Harmon Den Campground
Harmon Den Campground is nestled on a mountainside beneath a forest of mixed hardwoods in the Pisgah National Forest. The camp is in a secluded area off of Cold Springs rd. in Haywood County, and the individual sites provide ample privacy. The upper loop is reserved for horse campers while the lower loop is reserved for tent camping and small trailers. There is a vault toilet facility for each camping loop as well as bear-proof garbage cans. The area trails are horse and hiking use only, NO bikes.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in North Carolina · reservable in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 13 |
| Standard, no hookups | 9 |
Site guide
22 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T15 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T16 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T17 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T18 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T19 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T20 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 75 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T21 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T22 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| T23 | Lower | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 9 / 2 |
| HD01 | Upper | Equestrian | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
Harmon Den Campground has an upper loop for Horse campers and a lower loop for tent or dry trailer campers. Facilities provided include horse stalls and mangers that accommodate a maximum of 4 horses and 8 people at each site with a picnic table, tent pad, lantern post, fire ring and parking for a single vehicle with horse trailer. Also located within the campground are 2 vault toilets, a self-service livestock manure station and watering tank (non-potable) for livestock.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 1st to October 31st |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Booking | Campsites are available by reservation only and must be made 4 days in advance of desired arrival date. Combination gate code given upon reservation, through email. |
| Fees | The fee is $15.00 per site per night. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Hot Springs, North Carolina, take Highway 209 south for approximately 7 miles. Turn right onto Meadowfork Road NCSR# 1175. After 6 miles turn right onto Little Creek Road NCSR# 1181 for 3 miles. Take a left onto Max Patch Road NCSR# 1182, then travel approximately 0.75 miles and turn right onto Cold Springs Road NFSR# 148.
| Nearest town | Mars Hill, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.7586° N, 82.9767° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bluff Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 12.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 35.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Harmon Den Dispersed Camping 2.
Worth a stop
Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes an ideal day trip from Harmon Den. Max Patch is an open bald area with panaramic views and other trials for hiking include the Appalachian Trail, Cherry Creek and Groundhog Creek.
- 10.2 miRocky Bluff Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 14.3 miStackhouse Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miHorse Camp Loop Trail0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miCold Springs Horse2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miCherry Creek2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miCherry Ridge Horse2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miRobert Gap Horse2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.2 miBuckeye Ridge Horse3.3 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
This campground sits inside Cherokee National Forest.
- inCherokee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,228,298 acres
- 2.7 miNational 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
- Davis Family HouseBuilding · Crabtree · 9.4 mi
- Mount Zion United Methodist ChurchBuilding · Crabtree · 11.4 mi
- SunnybankBuilding · Hot Springs · 12.3 mi
Natural features
The Harmon Den Area is located on the Appalachian Ranger District, an area that stretches westward from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park's eastern boundary to Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Roan Mountain near Tennessee. Elevations range from 1,900 feet at Max Patch to 6,684 feet at Mount Mitchell. Visitors to the area will find waterfalls, lush forest undergrowth, forested peaks and miles of cold mountain streams. Wildlife in the area include bear, deer, grouse and wild turkey.
Recreation
Local attractions include more than 14 miles of trails designated for hiking and horseback riding and about 40 miles for hiking. Equestrians may ride other open roads unless signed closed to horses with caution due to traffic during busy recreational seasons. Trails include the 5.4-mile Buckeye Ridge, 2.6-mile Cherry Ridge, 2.5 mile Robert Gap and 3.6-mile Cold Springs Trails. Hunting and fishing are other popular activities in the area.
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 Harmon Den Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Harmon Den Campground?
The fee is $15.00 per site per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Harmon Den Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Harmon Den Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 1st to October 31st.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Harmon Den Campground have?
22 sites, including 13 equestrian sites and 9 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Harmon Den Campground?
The longest site here provides 30 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 pets allowed at Harmon Den Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Harmon Den Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Harmon Den Campground?
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 Harmon Den Campground?
Local attractions include more than 14 miles of trails designated for hiking and horseback riding and about 40 miles for hiking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Harmon Den Campground?
Mars Hill, North Carolina. Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes an ideal day trip from Harmon Den.
Source: Getting there
What if Harmon Den Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Round Mountain Campground (5.7 mi, first-come), Big Creek Horse Camp (7.3 mi), and Big Creek Group Camp (7.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby