Planning on doing a three day/two night hike from Springer to Neels Gap. I wanted to split the daily mileage around 10 miles a day. The first day in would put me around Sassafras Mountain. My question is: Are there any good campsites around this area? Thanks for your help. Hike on!
Band Saw
Sure, there is a nice campsite right on top just before you start going down, on the left. Good fire ring and big logs to sit on. New Gooch gap shelter is just 30-40 min further. Drop down Sassafras go up justin then down to the creek/river (good sites also) then 10 min ez walk to the shelter. I did this hike twice this year, saw bears at springer shelter and Hawk shelter. They come in late and most folks are sleeping, they are very quiet and they pull on the cable system, they have learned how to drop food bags. Oh, Gooch to Woods hole shelter seems much longer than what given, maybe because the new Gooch is 2 miles closer than the old one. Watch out the Rangers can scare the heck out of you, when least expect it. Like 4am a choper or 2 comes over just over the trees. Enjoy the hike. Oh and leave your car just down from Walsayi y and get a shuttle to springer.
A2
Band Saw, On my section hike in April I hiked from Springer and camped at Horse Pen Gap(at the base of Sassafras) my first night. I then hiked to Woody Gap and camped there for my second night. There are some fire rings on the back side of the hill where the concrete picnic tables are on the north side of the road. I then hiked to Neels Gap on the third day. These camp sites are almost exactly 10 miles apart but you won’t be at a shelter and I don’t remember there being water at Horse Pen Gap (it was still a decent campsite).
Good Luck!
Nooga