This may be a little farther south than you want but, I just got back from backpacking the Fork Mountain Trail and highly recommend it.
The trail starts at Sloans Bridge on the Foothills Trail and goes west to Ellicott Rock. Then we followed the Chatooga to Burrell’s Ford. You’ll cross into NC during the first part. There are several beautiful campsites when you get to the Chatooga. I’ll have a trip report in a couple of days.