Originally Posted by
IronM
Interesting thread. I've like to visit BRP this spring/summer & do a little riding too. Not too far into planning yet, but I'd probably need to find a nearby campground and base my riding on what's from there. I'll probably just bring my gravel bike, with a 2nd set of road wheels too, as to get in several different kinds of rides if that's possible. I'm not the climber I maybe once though I was, but the super-low CX gearing will probably get me up anything - eventually.
Here is a link to the Park campgrounds on the BRP. We have camped the majority of them over the years. Unfortunately only two of them have showers. Julian Price is close to Blowing Rock and Boone and there is some very nice riding out of there. Pisgah is nice and not too far from Asheville. My favorite BRP sections are around Pisgah but there is more climbing. But there isn’t anything terribly steep if you stick to riding the BRP.
If you you venture off the BRP onto connecting roads you can get into some longer and steeper climbing. There is a nice campground off Hwy 70 in Marion but beware of the climb from there to the BRP. It’s fairly steep for the last 5 miles on Hwy 80 up to the Parkway. That campground is probably tailored more towards RVs as I recall.
We we have also stayed at Springmaid Mountain which is a little bit off the BRP east of Spruce Pine. You can ride from the campgrounds over to the BRP. I used to ride to Mitchell and back from there.
https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/camping.htm
https://www.springmaidmountain.com/
One of our favorite campgrounds off the BRP is the Davidson River Campground outside of Brevard. There is a really nice scenic road from there up to the BRP. It’s a lengthy climb but it’s very doable. Brevard has some nice spots to visit as well (see previous poster).
https://www.pisgahhospitalitypartner...er-campground/
Anyway, there are lots of opportunities. If I can help you with any details just let me know.