Rutherford Mountain Campground

RV camping at Rutherford Mountain Campground means easy and quick access to tens of thousands of acres of wilderness. Dozens of state parks and state forests surround the campground, and finding a trail is as easy as stepping out the door of a rental trailer. Chimney Rock State Park is a 7,000-acre park that is popular with hikers and rock climbers. It boasts unusual-looking rock boulders and cliffs, including one that is nicknamed the Devil’s Head. Those who successfully hike to the highest point in Chimney Rock State Park are rewarded with a vast, sweeping view of the valley below. The park is also well known for a photogenic waterfall called Hickory Nut Falls. The falls descend over 400 feet into a granite gorge and have been featured in several movies, including The Last of the Mohicans (in the last 15 minutes). There are other smaller falls up above the Hickory Nut Falls, and most can be accessed via a short hike. South Mountains State Park, encompassing over 20,000 acres, is one of the most rugged parks in the state. The trails are steep and rise and fall sharply in a short distance. Hiking and biking over 40-odd miles of trails is a true test of one’s fitness, skill, and endurance. Patient outdoor adventurers are rewarded with stunning views that few people have witnessed with their own eyes. Sheer gorges that are deeper than they are wide. Beautiful summit views of North Carolina mountains and valleys. Bright, airy meadows. And old-growth forests that are hundreds of years old. Lucky few may even spot threatened animals like black bears, bald eagles, red wolves, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. Hop into a rental motorhome and go hunting for waterfalls. There are several scattered around this region, and though most require a hike from a parking lot or trailhead, a few are within walking distance for most people. The Shunkawauken Falls near Columbus, NC, is a multi-tiered 150-foot waterfall. Tall oak and birch trees shade the waterfall, adding a dash of lush greenery to the scene. Photographers will enjoy capturing this - and many other - waterfall.