Backbone Rock Recreation Area is a part of the Cherokee National Forest, a large National Forest created in 1920 encompassing over 655,000 acres. There are rustic but clean bathroom facilities at Backbone Rock managed by the US Forest Service. The Backbone Rock Recreation Area offers hiking, rappelling, camping, and fishing, including a hike with one trail leading across the top of the rock and another trail taking you to the beautiful 45 foot high Backbone Falls. This short day trip is an excellent adventure (and easily accessible if you are able to walk up a large set of stairs) just minutes away from Damascus. The highest parts of Backbone Rock rise over 100 feet above the ground. This arch is clearly visible today and makes the short tunnel a very interesting site. The top of the tunnel had to be hand chiseled to resolve the problem, creating an arch in the fin around ten yards thick. Highway 133 occupies the old rail tunnel. After the hole was created and the track was laid, the narrow gauge railroad engineвЂ™s smokestack could not pass through the tunnel. There is a campground and recreation area at Backbone Rock, with trails leading off into the national forest. Backbone Rock, Shady Valley: See 54 reviews, articles, and 74 photos of Backbone Rock on Tripadvisor. The rock is home to what is called вЂњthe shortest tunnel in the world.вЂќ In the early 1900вЂ™s, when the harvesting of timber was the primary industry of Damascus and the surrounding areas, a 20 foot long hole had to be blasted through the rock to accommodate the railroad. from there it drops down into the twists of rock canyons, changing from higher-elevation forest to rocky. The creek offers excellent fishing and swimming. The ridge is surrounded by a bend in Beaverdam Creek, flowing directly below Backbone Rock. Backbone Rock is a solid pillar of rock which is a part of Holston Mountain. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is accessed via the nearby Backbone Rock Recreation Area parking.Backbone Rock Recreation Area in Cherokee National ForestДЄ short 10-minute drive outside of Damascus, Virginia is Backbone Rock Recreation Area. Natural feauresД«ackbone Rock Campground is located along the beautiful Beaverdam Creek nestled in the mountains of the Southern Appalachians.ДЄlong with camping, Beaverdam Creek is stocked with trout. We were driving Interstate 81 and had searched for activities along our route of travel. My husband and I decided to stop at Backbone Rock & Backbone Rock Waterfall on our way back from our trip to Gatlinburg, TN. Damascus, VA is approximately 5 minutes north of the campground. Backbone Rock is located in the Cherokee National Forest near Damascus, VA and Shady Valley, TN. The trailhead for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (#1) is approximately a quarter mile south of the campground on TN Highway 133. Each site contains a table, fire ring and lantern holder. There are 10 single campsites, including two double sites within Backbone Rock Campground. With 10 campsites and an adjacent large Civilian Conservation Corps- built reservable pavilion with lawn, Backbone Rock is a great option for a group to reserve the whole campground for retreats and other events. Backbone Rock Recreation Area, Shady Valley: See 5 traveler reviews, 3 candid photos, and great deals for Backbone Rock Recreation Area, ranked 1 of 2 specialty lodging in Shady Valley and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The creek side location with popular swim area and lush forest surroundings make Backbone Rock Campground particularly desirable during hot summer months.

This developed campground is popular with those visiting the nearby Backbone Rock, a tunnel originally blasted through the rock ridge for the railway. Backbone Rock Campground is a small campground situated along the beautiful Beaverdam Creek at an elevation of 2,100 feet in northern Johnson County. Backbone Rock Campground will close for the season on Monday, October 14, 2019.

Backbone rock campground