Backbone Rock Campground

Beaverdam Creek at Backbone Rock Campground
Entrance Sign at Backbone Rock Campground
Waterfall at Backbone Rock Campground
Backbone Rock Campground

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

10 total sites

RV Sites

10 sites

About Backbone Rock Campground

Backbone Rock Campground will open for the 2026 season on 4/27/26. The pavilion and vault toilets in the day-use area will open on 3/16/26. Backbone Rock is a small campground situated along the beautiful Beaverdam Creek at an elevation of 2,100 feet in northern Johnson County. This developed campground is popular with those visiting the nearby Backbone Rock, a tunnel originally blasted through the rock ridge for the railway. The creek side location with popular swim area and lush forest surroundings make Backbone Rock Campground particularly desirable during hot summer months. With 10 campsites and an adjacent large Civilian Conservation Corps- built reservable pavilion with lawn, Backbone Rock is a great option for a group to reserve the whole campground for retreats and other events.  

Number of accommodations: 10

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Apr 27 to Oct 12

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

10 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 02, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 03, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 04, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 05, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 06, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 07, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 08, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 09, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 10, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND RV
No Hookups
Price not available

Reviews (156)

What Guests Are Saying

Backbone Rock Campground offers a beautiful and peaceful setting with large, private sites, clean facilities, and friendly hosts. Many guests appreciate the scenic views along the creek and the opportunity to disconnect from technology. While there are some concerns about noise from nearby roads and occasional trash, overall, visitors enjoy the rustic charm and natural beauty of the area.

Review Summary

4.5
156 reviews
5
73.1%
114
4
13.5%
21
3
5.8%
9
2
5.1%
8
1
2.6%
4

Joyce C

Verified

August 26, 2020 Stayed at: 09, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

4

Site 09 Large and Beautiful. I would have rated 5 stars but restroom not cleaned the 3 nights we were there and Covid 19 is still active. Will go there again and be prepared to sanitize restroom for myself. The hiking is great and The Viriginia Creeper only 3 miles away.

Joyce C

Verified

August 26, 2020 Stayed at: 09, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

4

Site 09 Large and Beautiful. I would have rated 5 stars but restroom not cleaned the 3 nights we were there and Covid 19 is still active. Will go there again and be prepared to sanitize restroom for myself. The hiking is great and The Viriginia Creeper only 3 miles away.

Alex B

Verified

August 23, 2020 Stayed at: 10, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

5

Great place to “get away”, nice large campsites with fire pit and cooking grate, and picnic table. There are two water accesses (hose connections) one as you enter and one between site 9 &10. The bathrooms are clean and with flush toilets. Note there is NO cellphone service here, but There is service three miles down the road as you begin to enter Damascus. There are no electric hookups here.

Beaver dam creek border the backside of each campsite and can be a great place to Explore but be cautious, after heavy rains the creek becomes swollen and quite dangerous.

Alex B

Verified

August 23, 2020 Stayed at: 10, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

5

Great place to “get away”, nice large campsites with fire pit and cooking grate, and picnic table. There are two water accesses (hose connections) one as you enter and one between site 9 &10. The bathrooms are clean and with flush toilets. Note there is NO cellphone service here, but There is service three miles down the road as you begin to enter Damascus. There are no electric hookups here.

Beaver dam creek border the backside of each campsite and can be a great place to Explore but be cautious, after heavy rains the creek becomes swollen and quite dangerous.

Leah B

Verified

August 15, 2020 Stayed at: 10, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

2

This is a great campground close to hiking and Damascus VA. In 2019, the restrooms were immaculate! Campground hosts helpful. Campsites clean. In June 2020, the host was not at the campground for over 36 hours and left no note. My site's reservation was blank and when I finally saw the host and asked he still never put the reservation up NOR did he follow the COVID cleaning protocol in the restrooms. I will still return because it is a great area.

Leah B

Verified

August 15, 2020 Stayed at: 10, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

2

This is a great campground close to hiking and Damascus VA. In 2019, the restrooms were immaculate! Campground hosts helpful. Campsites clean. In June 2020, the host was not at the campground for over 36 hours and left no note. My site's reservation was blank and when I finally saw the host and asked he still never put the reservation up NOR did he follow the COVID cleaning protocol in the restrooms. I will still return because it is a great area.

David S

Verified

August 11, 2020 Stayed at: 07, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

5

Awesome campground right next to a lot of cool things to do!

David S

Verified

August 11, 2020 Stayed at: 07, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

5

Awesome campground right next to a lot of cool things to do!

Jerry F

Verified

August 3, 2020 Stayed at: 07, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

5

Having grown up in Damascus it is great to see how nice they have BackBone again. It is a relaxing get away with wonderful sites. If you have never camped here and taken a shuttle from Damascus to ride down the Creeper Trail, you NEED to add that to your bucket list.

Jerry F

Verified

August 3, 2020 Stayed at: 07, Loop: BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND

5

Having grown up in Damascus it is great to see how nice they have BackBone again. It is a relaxing get away with wonderful sites. If you have never camped here and taken a shuttle from Damascus to ride down the Creeper Trail, you NEED to add that to your bucket list.

Location Backbone Rock Campground

Address:
9941 Hwy 133
Shady Valley, TN, 37688
United States

Highway access

Access to Backbone Rock Campground is via Highway TN 133, which connects to Highway 91. No major highways or interstates are within 25 miles.

Elevation: 682 feet

Distance to downtown

9.6 mi drive to downtown Shady Valley (about 13 min)

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check in time

2PM

Check out time

11AM

General

  • Backbone Rock Campground will open for the 2026 season on 4/27/26. This campground does not have any Long-Term Camping programs.
  •  There is no electricity/water/sewer site hook-ups at this facility. There is potable water within the campground.
  • Alcohol prohibited.   
  • All equipment must fit on the site pad. Vehicles park in developed areas only.
  • An RV counts as one of the two vehicles allowed at a site.
  • You are in Bear Country. Please adhere to the Cherokee National Forest Food and Refuse Storage Requirements. All food (unless actively being prepared and/or eaten), trash, and other scented items (hygiene products, pet food, etc) must be stored in a bear-resistant container (closed hard top vehicle or travel trailer) or suspended at least 12 ft. off the ground and 6 ft. from limbs. Please read the entire Food Storage Order located under the Facility Information tab and Additional Information section or by reading the Food Storage Order posted at the campground. Any campsites not in compliance will receive a ticket.
  • You may check-in to the campground between and of your arrival date. If you have not checked-in before the day after your arrival date, your site will be checked-out and will forfeit all fees.
  • Established quiet hours are between and.
  • The two CCC-Era pavilions underwent historic renovations which were completed September 2024.   
  • All pets must be on a 6' leash at all times. Owners must pick up after their pets, and all pet waste disposed of properly.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
  • Use designated fire rings for all fires. Do not build additional fire rings. No burning plastic or other non-wood materials except local wood in fire pits and charcoal in grills.
  • It is your responsibility to read, know, understand, and follow all campground specific rules and regulations which are posted at the campground. 

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Last updated: September 2, 2026

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