Virginia · published-coordinate region
Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
Look beyond the campground name. Compare the actual sites and the details that matter to your trip.
National Park Service8Supported overnight records
1Published site categories
8Sites with a reported party limit
A useful starting point, not a fit guarantee. Site-specific warnings are absent from this export. Published lengths may include a tow vehicle. Check the official site page for current notes, restrictions, approach and configuration before booking. No live availability is shown.
A closer look at the campground
Overview
Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Campground is a primitive camp located along the Rock Castle Gorge Trail in the Rocky Knob Recreational Area which is part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Campsites can be reached from various points ranging in distance from 1/2 mile to 8 miles.
The complete Rock Castle Gorge Trail is a 10.8 mile loop, there are several other loop trails that connect to it. Rock Castle Creek, Little Rock Castle Creek and many other streams and creeks meander along the trail and run right by the campground. Fishing requires a Virginia Fishing License, and the State of Virginia laws and regulations apply.
The year-round campground has eight campsites. Each has a fire ring/pad and food storage lockers. A Portable Toilet is available.
Plan to pack in your water for safety.
Summers are hot (70 to 88 Degrees) and humid as Rock Castle Creek is adjacent to the campground. Winter temperatures (Daytime 30 to 50 Degrees) can easily drop below freezing at night.
Recreation
Hiking, sightseeing, majestic Blue Ridge Parkway views and simple relaxation are all in store in the Rocky Knob Recreational Area.
Facilities
Campfire rings and food storage lockers are at each campsite. A portable toilet is available for campers. There is plenty of shade, Rock Castle Creek runs adjacent to the campground.
Natural Features
Venture into one of the Parkway’s more rugged areas at Rocky Knob. Hike through forests, explore mountain ridges, or enjoy spring wildflowers and rhododendrons. Rock Castle Creek, Little Rock Castle Creek and many other streams and creeks abound. Bare Rocks and other geological outcrops and long distance views from the upper elevations of the Rock Castle Gorge Trail are sure to please. Plenty of wildlife including black bears.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (828) 276-2300.
Nearby Attractions
Floyd, VA is less than 8 miles away, known for eclectic shops, mountain music venues and great places to eat along with grocery stores, variety stores and pharmacies.Visit Floyd Virginia
Full operator-supplied campground description · Scroll within the panel for more · Amenities may be shared by the campground, not present at every site
How much is documented?
Reported fields across the 8 supported campsite records here. A reported value can still need interpretation; missing values remain unknown in the planner.
Party limit
8
Vehicle limit
8
Vehicle length
0
Driveway entry
0
Shade
8
Bars show counts, not a quality, accessibility or suitability score.
The campsite mix
Hike To
8
Operator directions
It really depends on where you decide to park.
The closest place to park is at the end of Virginia State Road 605, also known as CC Camp Lane. State Road 605 is gravel and turns into mostly dirt near the campground parking area which is not too far past where state road maintenance ends. State Road 605 is directly off Virginia State Highway 8 which runs from Stuart, Virginia from the South to Floyd, VA on the North.
Other locations to park are along the Blue Ridge Parkway as follows:
Rocky Knob Campground - Milepost 167
The Saddle Overlook - Milepost 168
The Rock Castle Gorge Overlook - Milepost 168.7
The Rocky Knob Visitor Center - Milepost 169
The Twelve O'clock Overlook - Milepost 169
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs from close to Waynesboro, VA (Milepost 1) on the North to close to Cherokee, NC (Milepost 469) on the South, Virginia Highway 8 provides the closest access to this area of the Parkway at Milepost 165.
Campground-level source text. Confirm the current route and road conditions with the operator.
THE ACTUAL SITES
8 published campsite records
Raw published values are shown below, including zeros and ambiguous text. They are not validated capacities. The planner keeps missing, zero and questionable dimensions unknown.
View all 8 published site records
| SITE / LOOP | TYPE | EQUIPMENT LIMITS | PEOPLE / VEHICLES | DRIVEWAY | ELECTRIC / SHADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site 1 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 2 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 3 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 4 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 5 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 6 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 7 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 8 Rock Castle Gorge Source updated: 2025-12-04 | Hike To | Hammock: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Not reported Not reported | Not reported Shade: Yes |
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