fees, RV limits, trails & mountain biking

Big Creek Horse Camp

National Park Service campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina.

$10nightly fee
5overnight sites
Reservablebooking
Not statedseason (agency text)
35 ftmax RV/trailer length
15named USFS/NPS trails within 5 mi (51.7 mi)
8.8 mibike trails within 5 mi

How it compares

  • With 5 sites it is the #78 largest of 86 North Carolina campgrounds that publish a site count (small and usually quieter).
  • Its lowest fee ($10) is equal to the North Carolina median of $10/night.
  • There are 50 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 0 of them list a lower starting fee.
  • 77% of North Carolina campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (35 ft).
  • 100% of sites with a shade rating are listed as shaded or partly shaded.
  • Pets allowed on 5 of 5 sites; campfires allowed on 5 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
  • Straight-line distance: Asheville ~33 mi, Knoxville ~48 mi, Abingdon ~91 mi.

Site mix

Equestrian5
Accessible1

Amenities & rules

Fire pitsGrillsPicnic tablesTent padsPets allowed1 accessible site

Fee notes from the agency: Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Customers that check out early or do not…

Trails within 5 miles

TrailClosest pointMapped miles within 5 miSource
Big Creek Horse0.0 mi0.3NPS
Big Creek Trail0.2 mi6.1NPS
Baxter Creek Trail0.2 mi6.1NPS
Chestnut Branch Trail0.4 mi2.0NPS
Anst - Appalachian Rd1.1 mi8.8USFS
Appalachian Trail1.1 mi8.2NPS
Lower Mount Cammerer Trail2.2 mi6.2NPS
Mount Cammerer Trail3.1 mi0.6NPS
Mount Sterling Trail3.5 mi2.2NPS
Low Gap Trail3.6 mi3.9NPS
Long Bunk Trail3.7 mi2.1NPS
Swallow Fork Trail4.0 mi3.7NPS

+ 3 more named trails.

Mountain biking nearby

8.8 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 8.8 mi

TrailClosest pointMiles within 5 miDifficulty (as tagged)KidsSource
Anst - Appalachian Rd1.1 mi8.8UnratedUSFS

Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.

Activities listed

Auto TouringBackpackingBikingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHorse CampingHorseback RidingPicnickingWildernessWildlife Viewing

Nearest campgrounds

CampgroundMilesStateFee/nightSitesHookupsMax RVPetsBookingTrails ≤5 mi
Big Creek Group Camp
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
0.2NC$10— — —yes Reserve15 (53.2 mi)
Big Creek Campground (great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
0.4TN$1012 — 18 ftyes Reserve16 (54.7 mi)
Davenport Gap Shelter
OpenStreetMap listing
1.4TN—12 — —— Reserve16 (48.8 mi)
Mount Sterling #38
National Park Service
3.7NC—— — —— ?21 (65.2 mi)
Gilliland Creek #35
National Park Service
4.3TN—— — —— ?20 (59.4 mi)
Upper Walnut Bottom #36
National Park Service
4.4NC—— — —— ?24 (82.5 mi)

Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.

From the managing agency

Overview The only horse camp in the Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets! Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 16 miles from Newport, Tennessee. This campsite sits along the gently rolling waters of Big Creek and offers miles of horse trails with breathtaking scenic backdrops. You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Big Creek Horse Camp! Recreation The rolling terrain surrounding the campsite makes for some of the best horseback riding trails in the park. Numerous trails are accessible from Big Creek and for riders looking for a little hiking, the Appalachian Trail… read the full description on Recreation.gov