Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-121840
When Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions reopens
Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
21
Only 21 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Mar 15 – May 3, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 50 tracked reservation dates (Mar 15 – May 3, 2027): 50 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
0% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 50 of 50 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Mar 15 – May 3, 2027Not open online0%
Open reservation dates50 / 50
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 50
Weekday openings29
Weekend openings21
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 29 fall on weekdays and 21 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Mar 2027 – May 2027April holds the most room. 30 of 30 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Backbone Rock Pavilion #1 | 50 |
This day-use unit currently has 50 reservation dates available.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts Mar 15, 2027. That is about 133 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Mar 15, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The reservation dates shown on this page describe Mar 15, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Reservation dates
50 available reservation dates across 1 day-use unit at Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backbone Rock Pavilion #1 | 50 | 50 dates | Mar 15, 2027, Mar 16, 2027, Mar 17, 2027, Mar 18, 2027, Mar 19, 2027, Mar 20, 2027, Mar 21, 2027, Mar 22, 2027, Mar 23, 2027, Mar 24, 2027, Mar 25, 2027, Mar 26, 2027 +38 more |
About Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions
Overview
The pavilion at Backbone Rock Recreation Area is a popular location for family reunions and other types of group gatherings. The pavilion is large and adjacent to an expansive field, Beaverdam Creek, and a large parking area. The area includes accessible grills, picnic tables, dumpsters, and vault toilets.
Recreation
There is a trail that will take you to the top of Backbone Rock, following a stone-step wooded path. The trail crosses the rock and leads to Beaverdam Creek or Backbone Rock Falls. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail adjoins Backbone Rock Trail. Beaverdam Creek is known for its excellent fishing.
Facilities
There is a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) -era pavilion, picnic tables and grills. The pavilion includes a stone fireplace and several large picnic tables with additional tables and grills nearby. Vault toilets are located within the parking area.
Natural Features
Backbone Rock Recreation Area is located along Beaverdam Creek in northern Johnson County. Backbone Rock gets its name from a spur ridge on Holston Mountain that ends abruptly at a bend in Beaverdam Creek. A tunnel was drilled through the rock in 1901 to allow railroad access between Shady Valley, TN and Damascus, VA. Motorists pass through what is locally known as "The shortest tunnel in the world" as they travel along TN 133.
1 monitored unitDay use1 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKMax party 74
Getting there
From Bristol, TN take US 421 south for 20 miles to Shady Valley. Turn left onto TN 133 for eight miles to the recreation area. From Abingdon, VA, take US 58 east for 15 miles to Damascus. Turn right onto VA 716 for five miles to the recreation area (VA 178 becomes TN 133 at the state line).
4400 Unicoi Drive, Unicoi, TENNESSEE 37692423-735-1500
FishingHikingScenic DriveStar GazingSwimmingWater AccessWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-121840 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-121840 · Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions · Unicoi TENNESSEE12 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions?
Reservations for Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 50 of 50 tracked reservation dates are open (100%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 21 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions?
Campsite Sniper detected 21 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions?
April 2027, with 30 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 30.
When is the next open date at Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions begins Mar 15, 2027 — about 133 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before Mar 15, 2027.
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