Blue Bear Mountain Camp

We received the following information about a brand new RV park near colorfully named Meat Camp, North Carolina. With so much to do in the area, we think you may want to add Blue Bear Mountain Camp and RV Park to your list of places to go RV camping in the future.

Blue Bear Mountain Camp is a brand new facility for RV and tent camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains, located only 8 miles north of Boone, North Carolina. Spanning an area of 150 acres at elevations of 3,600 to over 4,000 ft, this campground is one of the largest in the High Country. With only 31 officially maintained campsites, Blue Bear proprietor Kevin Quick designed the campground to value private, spacious, and remote camping over packing in as many people as possible.

The campground is adjacent to Elk Knob State Park and Nature Preserve at the south end of Longhope Valley, an area that is second only to the Amazon Rainforest in its biodiversity. Longhope Valley is bordered on the east by Blue Bear Mountain and on the west by Locust Ridge. Historic Old Buffalo Trail, Daniel Boone’s old hunting grounds, runs through the valley and then south into Meat Camp Township.

When you turn off Longhope Road onto Blue Bear Mountain Road, you arrive at the “top” of the campground, which serves as the RV camping area. Blue Bear Mountain currently offers ten RV camping spots. In this area, any size or style of RV can park on level, gravel beds, with 50A and 30A hookups, and have access to a modern bathroom and laundry facility. There are four spacious units in the bathroom facility, each of which contains a private shower. The laundry facility is coin operated.

Beyond the RV area is an 11-acre, wide-open field. There are four basic tent campsites in the field, each of which are car-accessible, great for a weekend getaway for the casual tent camper. The rest of the field is left open to the creativity of campground guests.

Bordering the field on the West side are seven more tent campsites; each car-accessible, shaded by large, tall timbers and thick woods. These campsites are equipped with a fire ring, park grill, picnic table, and log benches, and range in size from a quarter of an acre to five acres.

From the top, there are two main entrances to the Blue Bear Mountain trail system. The trail system provides several miles of hiking on the campground, and are well-maintained and clearly marked. Some of the trails are mild, but some of them (particularly on the west side of the property) will challenge even the most experienced hiker.

Fifteen remote tent camp sites are spread around the Blue Bear Mountain trail system. A few of them are relatively close to each other, but most are spaced out across the property. Serious campers will find true serenity at these remote camp sites, requiring a short hike or a ride on our transportation equipment to reach. There are also remote campsites available at the top of Locust Ridge, which take about a mile and a half hike to reach. These campsites are the most diverse on the campground, as you can choose whether you want to be deep in the woods, next to a pond or a creek, or at the top of a ridge. Although they are remote, they are equipped with a fire ring and a park grill, so make sure to remember to bring cooking and food supplies.

For a small fee, Blue Bear Mountain staff will deliver your gear to remote campsites, so fill that cooler and bring it along – it will be there when you get there! If you want to get way out there but aren’t too keen on hiking, you can also arrange drop-off and pickup for yourself and your party.

Blue Bear Mountain can accommodate groups of any size. There is a large recreational vehicle (“The Pinzgauer”) available for transporting large groups to remote campsites. The largest campsites encompass 25 acres of pristine land, so it is perfect for your youth group, scout troop, or company retreat. Blue Bear Mountain will also make special arrangements for your private event. It is the perfect place for a beautiful outdoor wedding.

Blue Bear Mountain is a convenient base camp if you want to see some of the other sights in the North Carolina High Country. Elk Knob State Park is right in Blue Bear Mountain’s back yard, conveniently located three miles from the camp. It is the second highest peak in Watauga County and provides a broad overlook of the High Country and beyond. Cyclists who prefer the rougher terrains of off-road trails will find pleasure at the new Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park in Watauga County, about ten miles away. Of course, the historic towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, and West Jefferson are all a short drive from Blue Bear Mountain.

Beautiful natural formations such as Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls, Linville Caverns, Elk Falls, and the New River are easily accessible from Blue Bear Mountain. If you love cold weather, camp at Blue Bear in the wintertime! Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Appalachian Ski Mountain are all within 30 miles of the campground.

Blue Bear Mountain will begin construction on treehouses in spring 2012. The treehouses will be luxurious and easily accessible. Regular music events are also planned for 2012.

Blue Bear Mountain is located at 196 Blue Bear Mountain Road, just off of Longhope Road in Meat Camp, North Carolina, and is open year-round. For more information about Blue Bear Mountain Camp and to reserve a campsite, visit their website at http://www.bluebearmountain.com, or call 828-406-4226.