- Robbinsville
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Private Panoramic Dark Sky Ridge
Hosted by Richard · Robbinsville, North Carolina
10 guests max
Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Within a 60-minute drive from the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Richard is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
All to yourself
100% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
Rig suitability
Vehicles under 20 feet allowed
Allowed rigs: pop-up campers, class B RVs, class C RVs, campervans, cars, truck campers, and rooftop tents
Back-in site
Surface type: Loose Gravel
Surface levelness: Flat
No class A RVs, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and toy haulers
Doesn't accommodate slideouts
Generators allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
No sewage hookup
No TV hookup
What to expect
RV/tent site
10 guests max
Campfires allowed
Toilet available
Pets allowed
No potable water
No showers
Pack it out
Cooking equipment absent
Picnic table absent
No wifi
Laundry absent
Hot Tub absent
No playground
Things to know
Getting there
Check in: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Check out: Before 12:00 PM
On arrival: Head straight to site
Cancellation policy:
Minimum nights: 1 night
Accepts bookings: 18 months out
Park at listing
No wheelchair access
Max 8 vehicles
2WD accessible
During your trip
Leave it better
Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.
Select a site
RV/tent sites
1 site
Entire Property 3 Private Campsites
100%
(30)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Reviews
100% Recommend31 ratings · 29 reviews
Camping at Richard's property offers a mix of adventure and breathtaking views, particularly at the upper campsite, which requires a steep hike. Most campers appreciate the stunning scenery and privacy at the top, though carrying gear can be challenging due to the trail's difficulty. The lower campsite provides more convenience with proximity to parking but lacks the view. Some noise from nearby roads and animals is noted, but overall, campers have positive experiences and enjoy Richard's clear communication and the well-marked trails.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
Recommends
· November 2026
Tent
Beautiful environment. Well maintained campsites and helpful maps/signs of property. Remarkable views and enamoring night sky on overlook campsite.
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent
We had a great time on Richs land. The view is phenomenal at the top campsite and all the sites are perfect for camping. The privy is a nice addition and the lack of service really makes it feel like youre in your own little world. Close enough to diners and stores and all the fun river things too! We would 100% stay again when we come back this way.
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent
Beautiful place and very relaxing. Would recommend!
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent
Great spot - very peaceful and a nice short hike to the summit with beautiful views.
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent
WOW! What a freaking view from the highest campsite. We stayed 2 nights and loved every moment. Except for hauling all our stuff to the top after a long day of hiking 🤣 but really, it was amazing. Well kept, fire pit and 2 chairs near it with a perfectly level spot for our tent. Thanks!
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent · With kids
Rich was GREAT! We had to revise our original plans, and he was incredibly responsive and understanding. Communication throughout the whole trip was excellent and be was super accommodating. Excited to be back in spring!
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent · With pets
Had a wonderful time! The site is easy to get to with plenty of room. It was a good bike to the top and to the creek bit totally worth it, would definitely come back and highly recommend.
Recommends
· October 2026
Tent
This is not an easy campsite if you want the view, but it is absolutely worth the work! The views were jaw dropping at the upper campsite. My partner and I are experienced hikers and I can testify that the upper campsite should be treated as a backpacking site. You do not want to make that climb with anything in your arms. The path is very steep in places and tilted to the side with lots of exposed roots and rocks. Probably 10 mins up and 10-15 down (due to slope and obstacles). Not at all a big deal if you are on a regular hike, but quite treacherous if you are not prepared and planned to pack in a with a cooking setup and firewood. On the subject of firewood, there are ample trimmed branches and dried brush up top to feed your fire, just bring your hatchet. We actually left a couple chutes of heartwood to help the next campers. We slept up top and cooked our meals at the parking site to minimize carrying things up, and this is what I would suggest to future campers unless you have a super compact backpacking setup. The lower campsite is basically a fire ring with chairs around it and the surrounding small patch of ground (which would accommodate a 2 person tent at most) is heavily layered with rocks, so I’m not sure where you could comfortably set up a tent. The upper site is big enough for a 4-6 person dome tent and there are two chairs up there so you don’t have to bring your own. The parking lot site is big enough for multiple tents and cars. All of these things are positive, you just have to be prepared. The one thing I’d note as somewhat negative is the level of noise. You can hear the highway and long haul trucks even from the extreme distance. There are also neighboring dogs and chickens that like to rile eachother up. It is all out of the control of the property owners and not a trip ruiner, but don’t expect wilderness quiet. The check in process was well guided and easy and we really enjoyed our visit. Would love to come back when there is no moon!
Recommends
· September 2026
Wow
Tent
We had a great time at this property. Rich was a very nice guy and a very accommodating host. We made the trek up to the top a total of four times and found all of the signage to be accurate as to the distance and difficulty of the trail. It's no exaggeration to say that the overlook site was one of the prettiest places I've had the opportunity to camp. Very private, an amazing view, and just an all around cool spot to hang out for a few days. Looking forward to coming back again some time in the future on a darker night for stargazing. I highly recommend!
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent
Three great sites to camp at all to yourself! The top one with the view is steep so be ready to pack it all in at once or make several trips.
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent
Richard’s property was incredible! The site at the top of the ridge was absolutely breathtaking! The posted signage made it easy to navigate the property and the latrine was very clean. Great overall experience, will absolutely be back
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent · With pets
We had an amazing time at Richard's place with our doggos! There are 3 locations to choose to set up camp, so you can choose your own adventure. At the parking area is great to set up for those of us who enjoy being close to our stuff that includes creature comforts. Another lower campsite and then the majestic overlook area. You definitely need to be ready to take everything you need on your back, wear your good hiking shoes, and have water. Once up there...10 out of 10 highly recommend. He has the trail well marked with red blazes to the top and blue over to the stream. Watch your footing going to the stream, but what a sweet oasis once you get there. And the privy? I've never experienced a nicer privy anywhere ever. My friends and I with our dogs thoroughly enjoyed our stay!
Recommends
· September 2026
Breathtaking views
Tent
Incredible view of the mountains and the stars! Will definitely be back. Rich was a great communicator and very hospitable. He sends over the rules a few days ahead.
FYI - check in is after 3pm and check out by 11am, even though the Hipcamp listing says check in at 12pm and check out by 12pm. Just a heads up in case you were wanting an early check in - granted Rich is a nice guy and would probably accommodate.
The hike is quite difficult, especially if you’re carrying everything in to camp up top. The quarter mile feels more like half a mile due to the quick elevation gain. Plan to take breaks along the way if you’re not in backpacking shape. View this as more of a backpacking spot than a car camping spot. If you know you’ll need multiple trips with your stuff then I would suggest camping at the bottom. As an experienced backpacker, I was naive thinking the quarter mile would be easy to do multiple trips back to back carrying my family’s stuff. I was quickly humbled.
The padlock was rusted over and it took a while to get it to unlock. I had to shake it strongly to get it to open. May be time to replace the padlock. The chain is also heavy so you’ll need a bit of strength to get it off the hook after unlocking. Just requires a bit of patience. I could see it being stressful if you got in past dark.
Overall this is a hidden gem and I’m grateful to add it to our family rotation. It’s a great location with stuff around, although you won’t want to leave when you get there!
Recommends
· September 2026
Great stay with stunning view!
Tent
Easy to find, secluded, and amazing view! Would 100% stay again.
Recommends
· September 2026
Labor Day weekend at Nomad Ridge
Tent · With pets
We enjoyed our stay at Nomad Ridge. Richard was very communicative and welcoming. We set up camp at the bottom site by the gravel lot. We had plenty of room for a four man tent, a two man tent, and a 6 man Gazelle gazebo. We did not have cell service (Verizon) at camp as expected, but were able to gain signal at the top of Ledbetter. Directions for the property were very clear and easy to follow. If you want to set up your stay at the summit site plan to treat it like a backpacking trip. The summit is beautiful. There is a great, intentionally created, level site for tents and opportunities to hang hammocks. Be prepared for the local rooster singing to his people in the early morning. There are homes nearby the property and you could hear them completing weekend chores: lawn mowing, farm things etc. We did not experience any issues with animals/critters at our site. The only negative was the neighbor directly to the west down the hill beyond the property did turn on a GIANT spot light on our last evening there. That ruined the dark sky/seclusion feel.
Otherwise we had a wonderful stay. Privy was great to have and the property is close to lots of things to do. Thank you, Richard!
Recommends
· September 2026
Tent
Absolutely loved camping here! We stayed the first night at the middle camp in our tent and the last night at the top camp in our hammocks. If you’re willing to do the hike it is absolutely worth it to stay at the top campsite. Just pack light so you don’t get weighed down, it’s steep haha. But the views from the top were unbelievable! We watched the sunset and the fog roll in over the mountains after a short rain shower and then watched as the stars popped up! We woke up early, watched the sun rise, and the fog make its leave from the mountain tops below! We will definitely be coming back again!
Recommends
· August 2026
Beautiful views and privacy
Tent
This campsite is one of the best I’ve been to. Easy to get to, yet exceptionally private and beautiful. The navigation instructions provided get you right to the spot, and the site is very secluded. The perfect spot to reconnect with nature and get off the grid.
The site features three campsites. A small one right off the parking lot, another one a bit up the trail near the privy, and finally, the pièce de résistance, a campsite at the very peak where we stayed. While the lower sites seemed good and convenient, the upper site features the most privacy and the best views by far, and is definitely the main reason to book this site. I have not seen views similar to the ones available in my life.
A few things I would caution: this is a primitive site, so keep that in mind. If you’re someone who needs to comforts of a campsite, this may not be for you. Also, the trails to the upper campsite and creek, while very well marked and easy to follow, can be difficult to navigate, especially after rain. If you’re planning to camp at the upper site, I would advise treating it as a backpacking campsite, rather than one you can bring a lot of gear to. The same goes for the creek. It’s a lovely spot to relax at, but I would caution against using it as your main water source given the difficulty of transporting it back to the site. Overall, this site is phenomenal and I highly recommend it, just be aware of possible difficulties getting to what really makes this site shine.
Recommends
· August 2026
Tent
This was a fantastic site! It was fun hiking up to the overlook and seeing a great view, definitely recommend hiking boots to get up there. The privy was really convenient and the site was super clean! Can't wait to stay again
Recommends
· August 2026
Camping with a view!
Tent
We enjoyed camping up on the overlook! Bring some good shoes though as the trail up can get a bit tricky at points, especially if you are carrying a bit of gear. Getting to relax with a good view was totally worth it.
Recommends
· August 2026
Baller sire
Tent
Awesome site!! We couldn’t believe the mountain top view. Just me, my kids, and the Great Smokies! Can’t wait to come back!
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent
The view from up top is spectacular, you have to see it to believe it and everything about the camp site is very impressive.
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent
Richard was very helpful and the site is just beautiful
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent
The view from the overlook site is incredible! Richard was very thoughtful, and I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a beautiful view at a reasonable price. The hike to the top site is a little steep at points so hike at your own pace haha. Looking forward to my next visit
Recommends
· July 2026
Totally recommend!! Beautiful view!
Tent
It was absolutely amazing!!! This was our first time primitive camping and I’m so happy it was here! I totally recommend booking this spot! My extended family is already trying to plan a future trip here. We had the most perfect time. Thank you!
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent · Group trip
This was a great spot. Privacy and great views. We all camped at the bottom. There was room for both of our tents a larger and a medium one.
There isn’t cell signal in the area, so make sure to map your way in and out.
Recommends
· July 2026
Tent
Had a really relaxing time here, we tent camped at the gravel lot and enjoyed the fire pit and beautiful forest. We do not camp often so the faq sheet was helpful and we found the place even without gps working on my phone. Thank you to our host!
Recommends
· July 2026
Absolute Gem!
Tent · With pets
We had a wonderful time camping. The host gave us all of the information we needed before the trip. We stayed at the lower site and it was perfect for our two larger tents and tables. We took the hike up to the summit and WOW what a wonderful view! We will definitely return!!
Recommends
· June 2026
Tent · Group trip
Beautiful, serene campsite! We hiked up to the upper campsite but did not camp up there as we were taking my 5 month old on her first camping trip and it was definitely a steep climb but had beautiful views! The privy was very clean. The only thing that would be helpful is if there was a way to have a trash service or trashcan that could be used because we had to drive 30 minutes with our trash before there was a place to drop off. Would definitely stay here again!
Recommends
· June 2026
Private and Beautiful
Tent
I chose this camp for its privacy and it did not disappoint. The trail up to the upper campsite/view was well marked and felt like a steep section of the AT. The view from the door of our tent was incredible! It was an unobstructed long range Mountain View. The campsite was surrounded by wild blueberries and flowering rhododendron. The clouds cleared up as our fire burned down and we had a clear view of millions of stars and could see the Milky Way. It was supremely private… it felt like the kind of campsite you normally have to hike for miles to reach. This was my first time using a composting privy, it was clean and easy with zero stink. We will be back!
Location
Robbinsville, Graham County, North Carolina, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Richard N.
Joined in June 2026Things to do nearby
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