JOHNNY MOLLOY - Best Outdoor Adventures ASHEVILLE

Johnny Molloyis a writer and adventurer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. His outdoor passion started on a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while attending the University of Tennessee. That first foray unleashed a love of the outdoors that has led Johnny to spend most of his time hiking, backpacking, canoe camping, and tent camping for the past four decades. Friends enjoyed his outdoor adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued his friends idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are more than seventy-five books. His writings include hiking, camping, and paddling guidebooks; comprehensive guidebooks covering a specific area; and true outdoor adventure books covering all or parts of twenty-six states.

Johnny continues writing and traveling extensively throughout the United States, engaging in a variety of outdoor pursuits. His non-outdoor endeavors include serving the Lord as a Gideon, world history, and University of Tennessee sports. For the latest on Johnny, please visit johnnymolloy.com .

Mount Pisgah Campground: Looking out over the Blue Ridge Parkway from near Mount Pisgah

C amping is a wonderful way to enhance a paddling, hiking, or bicycling adventure, or it can simply be an adventure unto itself. The Asheville region has a variety of drive-up, auto-accessible campgrounds that serve as woodsy getaways for you and your family or a group of friends wanting to enjoy the great outdoors.

Some enduring scenes come to mind when I think of camping. Morning rays of sunlight piercing the trees, wood smoke gently curling upward from the flickering fire, riding bikes over gravel roads, the folly of erecting a brand new tent, friends and families enjoying supper together, all hands running for cover as an afternoon thunderstorm breaks loose, the smell of hamburgers wafting through the trees, an angler proudly displaying freshly caught fish while returning to camp, autumns golden leaves drifting onto a cluttered picnic table.

To get you started on your camping adventures, here are five recommended frontcountry drive-up campgrounds for you to consider. All are within an hours drive of Asheville and close to the hiking, bicycling, and paddling adventures detailed in this guide.

Nearest town:Asheville

Open:Mar through Dec

Individual sites:97

Each site has:Picnic table, fire grate, tent pad, lantern post; Lakeside Loop also has electric, water, sewer

Site assignment:First-come, first-served and reservation

Facilities:Hot showers, water, flush toilets

Fee:Yes

Contact:fs.usda.gov/nfsnc

Very close to Asheville, Lake Powhatan Recreation Area offers a combination of quality camping for RVs and tents, with outdoor adventures accessible directly from your campsite. If you live in Asheville, its a quick camping getaway; if visiting Lake Powhatan from afar, you can access city offerings as well as outdoor adventure opportunities. The well-maintained campground is divided into three loops stretched over rolling hills above Lake Powhatan. The Lakeside Loop, designed for RVs, with electric, water, and sewer, stands well above the water under preserved hemlocks. The Bent Creek Loop has large camps under tall forest. The Big John Loop lies in a pine-oak-hickory forest. Despite the hilly terrain, the campsites themselves are leveled with landscaping timbers. The Hard Times Loop is oldest and quietest if you like solitude. Water spigots and showers are convenient to all campers. For safety and security, campground hosts man the gates.

The campground also features twelve glamping canvas tents for overnight rental. Each tent includes a bed with linens, a bedside table, camp chairs, and a cooler in addition to a fire ring and outdoor picnic table. Lake Powhatan will fill on summer weekends. Ensure yourself a spot using the reservation system.

Recreation is immediate. Fish or swim at Lake Powhatan during the warm season. Boats arent allowed on the impoundment. You can also angle on Bent Creek, vying for trout. Bent Creek Experimental Forest is a nationally rated mountain biking destination, with plenty of trails for all bicycler skill levels. Hikers also enjoy this network of pathways.