Canebrake Horse Camp
Canebrake Horse Camp lies in the Badin Lake Recreation Area, a hub for outdoor activities in central North Carolina's Uwharrie National Forest. The facility is a scenic and restful overnight spot with both single and double campsites. Canebrake Horse Camp is specifically designed for campers traveling with horses and offers numerous amenities for equestrian camping. If your visit to the Uwharrie National Forest includes camping without horses, please consider one of our other campgrounds: Arrowhead Campground, Badin Lake Campground or Badin Lake Group Camp.
More like this: electric hookups in North Carolina · reservable in North Carolina · big rigs in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| equestrian electric | 28 |
Site guide
28 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | Gravel | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | Back-in | Gravel | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | |
| 009 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Pull-through | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 8 / 3 | 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 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 85 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This campground offers many conveniences for horse campers, including a horse washing station, hitching racks, tack tables, parking spurs for horse trailers and direct access to trails. Campsites are arranged around two loops. Each site is equipped with an electric hookup, picnic table, grill, campfire ring and lantern post, and many sites are shaded. The facility also provides drinking water, showers, flush toilets and a centrally-located dump station.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year Round |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Booking | Reservations can be made by going to www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 or TDD 1-877-833-6777. They need to be made at least 3 days in advance or can be made up to 240 days in advance. |
| Fees | Single sites are $20 per night and double sites (#16, 19, 25, & 26) are $40 per night. All sites have electrical hookups and have an additional $7 or $14 surcharge per site. Sites #9 & 22 are always first come, first serve and cannot be reserved. There is a campground host available on site #20. |
Weather by month
Getting there
The address is 616 McLeans Creek Road, Troy, NC 27371. From Troy, North Carolina, take State Highway 109 north for approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Mullinix Road (State Highway 1154) and travel approximately 1.5 miles to a stop sign and "T" intersection. Turn right, and travel about 0.25 mile to the campground on the right.
| Nearest town | Troy, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.4394° N, 80.0486° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | West Trades Unlimited ↗ | 14.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bass Pro Shops ↗ | 38.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Canebrake Horse Camp, NC from Jackie S.
Worth a stop
A theme park with a petting zoo, nature center and mini golf course lies just under an hour away and makes a fun day trip for families.
- 1.4 miCove Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 1.4 miFlintlock Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCanebrake Loop0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miJosh Trail1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miIndian Trail1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miHome Trail Extension0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miBadin Horse Camp Connector0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miMegan Trail1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
Birkhead Mountains Wilderness begins about 11.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.9 miBirkhead Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,065 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
- Lane's Chapel Methodist Church and CemeteryBuilding · New London (Eldorado Township) · 4.4 mi
- Chapel Hill Church TabernacleBuilding · Denton · 8 mi
- Harrington-Dewar HouseBuilding · Holly Springs · 9.2 mi
Natural features
Canebrake lies in a quiet forest of pine, oak and hickory near the shore of 5,000-acre Badin Lake. Winter temperatures range from the low 30s to upper 50s, while summer brings temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s and high humidity. Weather is pleasant in spring and fall, with high temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
Recreation
The equestrian trail system is extensive, with miles of forested paths wandering through forests, over hills and across streams. The trails can be accessed from Canebrake using the Home Trail, which skirts the campground. Trails range from easy to difficult, accommodating riders of every level. The recreation area also offers many ways to enjoy the lake. Campers can spend the afternoon swimming, boating or fishing for bass, bream, crappie and catfish on the water. Back on land, off-road vehicle enthusiasts have access to 17 miles of trails, and hunters and hikers can explore the surrounding national forest.
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find 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 Canebrake Horse Camp?
Sites at Canebrake Horse Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made by going to www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 or TDD 1-877-833-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Canebrake Horse Camp?
Single sites are $20 per night and double sites (#16, 19, 25, & 26) are $40 per night. All sites have electrical hookups and have an additional $7 or $14 surcharge per site. Sites #9 & 22 are always first come, first serve and cannot be reserved.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Canebrake Horse Camp?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Canebrake Horse Camp open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year Round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Canebrake Horse Camp have?
28 sites, including 28 equestrian electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Canebrake Horse Camp?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Canebrake Horse Camp have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Canebrake Horse Camp?
The facility also provides drinking water, showers, flush toilets and a centrally-located dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Canebrake Horse Camp?
Yes, pets are allowed at Canebrake Horse Camp. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Canebrake Horse Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Canebrake Horse Camp?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Canebrake Horse Camp?
The equestrian trail system is extensive, with miles of forested paths wandering through forests, over hills and across streams. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation