Tsali Recreation Area

[EddieL]

Planning a trip to North Carolina for mountain biking, kayaking and gem mining (for the wife) so we thought we would try the Tsali area. Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations on this?

Thanks,
Ed

[Smokyroo]

Ed, Tsali is a gem. The campground is nice and can accommodate most rigs under 30 feet. The US Forest service put in some new showers two years ago, maybe it was 3years ago. I live about an hour from there and mountain bike there often. We camp there once or twice a season. It's quiet and sort of a diamond in the rough if you ask me. I highly recommend it.

[EddieL]

Originally Posted by Smokyroo

Ed, Tsali is a gem. The campground is nice and can accommodate most rigs under 30 feet. The US Forest service put in some new showers two years ago, maybe it was 3years ago. I live about an hour from there and mountain bike there often. We camp there once or twice a season. It's quiet and sort of a diamond in the rough if you ask me. I highly recommend it.

Thanks Smokeyroo, I was there the week of 6/17 and would also highly recommend it. The camp host said it was an unusual week with the park over half full most of the week and was still very quiet, even Friday night when it filled up with bike racers (12 hours of Tsali was Saturday). So quiet that I felt bad starting the generator when the batteries needed charged.

I rode all the trails in both directions and got about 80 miles of mountain biking in 4 days. When we kayaked from the boat launch past the campground we never even saw another boat, unless you want to count the paddling class right at the launch. We saw a few boats from Lemmons Branch boat launch but nothing to worry about. There were also nice waterfall hikes within reasonable driving distance.

[Smokyroo]

EddieL,
I sponsor the 12 Hours of Tsali with my vacation home rentals and my chocolate business. Gone Riding is great business and friends. Tsali is a beautiful place. I can't get there enough and I live less than an hour from there.

I generally have a rule where I dont camp anywhere an hour or less from my home. It is just to easy to ditch when weather or things go bad. It's the same amount of prep work regardless, so when I go camping I want stay camping.

When I moved to the mountains from Florida,Tsali is the first campground to have me break my hour rule. Lol. As it was I was backpacking across Fontana Lake on Lakeshore Trail in the park. I normally race the 12 Hours but I had a gout flare up and my knee was sore plus we have had a wet spring early summer here so my training and bike time has been off.

Out of all the trails there , Thompson is my favorite with it's mile plus downhill at the end. If you get up here again, look me up ahead of time. I would be glad to turn a lap there with you..

[EddieL]

SmokyRoo, Thanks for sponsoring the race. As a former MTB racer I know how important the sponsors are. Just being around all the racers preparing to race as I was preparing to go home made me wish I was one of them, but I'm getting too old for that.

If I'm in the area again I will certainly look you up but I still have a lot more of the country to see and I am trying not to repeat. But in 241 more days I will have more time.

[Deanm]

Looking at Tsali myself.

Would you say I could not camp there with a toy hauler over 30' , how bout 33"?
thanks for the info
Dean

[EddieL]

There were a few sites that you would fit in. If you arrive on a weekend I don't think you would find anything you would fit in. During the week, probably.

[Smokyroo]

I have seen 30-40 Motor Hones at Tsali .