Whetstone Horse Camp
Whetstone Horse Camp is located in the Andrew Pickens Ranger District in Oconee County in the western corner of South Carolina, about 13 miles northwest of Walhalla. The Chattooga River flows nearby. With over 30 miles of horseback riding trails, Whetstone serves as a base for those who like to ride and camp.
More like this: reservable in South Carolina · tent only in South Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 18 |
Site guide
18 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 75 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 75 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 75 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 58 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 005 | Back-in | 48 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 006 | Pull-through | 105 | Gravel | 14 / 4 | Yes | Yes | |
| 007 | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | 14 / 4 | Yes | Yes | |
| 008 | Back-in | 58 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 54 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | 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
| Equipment | Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 001, 002, 003, 004 and 14 more are listed accessible |
The campground is open year-round and has 18 sites with parking spurs for horse trailers. All of the 18 Sites are by reservation only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Hitching racks are located throughout the facility.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Season | Year round |
| Forest | Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests |
| Fees | $15 per site per day News Release. Q & A's |
| Rules | Horses must be kept away from camp sites. Stay is limited to 14 days. Blocking, restricting or otherwise interfering with the use of a road, gate or trail is prohibited. Not only is it dangerous, but also it may hinder administrative functions or emergency access. All pets must be on a leash in the camping area. Do not tie horses to trees. |
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests recreation page ↗
Weather by month
Getting there
From Walhalla, go north 6 miles on State Highway 28. Turn left onto Whetstone Road. Go straight for about 5 miles. Continue straight at the four-way stop, for another 1.5 miles. The pavement ends and gravel begins. A sign for Whetstone Horse Camp is about 3/4-mile down the gravel road. The camp is on the left.
| Nearest town | Mountain Rest, South Carolina |
| Coordinates | 34.8648° N, 83.2252° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Chattooga Whitewater Outfitters ↗ | 5.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 12.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blairsville RV Sales ↗ | 36.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Whetstone Horse Campground
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miEarls Ford Portage0.3 mi trail
- 1 miMoss Mill Creek0.1 mi trail
- 1 miSandy Ford Portage0.3 mi trail
- 1 miRocky Gap Horse Trail ↗19 mi trail
- 1.1 miWillis Knob River Acces1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miDicks Creek Falls0.2 mi trail · hiking
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 National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 9.6 miEllicott Rock Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 8,300 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The camp is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near the Rocky Gap and Willis Knob Horse Trails. The Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests encompass more than 629,000 acres in four districts throughout South Carolina, from the lowcountry Atlantic Coast to the western foothills along the Georgia border.
Recreation
The Rocky Gap Trail on the South Carolina side of the river and the Willis Knob Horse Trail on the Georgia side provide excellent horseback riding and hiking opportunities. Visitors also enjoy exploring the nearby Chattooga River.
Nearby
The town of Walhalla is 13 miles away. The town holds an annual Oktoberfest celebration the third weekend of October. Stumphouse Tunnel, a 19-century uncompleted railroad tunnel, and Isaqueena Falls make for interesting visits. Both are located just 20 minutes from the camp.
Guidebooks for South Carolina
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Whetstone Horse Camp?
Sites at Whetstone 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 Whetstone Horse Camp?
$15 per site per day News Release. Q & A's
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Whetstone Horse Camp?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Whetstone Horse Camp open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Whetstone Horse Camp have?
18 sites, including 18 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Whetstone Horse Camp?
Whetstone Horse Camp is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Whetstone Horse Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Horses must be kept away from camp sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Whetstone Horse Camp?
Sites 001, 002, 003, and 004 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 18 sites in all. 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 Whetstone Horse Camp?
The Rocky Gap Trail on the South Carolina side of the river and the Willis Knob Horse Trail on the Georgia side provide excellent horseback riding and hiking opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Whetstone Horse Camp?
Mountain Rest, South Carolina. The town of Walhalla is 13 miles away.
Source: Getting there
What if Whetstone Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Willis Knob Horse Camp (2.4 mi), Sarah's Creek Campground (4.9 mi), and Cassidy Bridge Primitive Camp (5.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby