Mile
High Campground
World
Class High Elevation Car camping in the Great Smoky Mountains
| Your
husband and wife team of hosts and Sebastian the dog. Driscal
and Sebastian are survivors. A survivor of prostate
cancer Driscal is glad to be your very much alive
host. Sebastian survived abuse
as a puppy and is glad to be your host too! Hosts since it
opened five years ago, they have guided Mile High into
the beautiful campground that it is now |
Mile
High Information | Smokies Trails
5400
Foot ElevationY
A
unique and friendly campground that is worth mentioning is the Mile
High Campground. It has a hospitable staff and excellent views.
Many sites on the "high road"
have wonderful views of the Balsam Mountains and the Smokies.
The new shower house is open and the campground is mountain bike
friendly. This is an excellent base-camp for the many day hikes
that are possible in this area.
Hikes
Nearby:
Late
arrival
On
a recent trip there , our party arrived late and found that the
campground was full. "No problem" said the manager.
He then found a spot for us to pitch our tents and reduced the fee
for camping! The only flaw that we could find was that the campground
is closed from October to April! Each site has privacy as well as
a picnic table and fire ring.
Comparison
I've
stayed in campgrounds from Abrams Creek to Cataloochee, Park Service
and Private. None can boast the views and hospitality
that this campground has. If they had campgrounds in
other parts of the Park, I would do a lot more day hiking !
 Wildflowers
and Wildlife
The
wildflowers and northern hardwoods give this great place
a different feel. The air is rarefied and the stars seem clearer
from this elevation. I don't know of any other campground in the
Smokies that can say it is at a 5400' elevation.
If
you leave the campground without an Elk or Bear sighting,
you are in the minority. The latest elk that were released by the
Park Service have settled into the woods surrounding the campground.
The road that leads to the campground from the Blue Ridge Parkway
is a great place to watch the elk graze in the evenings.
The
bears, though not intrusive, are residents of the woods that surround
Mile High. It is a good practice to put all of your food-stuff
into a car before turning in for the evening. Check with the campground
hosts for more information about bear activity. You may get lucky
and get to see Yogi in action!
DIRECTIONS>>
The
campground is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway Spur that leads
to Balsam Mountain Road and the Balsam Mountain Area of the Great
Smoky Mountain National Park. Take 19 through Maggie Valley,
enter the Blue Ridge Parkway and turn towards
Cherokee. Turn right at the Masonic Marker and Balsam Mountain sign.
Approximately one mile on the left is the dirt road entrance to
Mile High. As you drive the short distance to the campground, in
the deciduous forest, notice the balsam fir stand through the trees
on your left.
Map your route with MapQuest>>>>
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