Best Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains. Johnny Molloy
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during the week or on a weekend; on holiday weekends, all bets are off.
SPACIOUSNESS
This category contributes to the amount of privacy you have, but mainly it refers to how much space you have to move around in. Some sites are surprisingly large, even to the point of overkill; others are incredibly small.
SECURITY
In general, I found campgrounds in the greater Smokies to be very safe and secure, due largely to the presence of campground hosts and park rangers making the rounds. The only places where I felt security might be compromised were those remote campgrounds that saw few visitors and had no staff or rangers on duty.
CLEANLINESS
My judgments were based on the presence and remnants of past campers around the sites—trash, tent stakes, burned logs, and the like—and on the state of the restroom facilities. I did take into account that primitive toilets tend to be less tidy than modern facilities, although there seemed to me to be little reason for either to be a mess.
THE CAMPGROUND PROFILE
Each profile contains a concise but informative narrative of the campground and individual sites. In addition to the property, the recreational opportunities are also described—what’s in the area and perhaps suggestions for touristy activities. This descriptive text is enhanced with three helpful sidebars: Ratings, Key Information, and Getting There (accurate driving directions that lead you to the campground from the nearest major roadway, along with GPS coordinates).
THE CAMPGROUND LOCATOR MAP AND MAP LEGEND
Use the Southern Appalachians–Smokies Campground Locator Map, opposite the Table of Contents, to assess the exact location of each campground. The campground’s number appears not only on the overview map but also in the Table of Contents and on the profile’s first page.
A map legend that details the symbols found on the campground-layout maps appears immediately following the Table of Contents.
CAMPGROUND-LAYOUT MAPS
Each profile includes a detailed map of individual campsites, roads, facilities, and other key elements.
GPS CAMPGROUND-ENTRANCE COORDINATES
Readers can easily access all campgrounds in this book by using the driving directions in Getting There along with the overview maps, which show at least one major road leading into the area. But for those who enjoy using GPS technology to navigate, the book includes coordinates for each campground’s entrance in latitude and longitude, expressed in degrees and decimal minutes.
To convert GPS coordinates from degrees, minutes, and seconds to the above degrees–decimal minutes format, the seconds are divided by 60. For more on GPS technology, visit usgs.gov.
A note of caution: A dedicated GPS unit will easily guide you to any of these campgrounds, but users of smartphone mapping apps may find that cell service is unavailable in the remote areas where a number of these hideaways are located.
WEATHER
Spring is the most variable season in this region. During March, you’ll find your first signs of rebirth in the lowlands, yet trees in the high country may not be fully leafed out until June. Both winter- and summerlike weather may be experienced in spring. As summer approaches, the strong fronts weaken, and thunderstorms and haze become more frequent. Summertime rainy days can be cool, especially in the high country. In fall, continental fronts once again sweep through, clearing the air and bringing warm days and cool nights, though rain is always possible.
The first snows of winter usually arrive in November and snow can intermittently fall–April, though no permanent snowpack exists. About 20–80 inches of snow can fall during this time. Expect entire days of below-freezing weather, but be aware that temperatures can range from quite mild to bitterly cold.
FIRST AID KIT
A useful first aid kit may contain more items than you might think necessary. These are just the basics. Prepackaged kits in waterproof bags (Atwater Carey and Adventure Medical make them) are available. As a preventive measure, take along sunscreen and insect repellent. Even though quite a few items are listed here, they pack down into a small space:
• Ace bandages
• Adhesive bandages
• Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin or the generic equivalent)
• Antiseptic or disinfectant, such as Betadine or hydrogen peroxide
• Aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Advil)
• Butterfly-closure bandages
• Comb and tweezers (for removing ticks from your skin)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, in case of allergic reactions)
• Epinephrine (EpiPen) in a prefilled syringe (for severe allergic reactions to outdoor mishaps such as bee stings)
• Gauze (one roll and six 4-by-4-inch compress pads)
• LED flashlight or headlamp
• Matches or lighter
• Moist towelettes
• Moleskin/Spenco 2nd Skin
• Pocketknife or multipurpose tool
• Waterproof first aid tape
• Whistle (for signaling rescuers if you get lost or injured)
WATCHWORDS FOR FLORA AND FAUNA
BEARS The Southern Appalachians and Smokies are home to black bears in abundance. Most avoid humans, but some associate humans with food and have lost their fear of people. (See for ways to bearproof your food.)
If you should have an unexpected black bear encounter, stand upright and back away slowly. Speak in a calm voice. If you spot a bear at camp or on the trail, keep your distance and make enough noise so that it’s aware of your presence—never surprise a bear. Likewise, never get between a mother bear and her cub. Always notify campground, park, or forest staff after a bear encounter.
MOSQUITOES In the mountains, summertime is peak mosquito season, but even then these pests aren’t as troublesome as they are elsewhere. At this time of year—and anytime you expect mosquitoes to be buzzing around—you may want to wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, long pants, and socks (provided it’s not too hot outside to make that impractical). Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is best. Spray clothing with insect repellent, remembering to follow the instructions on the label and to take extra care with children.
Photo: Tom Watson
Photo: Jane Huber
Photo: Kevin Hansen/Freekee/Wikimedia Commons/CC0 (creativecommons.org/license/CC0)
POISON IVY, OAK, AND SUMAC Recognizing and avoiding these plants are the most effective ways to prevent the painful, itchy rashes associated with them. Poison ivy (top right) ranges from a thick, tree-hugging vine to a shaded ground cover, 3 leaflets to a leaf; poison oak (center right) occurs as either a vine or shrub, also with 3 leaflets; and poison sumac (bottom right) flourishes in wet wooded areas such as streambanks, with each leaf having 7–13 leaflets. Urushiol, the plants’ oily sap, is responsible for the rash. Usually within 12–14 hours of exposure (but sometimes much later), raised lines and/or blisters will