Get Out Boatpacking-Lone Pine and Gunter Fork on Fontana Lake
After backpacking for as long as I have and you see an opportunity to change it up by jumping on a kayak and camping on an island in a National Park, you’re down. There are 5 “boat in” camps in the Smokies located on Fontana Lake which is at the edge of the Park Boundary in North Carolina. On the other side of the man made Lake is various wilderness areas. So essentially, you are sandwiched between wild area on both sides of you. This is great because it has the best of both worlds, mellow wilderness area boat ramps and the amazing scenery that is associated with National Parks on the other! Start at Flat Branch Boat Ramp that is very near Bryson City getting a couple of gallons of water to drink and cook with. This is a great location because you can get amazing after trip food at the Rice Wagon, an amazing Hawaiian food cart. Anyway, get them kayaks packed up and into the water and set sail for adventure! Start by heading to the right side of the Lake which is the National Park side whenever it is convenient for you and head left. You will make a turn or two following the edge before seeing a finger of the Lake that extends closer to the mountains. Don’t make this right! This is Forney Creek and dead ends beyond what you can see from this angle. Instead, head straight and continue following the right shore. Soon the way opens up to a sharp left that continues to the Fontana Dam. You will see a flat stretch of land jetting into the water strait ahead across the water, this is Campsite #72, your camp for tomorrow night. If your down to get your chill out time on #72 on quicker, make that left and head to a point on the right side and make that right hand turn. Here the right side opens up to a big cove. On the other side of that cove is Lone Pine Camp #73 sticking out into Fontana. Circle around the Island and park them kayaks on the rocky beach there. Enjoy this amazing setting while you bathe in the bathtub like temperatures of this beautiful Lake. After you have your fill of lounging around, get a fire going and cook up some dinner of hot dogs and veggies as the sun sets. It really doesn’t get better than this!
Looking towards the Smokies
Sunset from #73
After a great night of island life. Get up and grab a snack before jumping back into the lake for a couple of hours. When you see fit, load up the boats again and backtrack along the shore to #72. It’s only about an hour’s paddle back to the other camp so you can be really flexible with your schedule. That’s probably one of the most appealing parts of this kind of camping to me. Just make sure to watch the high mountains for thunderstorms that could throw you some choppy waters and rain your way. Once you get to Gunter Fork #72, take a load off and just chill out for a bit and soak it in the goodness of the Smokies.
Setting up on #72
Once you get up and get some breakfast, head back in the water to get the most out of the trip. Once you’re ready to go and the skies are fair, it’s time to head back to the boat ramp. Even now you know that you will be back to see the other Islands in the Park. Enjoy the paddling as the time seems to slip away on this tranquil setting. Get back and load up the boats before getting the amazing food at the Rice Wagon in Bryson City. Mountain life is an amazing thing isn’t it?
Thunderstorm rolling in
