Posts Tagged ‘Saluda NC’

One Night in Saluda: Glamping, Rapids, and Good Vibes at Wilderness Cove

Inside: A real family review of glamping at Wilderness Cove in Saluda, NC.

We booked a one-night glamping trip to Saluda, North Carolina, mostly in search of a little adventure and a break from the usual routine. What we got was way more than expected: a cozy glamping setup, an adrenaline-pumping float down the Green River, and a charming downtown that I can’t believe I hadn’t visited before. It was the kind of quick getaway that somehow makes it feel like you’ve been gone for days, in the best way.

Disclosure: Our stay at Wilderness Cove was hosted, and we’re so grateful for their hospitality. This wasn’t a paid partnership — just our honest take on a place we truly enjoyed.

A City Rebuilding, But Still Beautiful

Saluda, a mountain city tucked in Western North Carolina, is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which tore through the area and left its mark. Thousands of trees were uprooted, roads and bridges were destroyed, and parts of Wilderness Cove Campground, including its beloved riverfront accommodations, were swept away.

But the spirit of the place? Still going strong. You can feel it the second you roll in. New pavement has replaced damaged roads, and while signs of the storm remain, there’s a visible energy of resilience.

The staff at Wilderness Cove have clearly poured their hearts into rebuilding, and it shows. They said their coworkers and bosses feel like family — they eat together, hang out, and genuinely look out for each other, which made us feel welcomed right away.

Glamping at Wilderness Cove: Rustic Meets Extra Cozy

We stayed in Premium Glamping Tent #10, and it was even more luxurious than we expected – surprisingly cozy, well-equipped, and genuinely comfortable. Even with a late arrival, check-in was a breeze and everything was ready for us when we got there.

Inside the tent was a pleasant surprise — a sturdy, canvas structure with a waterproof exterior and an airy, cozy interior. There was a metal queen canopy bed with bedding, AC, electricity, and even a freestanding wood-burning fireplace, which would definitely be helpful on cooler nights.

Inside the glamping tents at Wilderness Cove

A futon, table, chairs, and the chandelier overhead added to the charm. There was also a steamer trunk stocked with two sleeping bags and a basket with two bathrobes, plus a Keurig with pods and cups for morning coffee.

Outside, the setup was just as thoughtful. We had an outdoor sink, mini fridge, fire ring with a cooking grate, front porch chairs, and a picnic table that made outdoor meals and game night enjoyable.

Side note: The tent walls are tough enough to keep out the weather but not soundproof, so don’t be surprised if the morning birds become your natural alarm clock.

The bathhouse was a short walk away and were kept very clean and there were actual hot showers.

A few things to know:

Wi-Fi is available, but cell signal is limited.
Some sites are pet-friendly; a pet fee may apply.

The glamping tent at night at Wilderness Cove

The Little Things That Made It Even Better

The camp store was a nice convenience, and it was actually kind of adorable. Stocked with essentials like firewood, ice, water shoes, waterproof bags, Uncrustables, breakfast items, and ice cream. And small camping extras you always forget to bring.

Tubing at Wilderness Cove

Tubing was the highlight of the trip.
Since Helene, the Green River has changed: more exposed rock beds, less shade, and there are stronger currents in places. Because of that, traditional tube rentals have been paused and now Wilderness Cove offers Mini Cats and inflatable kayaks exclusively. And trust me, that’s a solid call.

Watch! Our Trip Down the River

We went with the Mini Cats, and they were perfect: comfy padded bottom, easy-to-steer double-ended paddle, roomy enough to relax, but also sturdy enough for rapids.

On the river with Mini-Cats at Wilderness Cove

We opted for a guided float, and I highly recommend doing the same for your outdoor adventure, especially if it’s your first time on the Green River or your first post-storm trip. Our guides, Nate and Melody, were awesome, knowledgeable, friendly, and low-key lifesavers. One stayed ahead, alerting us about upcoming rapids, while the other stayed behind us in case anyone got stuck (which we all did at some point). Their presence made the float feel exciting, but safe.

The full float is about 4.5 miles and took around 3 hours in the Mini Cat’s. You’ll start at Wilderness Cove Beach and finish at Big Rock, where the shuttle picks you up and brings you back.

First half: Class I and II rapids, and one optional Class III.
Second half: smoother, but still requires you to pay attention, not a lazy river.

What made the trip floating down the Green River even more memorable was that we saw a Bald Eagle, and later, a Great Blue Heron fly overhead.

🛶 2025 Tubing Schedule & Tips:

📍 2025 Tubing Season: June 6 – September 7, 2025
📅 Fridays–Sundays only (advance reservations required—no walk-ups)
🚐 All floats include shuttle, paddle, and life jacket
🧼 Water shoes are required (bring your own or grab a pair from the camp store)

Mini Cat (Guided)

Fridays & Sundays at 10 am

Mini Cat (Self-Guided)

Fridays at 2 pm
Saturdays at 10 am, 12 pm & 2 pm
Sundays at 2 pm

Inflatable Kayak (Self-Guided)

Fridays at 10:30 am & 2:30 pm
Saturdays at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm
Sundays at 10:30 am & 2:30 pm

⚠️ Safety Notes:

All children must be 42” or taller to participate
Life jackets are required for kids under 13 (and honestly, everyone in our group wore one the whole time—good call)
No pets or alcohol allowed on floats
Expect Class I & II rapids, with one Class III (optional)
Ages 10+ is our personal recommendation—especially with current river conditions

Final Stop: Downtown Saluda

After rafting, we headed into downtown Saluda for a late lunch at The Purple Onion, delicious food and relaxed atmosphere. Then we wandered around checking out local shops and grabbed coffee, ice cream, honey, and some locally made sausage, which ended up in our spaghetti dinner back home.

There’s also McCreery Park right across the street, with a playground. Perfect for the kiddos if they still have any energy left after a sun-filled day tubing down the river.

A Short Stay That Stuck With Us: Wilderness Cove Review

Even though we were only in Saluda for one night, it honestly felt like a full escape, peaceful glamping, a beautiful river adventure, and a taste of small-city charm all rolled into one.

Wilderness Cove is still on the mend, but what they’ve rebuilt is already special, and it’s only going to keep getting better. Whether you’re going for the thrill, the quiet, or both, this place checks all the boxes. And next time, we might just stay a little longer.

Want to go? Book at the Wilderness Cove Website
3772 Green River Cove Road, Saluda, NC
Wilderness Cove Facebook

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Riverside Retreat in Saluda, NC: Easy and Fun Family Getaway

Only an hour from the Upstate, Wilderness Cove Campground in Saluda, NC feels a lot further away. Let the river soothe you to sleep, hike the Green River Gamelands, or go tubing over the summer at this fun campground.

UPDATE June 2025: Wilderness Cove Campground has been rebuilding since Hurricane Helene and they are now offering water adventures over the summer! They have added lodgings so go check them out and help support their recovery. This particular place we stayed is not available any longer to our knowledge but they have other options.

Thank you to Wilderness Cove Campground for inviting us out to do this review.

I have tubed down the Green River a few times and have always loved it. Staying on the Green River is just as much an adventure and one you can do right at Wilderness Cove Campground all year long.

We’ll tell you what they offer, things to do in the area, and how to book your trip.

About Wilderness Cove Campground

You may already know about this place because it’s one of the big tubing outfitters on the Green River. But maybe you didn’t know they offer riverfront cabins, bigger family cabins, tent sites, and glamping tents. Wilderness Cove Campground is owned by Outdoor Adventure Retreats, a family of campgrounds throughout the Southeast offering unique access to outdoor recreation, led by Andrew Garcia and Ben Cohen.

They offer tubing over the summer and the campground is open all year. They also offer some neat classes like fly fishing.

Accommodations at Wilderness Cove

The campground is right along the Green River but not all the rentals can hear those soothing sounds. We stayed at one of the small riverfront cabins where we could hear the river, which was awesome. The cabin has a full bed plus a loft, which has a twin bed. There’s a fire pit, Keurig, and a mini-fridge but these are rustic cabins. It’s basically camping but indoors with beds and electricity.

Heating and air are provided, as well as linens, but you’ll have to walk to the bathhouse or pit toilets.

The bathhouse is nice. It was clean and had both toilets and showers. Bring your own towels and flashlights.

The glamping tents are a lot closer to the bathhouse but we didn’t stay in those so I can’t give a firsthand review. They did look pretty awesome though.

Here are how many people each place/site can accommodate:

Glamping Tent – 3 people (max of 2 adults)
River Cottage – 3 people (max of 2 adults)
Large Glamping Tent – 4 people (max of 2 adults)
Standard Cottage – 4 people (max of 2 adults)
Double Glamping Tent – 6 people (max of 4 adults)
Deluxe Cottage – 6 people (max of 4 adults)
Green River Guest House – 7 people
Individual Primitive Campsite – 4 people
Group Primitive Campsite – 20 people
RV Sites – No preset limit. Up to 2 adults and 3 children included at no extra charge. After that it’s $5 extra per person.

The campground does have WiFi but we found it to be a bit spotty at some points. Cell service is minimal at the campground.

Things to do at Wilderness Cove Campground

The campground is located adjacent to the Green River Gamelands, which has almost 17 miles of beautiful trails. I’ve hiked all through there and the Narrows trail is my favorite because you can watch the kayakers tackle the huge rapids (it’s extremely steep to get down and up though – there are ropes). But there are miles of other trails to hike at all levels.

You can access the Gamelands across the street from the campground itself. Or you can hike the six-mile round trip hike to Milton Bradley Falls. The trailhead is just steps away from the riverfront cabins and camp store.

And, of course, over the summer, you can go tubing on the Green River. Tubing season is usually Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.

If you have a NC fishing license, you can fish in the river as well.

If you love kayaking, you can rent a kayak from Wilderness Cove and run the river. We saw some kayakers who had ran the river that day staying at the campground. The Green River is well-known for its kayaking opportunities.

Things to do Nearby

Hendersonville is just a short 25-minute drive from Wilderness Cove and there are so many things to do there: apple picking, snow tubing, free museums, the Team ECCO aquarium, more hiking, and shopping. We have a big list of Things to do in Hendersonville to give you ideas.

Flat Rock is also close by, where you can play with the goats at the Carl Sandburg Home or hike on the property for free. Grab a pizza or baked good at the Village Bakery on your way home.

Saluda, NC is close as well. The small town has great restaurants like the Purple Onion and Wildflower Bakery.

We didn’t do this although I’d like to but the Gorge Zipline is just down the street from Wilderness Cove. I love ziplining and this place has excellent reviews.

Wilderness Cove is also not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah Forest, and miles and miles of amazing trails to enjoy. Since we went during leaf season, we headed up about an hour and 15 minutes to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Craggy Gardens to see some fall foliage and we were not disappointed. I love staying at places that are great base camps for adventures.

Booking Your Stay at Wilderness Cove Campground

You can book your stay online at the Wilderness Cove Campground website. Note that some accommodations are pet-friendly.

Prices per night start at around $91/night for the riverfront cabins and glamping tents. Tent and RV sites are cheaper while the cabins that hold more people go up from there.

Please drive slowly down to the river. The road is very curvy and sometimes you can’t see around the curves.

Wilderness Cove Campground
3772 Green River Cove Road, Saluda, NC
Facebook | Wilderness Cove Website

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