Oronoco Campground

"My husband and I have camped here in years past. However it’s almost a homeless encampment last time we went. It was in the end of September and during the week. We couldn’t believe what we saw. Lots of tarps strung up on lines next to a broken down van. Looked like tent city. We didn’t feel safe. LOTS of trash left behind over by the old fireplace wall. We couldn’t believe what we saw and were heart broken by it. Please keep these places safe and beautiful. Don’t disrespect it. Hopefully it doesn’t keep going down hill. We used to live this place."

"I've been coming to Oronoco for a decade now. She's a timeless beauty and great place to find serenity. I don't stay at the main camp field with the vault toilets because that's where everyone else is. I've stayed miles deep down the gravel road, in the woods, sometimes totally solo and I have never encountered anything untoward besides animals prowling through the woods. Occasionally a hunting truck will go by, and you'll hear the howling of hounds, but that's just a normal thing here. Within moments, the noise disappates. It's so quite and far enough away from the main Campground that you will not hear traffic or noises from anything but nature. I've seen the park ranger ride through and wave. Other dispersed campsites can be found on Peddler River Rd and Resovoir Rd. There are at least a dozen that I have counted. Many of the "driveways" leading off to the left and right on these roads are part of the free camping in the 10 mile radius of this forest. Happy camping!"

"Beautiful campground would have got five stars if they've had a sign on the bridge that told you do not go across bridge with camper. I thought I was going to go across the narrow bridge with my 23 foot camper and find better camping. However I did not find better camping there were places to camp and pull your trailer in after you drove up a hell of a logging road that was scary on the side of a cliff very narrow. No way to back down once you start going. And if you don't turn right you can end in dead ends. Soon as you get to the campgrounds pull in don't go over the bridge. When I finally came down the Blue ridge highway back to the campgrounds and parked realized I was right next to a beautiful Creek. Best campground we've visited in our travels."

"Beautiful, secluded National Forest camping area. (Free and usable for 21 days) There are several sites by the river (with enough space for an RV) and a few in the field and woods. Also there are more sites up the gravel road. There are also 2 pit toilets, which is nice. It can get muddy here when it rains and flooding could be an issue, but aside from that it's a great place!"

"Could only stay 1 night. Construction on the bridge started the next day. People need to clean up after themselves. Trash was abundant."