A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service group campground

Briar Bottom Group Campground

Forest Service group campground in National Forests in North Carolina, Yancey County, North Carolina. 3,040 feet. 8.5 miles from Montreat.

Managed by
Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina
Elevation
3,040 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
6 6 group tent only area non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Yancey County

Overview

Briar Bottom Group Campground is the perfect getaway for visitors to enjoy mountain scenery and easy access to hiking trails. The campground sits at the base of Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, in Pisgah National Forest.

Recreation

With the South Toe River located near the campground, visitors will have no shortage of things to do, including picnicking, day hiking, scenic driving and trout fishing. Hikers will be pleased with a variety of trails from which to choose, including a leisurely half-mile walk through the forest or a challenging 5.6-mile hike up Mt. Mitchell.

The adjacent Black Mountain Campground has a playing field, volleyball courts and horseshoe pit available.

Facilities

The facility has six separate campsites; each can accommodate up to 30 people. Sites are organized around a single loop with individual parking spurs, providing plenty of space for tents. The campground is equipped with flush toilets and campers can use showers at the adjacent Black Mountain Campground. A campground host is available for visitor assistance.

Natural Features

The campground sits at an elevation of 3,040 feet. The 6,684-foot Mt. Mitchell towers over the area, with several other high peaks of the Black Mountains nearby. The lush forest in this part of the Appalachian Mountains is rich with wildlife, plants and scenery.

Nearby Attractions

Groups can easily head out for a day of scenic driving along Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking in Mount Mitchell State Park.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • climbing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • horseback riding
  • interpretive programs
  • water sports

The land around Briar Bottom Group Campground

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.