Camping for Stone Mtn, Linville Gorge and Rumbling Bald

Hey all,

So I'm considering making a trip to NC over my Thanksgiving break and I'm looking for the best and closest camping options around these three areas.

Showers would be nice, but not mandatory. Cheaper the better, drive in camping, or a short walk is preferable.

Let me know the price, location, distance from specific area and any extra information you may have, a website would be great aswell.

Thanks!

Brendan

Brendan,
I'll start you with some ideas, though my knowledge of camping with showers is limited because I almost never pay for camping. This state has to many great National forest areas that are free. Hopefully others will chime in and elaborate for you, specificly with Rumbling bald.

Stone Mountain,
You can camp at the State Park. Their web site lists the rate at $20/night. They do have hot showers but if I remember correctly they dont allow alcohol (if that is important), also I believe they lock the gate at night so you are trapped in the campground after a certain time. Again I could be wrong about that but that seems to be what I remember, although a little dangerous if there were an emergency.

Rumbling Bald,
Not sure about this one but you can google it im sure and find a place to camp in town. Chimney rock is there but not sure if they have camping (probably) but if they do its probably pricey.

Linville,
It would be a shame (in my opinion) to go climbing at linville and not camp in the area (primitive). Its a gravel forest service roads and there are places to camp on the main road (random pull outs). Most people camp near the table rock parking lot on the opposite side from Table Rock. There is a picknick area there that says no camping but if you go a little ways past that there is a huge flat area on the right that people camp at all the time. It is not my favorite area because of the amount of people that use it but it works if you roll in at night and the other places are taken, or if you want to be at that trailhead early in the morning. One place that is a little better would be by the Hawksbill parking area. On the opposite side of the rd from the trail there are a few spots to set up that would be nice and its only another 10 or 15 minute drive to Table Rock. Hope this helps. The road on the other side of the gorge is better for camping but its a little bit of a drive to get there.

Hope this helps.
Adam

Adam you are correct on Stone. They don't allow alcohol and it is locked at night, if I remember correctly. Also bring some firewood if you plan on having a campfire because there is nothing around, they do sell some but it is quite pricey. I do remember it being very windy at night since it is pretty open through out the campsite too.

Regarding Rumbling Bald, you can stay at the Hitching Post Campground on Girls Camp Rd. It's only a few miles to the Bald and from what I remember it's pretty cheap. Hot showers and they sell firewood on site. Another benefit is that it's near the only grocery store in the area which can help keep things cheap. And, in my opinion, the restaurants in the area blow. That grocery has all kinds of prepared foods too.

And don't underestimate Stone. The Great Arch, although easy, is a blast. Great climbing with beautiful views. The park is gorgeous.

I can't offer a whole lot on Linville because I've never stayed the night, but from what I gather there's lots of primitive camping. You could probably spend the whole weekend at the Gorge and be stoked about it.

Enjoy the NC climbing. I certainly miss it.

Something else to consider, if you're driving from MA, is hitting the New River Gorge on your way South. It may be a little cold, but the routes are worth it.

I hear there is a free primitive campground in the works near Moore's, but I'm not sure when it will be open. Maybe you can find some info on that.

Rumbling Bald is a tough one... I usually do it in combination with Looking Glass, so we camp in the NF at the Glass for free. If you're wanting to spend more than a day at the Bald, and you should, then maybe splurge on a hotel. Climbing season is off season for tourists... and I've been told you can get hotel rooms in the $30 range, but I can't be sure.

If you're going to Linville, don't forget about Shortoff. It's got a different parking area than the rest of the Gorge and is ALWAYS EMPTY. You can camp for free at the parking area or at the gorge rim, and it's arguably the best moderate multi-pitch in this part of the country.

Thanks for all the advice, I might actually consider doing Stone Mountain and NRG simply because we only have a couple days and driving from NH/MA takes a full day on either end.

Thanks for the solid information on Stone Mtn, that looks like it will be the easiest to figure out, good news for me!

Whats the camping like for NRG? And what kind of season temps will there be for the tail end of November?

Also, is the general area prone to lots of rain during this time or is it similar to NE?

Stone and NRG is a weird combo. Do you know much about the climbing at these places? The New, while excellent, is a bit different than the rest of the areas you've mentioned. i.e. you need to be able to climb 5.10 there and it's all single pitch, while all of the other areas have easier stuff and the option of one to four pitch routes.

Weather - Unless a storm rolls through you should be OK. Some areas will be cold, and others will be perfect. All will be climbable depending on your tolerances.

Linville - cold(est?), but you can find sun (Shortoff).
Stone - perfect
Rumbling Bald - perfect
Moore's - cold, look for sun at Ampitheater and Fire Wall
NRG - cold, look for sun at Summersville, Endless, loads of sunny crags

November is still excellent weather around here, but it all depends on how early winter sets in. Sometimes it's cold as hell in Nov and sometimes it's t-shirt weather in December. Either way, there is a lot of stuff to climb year round.

Camping at the New is easy. Roger's is $7 bucks a night or something, with a single shower on a timer and a porta-potty. A cool crowd if you're the social type. Chestnut Creek is quiet, 9 bucks a night, you might need reservations, and the owner is really, really weird and OCD. I mean like, he's from another planet. Nice shower facilities but I've never had a hot shower there... Roger never runs outta hot water :)

Thanks Ryan,

I was hoping to get in the easy/moderate milage at Stone Mountain and get a lot of multi-pitch practice on The Arch and a couple other climbs, then get a more craggy experience at the New.

Is it possibly to still climb a good number of routes at the New that are trad/sport and 5.6-5.9? I did a search for those parameters and it seemed to turn up a good number in that range, and some were relatively grouped in the same area.

Whats the best guidebook(/s) for Stone Mountain and NRG?

Chestnut Creek is the way to go. Brian is odd, but really nice. Sells dry wood for $4/bundle on site. And the campsites have plenty of privacy.

I disagree with what other people are saying about there being limited gear routes under 5.10. Spend a day at Bridge Buttress. The approach is literally a walk across the street, and there are gear routes from 5.7 to 5.9 which are incredibly fun. Easily Flakey (5.7), Zag (5.8) and Jaws (5.9) are all right next to each other and are a blast. Walk right or left from this corner and there are 5.7s and 5.8s abound. Endless Wall, while a little bit of a longer approach, has some fun long 5.7 gear routes as well.

I think you'll find there's plenty of routes to run on gear from 5.7-5.9.

Get the most current NRG Wolverine guide book. It's the guidebook to compare all other guidebooks. Well organized, good and accurate info, and great topos. Worth every penny. I don't think there's a guidebook for Stone. You won't need one anyway. MP is a great source. And if you're only running the Arch, then you won't need much beta. It's a pretty obvious feature, and it's one layback move again and again. Super fun though.

The only guide in print these days for Stone is the "Selected climbs of NC". I guess you could use the MP guide but if you ever plan on returning to NC for Linville or or any of the other areas you will most likely want it. Plus with the guide in hand you will be able to pick and choose that day and not be limited by the route descriptions you bring. Stone is a great option for colder weather because the sun just bakes it all day and although it feels mountainous, the elevation isn't to high. Have fun!

Thanks guys,

I think that's most of what I need, any other suggestions on routes, camp sites, or personal favorite things to do in the area let me know.

Looks like I'll be going to NRG and Stone Mountain, camping in the park for Stone Mountain, and using one of the suggested places for NRG, maybe CC just for the nicer amenities :)

Along w/ Bridge, Junkyard has some really good easy trad. Don't be afraid of the 9's and 10- routes there... they are good and safe. At the 5.6 to 5.9 grade you can find a few days worth of trad... I dunno about sport. Orange Oswald comes to mind... and it gets sun all day.

Beauty Mountain is my favorite area at the New.

The Brain:
Brain Wave - 5.7 Trad
Journey to the Center of the Brain - 5.7
Brain Teasers - 5.10a Trad
Brain Tweezers - 5.10b Sport

Thunder Buttress:
Mamma's Squeeze Box - 5.8 o/w chimney
Screamer Crack - 5.8 o/w
Supercrack - 5.9 trad
Mushrooms - 10a trad

Burning Buttress:
Happy Hands - 5.9 trad
Quick Robin to the Bat Crack - 5.10a trad

I am pretty sure you can set a TR on the two o/w route at Thunder Butt. I know we did on Screamer Crack. Mushrooms is no harder than Supercrack.