The remote nature of the Appalachian Trail and nearby areas along its 14-state journey necessitates spending the majority of your nights roughing it. More than 250 shelters along the trail operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The three-sided shelters have a metal roof and wooden floor and are usually situated near a source of water. Primitive toilets can be found on-site. You may also pitch a tent at a designated backcountry site along the trail, or at a dispersed campsite within the areas managed by the U.S. National Forest Service. You are required to use “leave no trace” ethics, which include locating your site a minimum of 70 paces from any water source, pitching your tent on a durable surface, such as grass, rock or dirt, and either cooking over a backpacking stove or building fire in such a way that it will not create new char marks on the earth -- for example, use a fire pan or mound fire.
While few and far between, a private campground accessible from the Appalachian Trail can give you an opportunity to enjoy a few additional amenities from time to time. Washing the trail dust off in a hot shower, enjoying the convenience of flush toilets and reconnecting with civilization are just a few reasons you may want to spend the money to overnight at a private facility. At the Tree House Camp in Maple Tree Campground in Rohrersville, Maryland, you can also purchase steak, chicken, salmon and other items to treat yourself to a special meal or supply your pack for the trip ahead. Pitch a tent at one of the campsites or overnight in a screened-in tree house elevated 7 feet above the ground.
Nine campgrounds managed by the National Park Service along the Blue Ridge Parkway sit in scenic surroundings convenient to trails and natural points of interest. The campgrounds provide basic amenities such as restrooms, vault toilets, drinking water, and sites with picnic tables and grills. You can take a hot shower at the parkway’s most modern campground, Mount Pisgah, found at mile post 408.6. The campground lies at the highest elevation along the parkway -- at 5,000 feet along the Flat Laurel Gap -- providing a cool summer getaway.The campground has 70 tent sites and 70 RV sites, making it the largest campground along the parkway. You can camp in designated backcountry campsites in Basin Cove and Rock Castle Gorge campgrounds with a backcountry permit. Dispersed camping is not allowed along the parkway. You can also find numerous private campgrounds, with amenities ranging from primitive to luxurious, just off the parkway in towns and cities along the way.
Black bears live throughout the Appalachian Mountains, and many have learned to acquaint human presence with a potential meal. Whether you are hiking the trail or staying at a campground along the parkway, careful preparation for storing food and garbage is crucial to keeping bears away from your camp. Pack food, cosmetics, and other scented items in airtight containers such as zippered plastic bags or containers with tight-fitting lids. Tent campers should pack these containers inside a wildlife-resistant container and secure it at least 70 paces from sleeping quarters or inside the trunk of your car with all the windows rolled up. If you camp in an RV, you can store food out of sight in your icebox or cabinets. Store sodas, pet food, plates, cookware and utensils out of sight, and smell, as well.
