About
Summary
Camping in Turkey Pen
Destination Distance From Downtown
Seasonality
year round. best in summer and fall
Review
For an easy access, yet off the beaten path camping spot for a weekend getaway with the family, or the reunion with close friends, there is no better spot than Turkey Pen. It got its name from from the bowl shape the ridges create around the South Mills River, with the southern most ridge being Turkey Pen trail (#322).
Camping spots along the river are abundant up and downstream, and being on the river it will be colder in the winter, but will mostly be out of the wind and you will have to pack it in, but it's not too far from the car.
From town, drive north on NC 280, towards the Asheville airport for about 5 miles, and you will reach the county lines of Transylvania and Henderson County. At the line, there is a dirt road on your left, this is Turkey Pen road and the trail access. If you are in a vehicle with lower than normal ground clearance, it's not recommended that you drive up this road.
When you reach the parking area and are loaded up, head down the trail to the left of the kiosk, and make your way across the swinging bridge. Once you cross the bridge, campsites dot the river in both directions.