|best| — Hellbender Rv Campground

Rating: 9.5/10 (Deducted half a point only because the swimming hole is cold enough to take your breath away in June).

If you are tired of parking lots masquerading as campgrounds, Hellbender is the antidote. Located just a short, scenic drive from the bustling outdoor hubs of Brevard and Asheville, Hellbender RV Campground sits on a secluded stretch of the North Fork of the French Broad River. Unlike many mountain campgrounds that offer a distant view of a stream, Hellbender delivers direct, private access. hellbender rv campground

Guides from nearby Davidson River Outfitters specifically target the stretch behind the campground. The brown trout here are wary, but the quiet of the campground gives you an advantage. Rating: 9

Book six months in advance. The fall colors (mid-October) and summer trout season sell out completely. Also, ask the host about the hidden "Hellbender Hunt" for kids—a scavenger hunt that teaches ecology while earning a free ice cream. Unlike many mountain campgrounds that offer a distant

You are 15 minutes from DuPont State Forest (home of the Hunger Games waterfalls) and 25 minutes from Pisgah National Forest . Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock are a mandatory day trip.