Camps in Asheville, NC

Eric, I forgot . Pick up a lid lifter while you are there: great investment . Check the 2 nds area at Lodge store for awesome deals . Coleman store is next to Lodge so take out a small loan when you go Gloves you can get at Harbor Freight in Arden pretty cheap . Northern Tool has some outdoor cooking stuff . Good Luck . I miss Asheville .

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L12DCO3-Pre-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-8-Quart/dp/B00008GKDW http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-A5-Camp-Dutch-Lifter/dp/B0000TPDJE

I've driven by there a few years ago, but never stayed. It's a US Forest Service campground, Pisgah Forest, Grandfather District. Ranger phone # is 828-652-2144, they should be able to answer all your questions. Also. there's an online brochure of all USFS campgrounds in NC here: http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/connections/Connections2010.pdf Hope that helps.

We are thinking about having a "kid village" this year for kids and their parents to hang out with each other during the day! Anyone can e-mail me at ktsamadhi@gmail.com with any questions or ideas! kids are always welcome :)

Michael a lot of park service campgrounds are closed this time of year, like Tsali Recreation area ( http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48922 ), which I would have recommended except they are closed. Not sure if they offer an primitive camping off season but you could call.. There are spots around Fontanna lake that offer primitive camping in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park( www.nps.gov/grsm/ ) . There are KOA's a plenty around here, but for commercial camping (riverside nonetheless) I recommend the Hot Springs Campground ( http://nchotsprings.com/nc-hot-springs-resort-lodging/ ). You can do Section 9 of the French Broad River ( http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1074/ )and take out at the campground. You can find commercial shuttles by going to Bluff Mountain Outfitters in Hot Springs or asking around in town. I am out of town that week after Turkey day or I would glad to hit a couple of rivers with you. Hope this helps some.

The Little Tennessee runs into Fontanna, essentially it is the cove east of the Nantahala . You're probable best bet would be contacting the Nantahala Outdoor Center or doing some searches for outfitters and shuttle services in Bryson City and Wesser. Lake levels are dropping this time of year so be aware of low water conditions. Now at low enough levels (usually January February) a rare class 3 develops in the Little Tennessee Narrows that is covered by lake water most of the year. (https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Lake-Levels/Fontana/Fontana-Operating-Guide) . I have wanted to run that class 3 for quite some time. You should also consider Lake Jocassee which in the least accessible northern end abuts National Forest Land and has campsites near and on the Foothills trail. That is the land of the high waterfalls all through that area north of the lake as well.