Lower Walnut Bottom Campsite 37 Waynesville, NC 28785

"Large open campsites. 4 fire rings and at least separate 3 bear line areas. Easy to get to from the parking area with a gentle slope and beautiful views of waterfalls and swimming holes along the way."

"CS37 is a beautiful campsite, and an easy 5 miles from the parking lot. The best spots (in my opinion) to the east of Big Creek trail are right along/above Big Creek, and the sound of rushing water lulls you to sleep. The camp ground was full, but never felt crowded...there was plenty of room to move around and spread out. Fire ring areas were plenty big, and ample space to hang your packs/food bags on cables. We did have a momma bear and her juvenile cub residing in one of the trees...momma never bothered us, but junior tried his hardest to see what we were having for dinner and breakfast. He was easily shoo-able and didn't cause any trouble."

"This is an excellent campsite! It’s about a 5.2 mile hike alongside a roaring stream. There are multiple campsites with fire rings and they’re separated by enough distance for privacy. There are multiple bear pulley systems too. This would be a great campsite for beginner backpackers. The terrain is not too challenging and there are no water crossings. It was so dark at night that I couldn’t see my hand that was only a few inches in front of my face. The stream within a few feet of the campsite was a great water source and I didn’t encounter any intestinal issues, as the result of drinking water that I purified from it. Don’t forget to check availability and reserve through the National Park Service. A backcountry permit is required to camp here."

"A perfect place for a cool dip on this assume hike. The campsite was closed when we arrived. Watch for bears!"