Camping at davenport gap?

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#1

Does anyone have a good recommendation of a good/safe car camping spot very near Davenport Gap? I was thinking of the site right off that gravel road that leads down to Mtn. Mama’s but from what I remember, that looked shady. A crew will be camping there on a saturday night in the near future and wants to avoid any local riff raff. Is camping possible/safe off the waterville(?) road along the Pigeon river? A few of us will be coming in very late and very tired and don’t want to put up with Mtn. Mama’s accomodations and don’t want to have to walk/drive much further than where the AT comes out at the gap. Any info appreciated. Thanks. -Matt

Sweeper

#2

Hey Sweeper,

On our thru we camped a little north of the gap. We found a nice flat spot about mile after the AT crosses a highway IS that waterville road and Pigeon River? There was a little creek there as well for a good water source.

Grimace

Grimace

#3

The Big Creek campground is close by. It’s an excellent car camping site operated by the National Park Service just inside the park boundry. It’s a developed site, it’s clean, and it’s safe, located within a mile of the Big Creek Ranger Station. When you emerge from the woods at Davenport Gap turn right and go approximately 3/4 mile down the gravel road all the way to the bottom of the hill. At that point, instead of turning left to Mountain Moma’s, turn right and follow that road. The Campground is at the end of the road, approximately 1 mile. You’ll pass the ranger station along the way. Be sure to have your friends call ahead for a reservation. It’s required. Good luck and I hope this helps!

Zachsdad

#4

Grimace is right there is a nice campsite north of Davenport. I believe there are several before you get to the Waterville School Road after crossing I-40. Left on Waterville School Road is the Standing Bear Hostel (I believe I have that right, I know it has the word bear in it). They will let you camp there for a small fee and they have a good water source and showers. We stayed their last year on our thru hike. Good people.

Papa Smurf

#5

I could be wrong but there was a shelter only a mile south (or was it north) of the dirt road to Mt. Mamas.

Blue Jay

#6

Thanks everyone, good advice. I’m leaning towards Big Creek Campground right now, thanks Zachsdad, I did not know of that place. Also, thanks for the tips on the camping near the gap, and yeah, Davenport Gap shelter is not very far at all, but this needs to be car accessible camp site.

Sweeper

#7

The campground that Zachsdad mentioned is very nice. I don’t believe you will need a reservation. My understanding is that the NPS only accepts them 5/15 - 10/31 for some campgrounds, but not at all for Big Creek

bumpman

#8

I forgot to mention that according to the NPS website, Big Creek is not open for tyhe year until next week 3/14.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/campingandother.html

Bumpman

#9

Standing Bear Hostel should be able to help you out. The guy who runs it is new to the buisness but seemed to do anything to help. I think Papa Smurf and Flame got to camp behind the house the same night I was there. Its to the left down the second crossing of Waterville Rd if you are going north.
TB

TurkeyBacon

#10

Thanks everyone again. Standing Bear sounds cool, but not headed north. We’ll be attempting a 24-hour traverse of the Smokies. I can see Turkey Bacon shaking his head. We ran into him last year during a traverse attempt as I recall. Bumpman, thanks for the heads, we’ll be out there on the 22nd so it should work OK. Happy trails. -Matt

Sweeper

#11

Hey Turkeybacon, do you remember Pickle from Standing Bear? We saw him at Katahdin Summit. He came back to Katahdin to help Spiz (bad sprained ankle) summit. It was the first time I had seen him since Sanding Bear. For those headed NOBO, the guys at Standing Bear really tried hard to make us feel at home. It is just a few miles north of Davenport Gap and considerablely better than MT. Mamas.

Papa Smurf