Mortimer Campground

Mortimer Campground is a small campground nestled within the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River Corridor south of Grandfather Mountain. Located at the site of an old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, the 17-site campground is surrounded by lush forests, gentle streams, and a large scenic river popular for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. It sits in a rich mountain hardwood forest at an elevation of 1,400 feet, a secluded streamside setting shaded by large hemlocks and pine trees. Thorps Creek runs along the east side of the campground before feeding into the Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek, hardwood forests cover the mountain peaks on either side of the valley, and the area provides beautiful scenery year-round, from stunning fall foliage displays to abundant spring and summer wildflowers. The campground provides a variety of campsites across an upper and a lower loop. The lower loop features 5 tent-only walk-in sites with a central parking lot; the upper loop includes 14 fully accessible, barrier free sites which can accommodate small RVs up to 35 feet. Most sites include a tent pad, picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring. Flush toilets, hot showers, running water, and bear-proof trash and recycling receptacles are provided, and a campground host is on site to provide visitor assistance. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities including fishing, swimming, day hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, picnicking, and scenic driving. Swimming holes along Thorps Creek provide wading opportunities on hot summer days, and nearby Wilson Creek, designated as a National Wild and Scenic River in 2000, is well known for its excellent trout fishing, swimming, kayaking, and rugged features. History buffs will enjoy exploring the remnants of the once booming timber town of Mortimer as well as an old CCC work center. Two Forest Service trails depart from the campground. The Thorps Creek trail provides a short hike, approximately a quarter mile, to Thorps Creek Falls. The more strenuous Schoolhouse Ridge Trail connects to the campground via the 0.2 mile Bill Vines trail and provides a three mile ridgeline excursion with beautiful views before connecting to the Wilson Ridge Trail. Many other Forest Service trails are within a short drive, including Hunt Fish Falls, North Harper Creek Falls, and Little Lost Cove Cliffs, and the area also boasts a network of scenic mountain biking trails. The Wilson Creek Visitor Center is 3.2 miles from the campground and provides information on the Wilson Creek area, with a photograph and artifact collection that tells the history of the area. Mortimer is 21 miles from Linville Falls and the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, which offers breathtaking views and numerous hiking trails, and 17 miles from Grandfather Mountain State Park, the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Julian Price Memorial Park and Campground, a well-known destination for hiking, canoeing, fishing, and camping, is 24 miles north. The towns of Blowing Rock and Morganton are located within an hour's drive to the north and south respectively, and both offer a variety of restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and medical facilities.