Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping is a national park campground in Virginia. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National park campground
- Location
- Virginia
- Coordinates
- 36.80641, -80.33642
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Birding, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Photography, Wilderness
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 828-276-2300
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
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
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Virginia State Parks · 24 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Hall Propane · 11 mi
- Low clearances
- 1 bridges or tunnels at 14 ft or less within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Knob Campground | Private campground | 0.8 mi | — | — |
| Rocky Knob Campground | National park campground | 1.8 mi | $30–$45 | No hookups |
| Rocky Knob Campground | Private campground | 1.9 mi | $20 | — |
| National Park Service | Private campground | 3.6 mi | — | — |
| Meadows of Dan Campground | Private campground | 6.8 mi | — | — |
| Willville Motorcycle Campground | Private campground | 7.1 mi | — | — |
Open Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.