nice campsites

[GrubbyJohn]

i'm hiking north from cornelus creek are there any great camp sites want to avoid the shelters as much as i can.

[couscous]

I've not been in this area, but listing the shelters/camping areas might refresh the memory of someone who can help you. 756.0 Cornelius Creek Shelter / 761.3 Thunder Hill Shelter / * 768.2 Marble Spring Campsite / 773.7 Matts Creek Shelter / * 774.5 Campsite / * 775.9 US 501,VA 130 Big Island 5.6E / * 776.9 Rocky Row Run / 777.6 Johns Hollow Shelter / 786.4 Punchbowl Shelter.

[johnnybgood]

Marble Springs has a campsite about 50 yds from junction at the bottom of High Cock Knob. A spring is about 200 feet down the hill but might be running low this tme of year. The bugs were pretty bad in April so I'd have the DEET handy.

[GrubbyJohn]

we're leaving the end of Aug for 12 days this will be my third section and want to stay at some great sites...

[Skyline]

If you will be doing any side trails in the area, instead of just staying on the AT, check out the loop made possible by hiking down the Cornelius Creek Trail from the AT (north of the shelter of the same name), then connecting to and hiking up the Apple Orchard Falls Trail.

There are some good campsites between the bottom where the trails connect and up part way to the spectacular Apple Orchard Falls. You rejoin the AT after hiking further uphill from the Falls.

This makes a good overnight trip from either the bottom trailhead at the end of a state road, or the connecting Sunset trailhead up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It also would make a good loop for someone hiking the AT seeking a diversion for a day or so.