Carolina

    Appalachian Trail: Carvers Gap to Yellow Mountain Barn

    12.28 mi / 2720 ft gain
    Appalachian Trail: Carvers Gap to Yellow Mountain Barn is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Bakersville, North Carolina.
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