By:
Submission
The campground has 10 single campsites, including two double sites within Backbone Rock Campground. The campground has flush toilets. Each site contains a table, fire ring and lantern holder. The pavilions at Backbone Rock Recreation Area are popular locations for family reunions, weddings and other types of group gatherings. The two pavilions are in distinctly separate areas. Pavilion #1 is larger and adjacent to a large field, Beaverdam Creek and large parking area. Pavilion #2 is in a more secluded setting down old stone steps and along Beaverdam Creek. Natural Features: Backbone Rock Recreation Area is located along Beaverdam Creek in northern Johnson County. Backbone Rock gets its name from a spur ridge on Holston Mountain that ends abruptly at a bend in Beaverdam Creek. A tunnel was drilled through the rock in 1901 to allow railroad access between Shady Valley and Damascus, VA. Motorists pass through what is locally known as "The shortest tunnel in the world" as they travel along TN 133. Recreation: There is a trail that will take you to the top of Backbone Rock, following a stone-step wooded path. The trail crosses the rock and leads to Beaverdam Creek or Backbone Rock Falls. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail adjoins Backbone Rock Trail. Beaverdam Creek is known for its excellent fishing. Facilities: There is a CCC-era pavilion at each site with picnic tables and grills. The larger pavilion, Pavilion #1, includes a stone fireplace and four large picnic tables with additional tables and grills nearby. Vault toilets are located within the parking area. Pavilion #2 also has an original stone fireplace, four tables and nearby grills and additional tables. Parking and a vault toilet are located across the street from the picnic area. Nearby Attractions: Damascus, Virginia is five miles north of Backbone Rock for any in-town needs.
Highway TN 133 north from Highway 91. The campsite is on Highway 133, just north of Backbone Rock.
Ideal national forest campground. Cost us only $10 per night. Small, I think 10 sites and with an excellent host, a man from the region, Mike Brown. Mike and his wife, Annette, made my wife, two young children, and me feel welcome from even before we arrived. (Our campsite was extraordinarily clean the moment we got there.) My children made friends with Mike and Annette’s grandchildren, who are spending the summer at the campground. The campground sits at about 2,100 ft. and is in a narrow gorge, sandwiched in between Tennessee State Road 133 and Beaverdam Creek, and is extraordinarily shady and cool. We tent-camped. There are no showers as of yet, but the toilets flush, and there is running water and even hot water. Our site did not have a water source, but there are two spigots in the campground. Damascus, Virginia is only a 10-minute drive away and has a large grocery store. Backbone Rock is within walking distance. We spent four happy nights at this memorable campground, and we recommend it highly.
I love camping here. It's generally very peaceful except the campground is right next to the road and there is a lot of traffic noise especially from loud motorcycles.
The bathrooms are always clean. There are no showers. Site #1 is our favorite but people are constantly walking through our site to the river even the the river is accessible from every campsite by walking through the tree behind each site.
Mike (camp host) and his wife are awesome! We reserved multiple sites for a Scout campout. The sites were extremely well managed, and the bathrooms were always clean. We will be back!
Great find and no one else was there exploring. The walk to the Backbone Falls was nice- very lush greenery, rock walls and not too strenuous. The walk up the stone walkway to the top of Backbone Rock was cool too. Really enjoyed it.
