Donley Cabin
Donley Cabin is a primitive and historic structure in the heart of the Cherokee National Forest, offering visitors a glimpse of the past. The cabin does not have electricity, running water or locks on the door. Guests should be aware that visitors often frequent the cabin during tours of the area. It predates the Civil War and is among the oldest cabins available for rental in the Forest Service system. The cabin offers access to a variety of recreational activities, including numerous trails and streams. Visitors must walk a quarter-mile from the parking area, along a slight grade and over a bridge on the North River, to the cabin. All equipment must be carried in.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Amenities & rules
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The one-room cabin contains a full-size metal bed and two bunk beds that can accommodate up to six people. There is a rustic fireplace, kitchen table and chairs as well as rocking chairs available to sit on the cabin's front porch. An outhouse with a vault toilet, campfire ring and grill are available outside the cabin. Guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as lanterns or flashlights, bedding, towels, cooking and eating gear, food, garbage bags, toilet paper and other necessities. Firewood that is dead and down may be obtained from the surrounding forest.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Tellico Plains, Tenn. travel east on Highway 165 (Cherohala Skyway) for 5 miles. Turn right onto Forest Road 210 and continue 9 miles to the intersection of Forest Road 217 (North River Road). There will be a sign for the Donley Cabin and North River Campground.
| Nearest town | Tellico Plains, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35.3200° N, 84.0936° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | North River Checking Station ↗ | 1.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Lovin Equipment & Sales, Inc - Outdoor Equipment & Sportsman ↗ | 17.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rick's RV Center ↗ | 17.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Driving in or out, guests can visit the mountain town of Tellico Plains, which is known for its arts and crafts. Guest can also enjoy the Cherohala Skyway, the 43-mile National Scenic Byway that stretches from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina.
- 3.8 miWalnut Grove Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 4.7 miBaby Falls Day Use Site ↗Day use
- 13.2 miCheoah Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 13.2 miCheoah Point Beach ↗Swimming
- 14.8 miMassey Branch Fishing Pier ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miLaurel Branch Trail3 mi trail
- 1.7 miBig Indian Branch1.6 mi trail
- 1.7 miSugar Cove Trail2.3 mi trail
- 2 miWhigg Ridge Trail3 mi trail
- 2.1 miMcNabb Creek Trail3.9 mi trail
- 2.2 miSycamore Creek Trail ↗6 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
National Forests in North Carolina begins about 1.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.2 miNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 2.7 miCitico Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 16,213 acres
- 3.3 miBald River Gorge Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 3,791 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
- L. D. Giddens and Son Jewelry StoreBuilding · Goldsboro · 6.9 mi
- Elisha Johnson MansionBuilding · Tellico Plains · 10.5 mi
- Calderwood DamStructure · Calderwood · 13.5 mi
Natural features
The restored cabin sits in a wooded area of the forest's Tellico River area, at an elevation of 2,000 feet. This part of the forest is known for its three rivers, their tributaries and waterfalls. The cabin is several miles north the 90-foot Bald River Falls. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area. The area is also known for its abundant brown, rainbow and book trout. Snakes and mice can be seen in the area as well. The surrounding foliage is beautiful in the fall.
Recreation
The one-room cabin contains a full-size metal bed and two bunk beds that can accommodate up to six people. All beds have bed frames but NO mattresses. There are hiking trails and fishing streams in close proximity to the cabin. The nearby Sycamore Creek Trail is a short drive north on Tellico River Road. The 2-mile trail starts near a picnic area and a fish hatchery and follows an old logging road and railroad bed along Sycamore Creek. Big Cove Branch, a tributary to the North River that contains two distinctive waterfalls and trout-fishing opportunities, is also not far from the cabin. Hunting is also a popular activity enjoyed by visitors to the area from September through December. Hunters and their dogs may frequent the nearby trails during that time.
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 Donley Cabin?
Sites at Donley Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Donley Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Donley Cabin have?
1 site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Donley Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Donley Cabin?
The one-room cabin contains a full-size metal bed and two bunk beds that can accommodate up to six people. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Donley Cabin?
Tellico Plains, Tennessee. Driving in or out, guests can visit the mountain town of Tellico Plains, which is known for its arts and crafts.
Source: Getting there
What if Donley Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Spivey Cove Campground (1.6 mi, first-come), Dam Creek Walk-In Campground And Picnic Area (1.7 mi, first-come), and North River Campground (1.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby