Indian Boundary
Indian Boundary Recreation Area is the crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on the Tellico Ranger District. This family-oriented campground offers a swim beach and picnic area with grills and an accessible picnic pavilion, as well as a fantastic, 3.2-mile hiking and biking trail around the lake. Spectacular mountain views, glimpses of wildlife, and a peaceful setting await visitors who come to Indian Boundary.
More like this: electric hookups in Tennessee · reservable in Tennessee · pets allowed in Tennessee
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 86 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 26 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
86 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 009 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes | |
| 011 | A | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | 5 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 26 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site 042 is listed accessible |
The 87-site campground has electric hookups, water faucets throughout the campground, grills, picnic tables and lantern posts. Modern restrooms add to the comfort of visitors in this natural setting. An on-site campground store sells bread, ice, milk, ice cream and other camping supplies. Indian Boundary Recreation Area Map
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Cherokee National Forest |
| Fees | Overflow Camping is $10 for 1-5 people, $20 for 6-10 people, $30 for 11-15 people, etc. (38 sites) |
| Rules | Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest. All food and beverages must be stored in an approved bear-proof container, your locked vehicle or hard-sided camper at all times unless being eaten, prepared, or transported. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-75 at Sweetwater, Tennessee, take State Route 68 to Tellico Plains. From Highway 68 in Tellico Plains, take Highway 165 (Cherohala Skyway) east for 16 miles. Turn left onto Forest Development Road 345 and travel 2 miles to the entrance.
| Nearest town | Tellico Plains, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.4017° N, 84.1072° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | North River Checking Station ↗ | 6.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Lovin Equipment & Sales, Inc - Outdoor Equipment & Sportsman ↗ | 18.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rick's RV Center ↗ | 23.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Exploring Tennessee: Winding the roads to Indian Boundary Campground
Worth a stop
The campground is two miles off the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway that stretches from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina. Bald River Falls on Tellico River Road 210 is a popular destination. The Pheasant Fields Fish Hatchery also on Tellico River is operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and is the rearing pools for the fish stocking program on Tellico River, Citico Creek, and the Green Cove Pond.
- 6 miWalnut Grove Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 6.5 miBaby Falls Day Use Site ↗Day use
- 13.6 miCheoah Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 13.6 miCheoah Point Beach ↗Swimming
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miIbra Lake Loop Trail3.6 mi trail
- 1.1 miFlats Mountain Trail ↗6.2 mi trail
- 1.5 miSouth Fork of Citico Trail ↗10.4 mi trail
- 1.6 miPine Ridge Trail3.6 mi trail
- 1.6 miRocky Flats Trail ↗4.5 mi trail
- 1.8 miBrush Mountain Hiking Trail4.4 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Citico Creek Wilderness begins about 0.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.4 miCitico Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 16,213 acres
- 2.9 miNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 4.2 miJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 19,246 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- L. D. Giddens and Son Jewelry StoreBuilding · Goldsboro · 6.3 mi
- Calderwood DamStructure · Calderwood · 9.4 mi
- Elisha Johnson MansionBuilding · Tellico Plains · 9.8 mi
Natural features
Indian Boundary Lake covers 96 acres at an elevation of 1,560 feet, and sits among hardwoods and pines. At the lake, visitors enjoy watching beaver that inhabit an adjacent pond, identifying several species of ducks and other waterfowl and trying their luck at catching bass, sunfish and catfish. The Cherokee National Forest is located in eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. The 650,000-acre swath of land is Tennessee's only national forest. It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachians and is home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, as well as many rivers, creeks and lakes. Elevations range from 750 to 5,500 feet.
Recreation
Opportunities abound for fishing, swimming, boating, wildlife viewing and scenic driving. Other popular activities include hiking and biking the trail around Indian Boundary Lake. The recreation area contains a swim beach, boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic area and volleyball court.
Guidebooks for Cherokee National Forest and Tennessee
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Cherokee National Forest hiking guideWilliam H. Skelton and Lamar Alexander, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
- Campgrounds in and Around the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkGrueen Huffman, 2010Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Indian Boundary?
Sites at Indian Boundary are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Indian Boundary?
Overflow Camping is $10 for 1-5 people, $20 for 6-10 people, $30 for 11-15 people, etc. (38 sites)
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Indian Boundary?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Indian Boundary open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Indian Boundary have?
88 sites, including 86 standard sites with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Indian Boundary?
The longest site here provides 26 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Indian Boundary have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Indian Boundary?
Yes, pets are allowed at Indian Boundary. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Indian Boundary?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Indian Boundary?
Site 042 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Indian Boundary?
Opportunities abound for fishing, swimming, boating, wildlife viewing and scenic driving. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Indian Boundary?
Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The campground is two miles off the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway that stretches from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina.
Source: Getting there