Camping › North Carolina › Nantahala National Forest
Nantahala National Forest
9 mi east of Andrews, NC · No signal at camp
About Nantahala National Forest
Welcome to the Nantahala National Forest! The Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountain and valleys of southwestern North Carolina. The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. The Forest is divided into three Districts, Cheoah in Robbinsville, NC, Tusquitee in Murphy, NC, and the Nantahala in Franklin, NC. All district names come from the Cherokee language. "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noon day sun," a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday.The Nantahala National Forest was established in 1920 under authority of the 1911 Weeks Act. This act provided authority to acquire lands for national forests to protect watersheds, to provide…
- Managed by: National Forests in North Carolina
- Where: 9 mi east of Andrews, NC · 35.21017, -83.66139
Things to do:
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Apr–Oct (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Dec–Feb.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartram Nrt - Nantahala Rd | Hiking | 0.4 mi | 68.6 mi |
| Junaluska Gap | Hiking | 0.8 mi | 4.6 mi |
| Appletree | Hiking | 1.2 mi | 2.2 mi |
| Nature Walk | Hiking | 1.2 mi | 0.3 mi |
| Diamond Valley | Hiking | 1.2 mi | 1.1 mi |
| Laurel Branch | Hiking | 1.7 mi | 1.3 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
No signal at camp
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way is bright, with a little glow low on the horizon.
Class 3 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 15 mi
Propane: 19.8 mi
Camps nearby
- Dispersed spot · 10 mi E of Andrews 0.8 mi
- Appletree Group Campground 1.2 mi
- Wine Spring Horse Camp 3.5 mi
- Wine Spring Campsite 5 mi
- Ledbetter Creek Camp 5.9 mi
- Lost Mine Camp Ground 8.4 mi