Big Creek Horse Camp
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!
More like this: reservable in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 5 |
Site guide
5 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | Yes | Standard | |
| 2 | Back-in | 62 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 3 | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | Yes | Standard | |
| 4 | Back-in | 44 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | Yes | Standard | |
| 5 | Back-in | 54 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | 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). |
| Accessibility | Site 2 is listed accessible |
Big Creek Horse Camp is fairly primitive, providing only the basic amenities, but an unforgettable outdoors experience. The sites are large and the facility does offer flush toilets, drinking water and plenty of shade. Since horses are not permitted in the camping area, horse stalls and hitching rails are provided to guests. There are no hookups or showers at the campground, but water is available from the campground spigot. You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Big Creek Horse Camp!
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The campground is located off I-40 Exit 451 (Waterville). It sixteen miles east of Newport, TN. Follow Waterville road, crossing over the Pigeon River, past the Walters Power Generating Station and continue one mile to the 4-way intersection at Mt Sterling Gap. Follow the signs to Big Creek. Drive up Big Creek Park Road.
| Coordinates | 35.7543° N, 83.1073° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 5.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bluff Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 18.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | A&L RV Sales ↗ | 31.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Spruce Creek Horse Campground Review-Big South Fork
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miAnst - Appalachian Rd ↗159.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
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
This campground sits inside Cherokee National Forest, which overlaps National Forests in North Carolina.
- inCherokee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,228,298 acres
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 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
On the National Register nearby
- Vinson HouseBuilding · Newport · 10.3 mi
- Tyson McCarter PlaceBuilding · Gatlinburg · 10.8 mi
- Shults Grove Methodist ChurchBuilding · Cosby · 10.8 mi
Natural features
At a 1,700 foot elevation, Big Creek provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. The camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams. Nearby Mouse Creek Falls, a 35 foot waterfall forming at the confluence of Mouse Creek and Big Creek, is reachable by horseback or on foot via the Big Creek trailhead located on-site. The beautiful falls splits over moss covered rocks and falls about 20 ft. before pooling and falling another 15 ft. into Big Creek. The falls can be reached via the Big Creek Trail, which is covered in wildflowers during spring months.
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 can be easily reached via the 2.1 mile Chestnut Branch Trail, located within walking distance from the camp. Day Use horse area- so invite your horse riding friends and family for a fun day even if they don't want to camp with you. Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams that snake through the mountains, with Rainbow and Brook trout available in abundance, particularly during spring months.
Nearby
The Big Creek Group Campground is located nearby, with plenty of space for larger groups. Full service grocery stores and medical facilities are located 16 miles away in Newport, Tennessee.
Guidebooks for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Fly Fishing Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National ParkIan Rutter and Charity Rutter, 2024Find 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 Big Creek Horse Camp?
Sites at Big Creek Horse Camp 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 Big Creek Horse Camp?
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).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Creek Horse Camp?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Big Creek Horse Camp have?
5 sites, including 5 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Creek Horse Camp?
The longest site here provides 35 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
Are there showers or a dump station at Big Creek Horse Camp?
The sites are large and the facility does offer flush toilets, drinking water and plenty of shade.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Big Creek Horse Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Big Creek Horse Camp?
Site 2 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
Is there cell service at Big Creek Horse Camp?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Big Creek Horse Camp?
The rolling terrain surrounding the campsite makes for some of the best horseback riding trails in the park. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Big Creek Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Creek Group Camp (0.2 mi), Big Creek Campground (0.4 mi), and Cosby Group Camp (5.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Big Creek Horse Camp in?
Big Creek Horse Camp is a Great Smoky Mountains National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.