Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
Fire Pit
About Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
Number of accommodations: 8
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Fire Pit
Cooking and Fire
- Fire Pit
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
8 Sites Available
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Site Details
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8 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (11)
What Guests Are Saying
Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping offers a scenic and enjoyable backpacking experience with beautiful views and a convenient campsite by a creek, featuring amenities like port-a-potties and bear boxes. The trail can be technical in parts, but many appreciate its natural beauty and spacious, pristine campsites. Some visitors noted the proximity of campsites and parking limitations, but overall, the site is well-liked for its outdoor offerings.
What Guests Are Saying
Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping offers a scenic and enjoyable backpacking experience with beautiful views and a convenient campsite by a creek, featuring amenities like port-a-potties and bear boxes. The trail can be technical in parts, but many appreciate its natural beauty and spacious, pristine campsites. Some visitors noted the proximity of campsites and parking limitations, but overall, the site is well-liked for its outdoor offerings.
Review Summary
Kenneth J
VerifiedMay 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 1, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
We backpacked the loop over two days, starting at the Visitor Center and going clockwise. I think it was the best route. The eastern side of the trail has a section that's very rocky and a little technical. That section is about 3/4 of a mile long. My wife found herself sliding over boulders during several parts. Leaving from the visitor center also puts the designated campground at the halfway point (about 5 or 6 miles into the loop). We didn't see any wildlife, but there were others on the trail with us because it was a spring weekend. Day 2 was a long, gradual uphill climb out of the gorge. Lots of scenic views and beautiful "creek running through gorge" scenery. I'll definitely go back.
dan s
VerifiedApril 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
8 flat sites by the creek. Love this place.
dan s
VerifiedApril 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
8 flat sites by the creek. Love this place.
Isaac D
VerifiedJanuary 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 7, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
Very nice and large campsite! It has a convenient stream, port a potties, and bear boxes. There’s an easy half mile road walk to get there, and parking appears limited.
Isaac D
VerifiedJanuary 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 7, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
Very nice and large campsite! It has a convenient stream, port a potties, and bear boxes. There’s an easy half mile road walk to get there, and parking appears limited.
Bryan W
VerifiedOctober 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 3, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
The campsite was pristine and beautiful with ample space, trees for hammocks, and an easily accessible creek for pumping water.
Bryan W
VerifiedOctober 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 3, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
The campsite was pristine and beautiful with ample space, trees for hammocks, and an easily accessible creek for pumping water.
Michael A
VerifiedJune 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
Public land and the outdoors should be free to everyone. Ask for donations versus forcing a fee on everyone.
Michael A
VerifiedJune 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
Public land and the outdoors should be free to everyone. Ask for donations versus forcing a fee on everyone.
Brandon I
VerifiedJune 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 6, Loop: Rock Castle Gorge
Nice camp grounds next to some water and on a good hiking trail, only downside is the camp sites are all pretty close together
Location Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
Address:
Rocky Knob Recreational Area Milepost 167.1
Floyd, VA, 24091
United States
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 36.8064 / -80.3364
Elevation: 563 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
