Weekend availability at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 20, 1:44 AM PT- Fri, Sep 25Open8/8 sites
- Fri, Oct 2Open7/8 sites
- Fri, Oct 9Open8/8 sites
- Fri, Oct 16Open8/8 sites
- Fri, Oct 23Open8/8 sites
- Fri, Oct 30Open8/8 sites
Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.
How booked is Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping?
as of September 20Sites are open right now — we found space out to Nov. That changes fast at a campground. We check Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.
Weekends (Saturday night)
Weekdays (Wednesday night)
Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 8
About this campground
Overview Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Campground is a primitive camp located along the Rock Castle Gorge Trail in the Rocky Knob Recreational Area which is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Campsites can be reached from various points ranging in distance from 1/2 mile to 8 miles. The complete Rock Castle Gorge Trail is a 10.8 mile loop, there are several other loop trails that connect to it. Rock Castle Creek, Little Rock Castle Creek and many other streams and creeks meander along the trail and run right by the campground. Fishing requires a Virginia Fishing License, and the State of Virginia laws and regulations apply. The year-round campground has eight campsites. Each has a fire ring/pad and food storage lockers. A Portable Toilet is available. Plan to pack in your water for safety. Summers are hot (70 to 88 Degrees) and humid as Rock Castle Creek is adjacent to the campground. Winter temperatures (Daytime 30 to 50 Degrees) can easily drop below freezing at night. Recreation Hiking, sightseeing, majestic Blue Ridge Parkway views and simple relaxation are all in store in the Rocky Knob Recreational Area. Facilities Campfire rings and food storage lockers are at each campsite. A portable toilet is available for campers. There is plenty of shade, Rock Castle Creek runs adjacent to the campground. Natural Features Venture into one of the Parkway’s more rugged areas at Rocky Knob. Hike through forests, explore mountain ridges, or enjoy spring wildflowers and rhododendrons. Rock Castle Creek, Little Rock Castle Creek and many other streams and creeks abound. Bare Rocks and other geological outcrops and long distance views from the upper elevations of the Rock Castle Gorge Trail are sure to please. Plenty of wildlife including black bears. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (828) 276-2300. Nearby Attractions Floyd, VA is less than 8 miles away, known for eclectic shops, mountain music venues and great places to eat along with grocery stores, variety stores and pharmacies.Visit Floyd Virginia
Getting there
It really depends on where you decide to park. The closest place to park is at the end of Virginia State Road 605, also known as CC Camp Lane. State Road 605 is gravel and turns into mostly dirt near the campground parking area which is not too far past where state road maintenance ends. State Road 605 is directly off Virginia State Highway 8 which runs from Stuart, Virginia from the South to Floyd, VA on the North. Other locations to park are along the Blue Ridge Parkway as follows: Rocky Knob Campground - Milepost 167 The Saddle Overlook - Milepost 168 The Rock Castle Gorge Overlook - Milepost 168.7 The Rocky Knob Visitor Center - Milepost 169 The Twelve O'clock Overlook - Milepost 169 The Blue Ridge Parkway runs from close to Waynesboro, VA (Milepost 1) on the North to close to Cherokee, NC (Milepost 469) on the South, Virginia Highway 8 provides the closest access to this area of the Parkway at Milepost 165.
Activities
- PHOTOGRAPHY
- FISHING
- BIRDING
- CAMPING
- HIKING
- WILDERNESS
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Rocky Knob Visitor Center (Milepost 169)Blue Ridge Parkway1 mi
- Rocky Knob CampgroundBlue Ridge Parkway2 mi
- The Graylyn EstateWinston-Salem48 mi
- Doughton Park CampgroundBlue Ridge Parkway52 mi
- Doughton Park Visitor Center (Milepost 238)Blue Ridge Parkway53 mi
- Basin Cove Backcountry CampingBlue Ridge Parkway54 mi
Never miss an opening at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
Popular North Carolina campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.
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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.