Indian Creek Campground 

**Campground Review**

We stayed in site #6, which is a premium creekside W/E site. The site was pretty large, level, and had unparalleled views and access to Bunches Creek. The stream is normally perfect for wading and fishing (stocked by the Cherokee tribe once per week), although it did become a little high and fast-moving after a few days of non-stop torrential rain. However, according to the staff on-site, you’re at a higher elevation and upstream enough where flash flooding isn’t an issue (which proved to be true for us). Whether it was gently babbling or angrily rushing, the creek provided a beautiful backdrop to our site, and we really enjoyed seeing, hearing, and playing in it. In terms of shade and privacy, while there were plenty of trees throughout the CG, the creekside sites were pretty tightly packed in, with very little (if any) privacy in between. Understandable, given the prime real estate of the creek. They did have other, more private and wooded sites further away from the water, but if we returned, I’d be willing to forgo some privacy to be on the creek again.

Bath house was a bit dated, but spotlessly clean. I was there a LOT during the week (mostly accompanying my toddler), and I feel like there was a staff member in there cleaning and/or restocking at least every other time we were there. Showers were nice and roomy, they had a dehumidifier going the whole time, and it always smelled fresh and clean. Nice pavilion next to the bath house with TV and Wifi. Laundry room was adequate, but smelled a bit like mildew. Camp store was very well-stocked but pricey, and the owners and all staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The only thing I felt was missing was a large dedicated dishwashing sink; that’s one of those things that makes my life so much easier when we camp, and I was pretty surprised they didn’t have one, since they had everything else so well-covered.

Overall, this was a great campground in a beautiful location, albeit a bit far from town (a good 20-minute drive). There are quite a few campgrounds in the area, but based on what we saw driving by, I would likely pick Indian Creek again. If they added a dishwashing station, it would be darn near perfect!

**Product Review**

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing the [Gregory Maven 35](https://www.gregorypacks.com/backpacking/lightweight/maven-35/6985MAV35.html) backpack. I’ll preface this review by admitting that I am an extremely novice hiker, and had never used a legit hiking backpack before. I had always carried cheap, regular backpacks or those nylon drawstring bags. In short, the difference in how my back felt after day hikes was incredible. I’ve never had back issues per se, or noticed that much pain or discomfort from using cheap packs, until I experienced the support and comfort that comes from using a true hiker’s backpack. I was worried it would feel too bulky, but the framing felt lighter than air, while still being sturdy and supportive. The chest and hip straps were easy to adjust, and felt very comfortable and secure. I loved the quick access to my phone and keys provided by the zip-up pockets on the hip belt. Speaking of pockets, the amount of storage provided by the Maven is incredibly impressive. While I admittedly didn’t use the pack for many of the traditional items carried by hikers (i.e., no tent, sleeping bag or other overnight supplies), I still found plenty to stuff in there! We were hiking with kids, so I was happily able to bring along an extensive supply of diapers, rain gear, snacks, water bottles, sun protection, rain gear, first aid items, and extra clothing layers for the notoriously unpredictable Smoky Mountain weather. I never would have been able to carry all of these essentials with a standard backpack. Access to all of the compartments was very quick and easy as well; no zippers getting caught like they do on cheaper backpacks, and I loved being able to access the largest compartment from the bottom and the top. I’m happy to report that, even after lugging all of the aforementioned junk around multiple trails in the Smokies, I barely felt the weight on my back and shoulders, and experienced no strain or soreness. The material is high-quality, attractive, and easy to clean, so the pack is back to looking brand-new after two weeks of use and abuse. I can’t wait to bring it on our next adventure!

Ranger Review: Gregory Maven 35 at Indian Creek Campground

 Beautiful, peaceful real campground with 2 creek, 1 stocked with trout. On the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

Nothing else like it in Cherokee.

 Beautiful, peaceful real campground with 2 creek, 1 stocked with trout.

I have camped at this campground every year for the past 6 years and I look forward to it every year. The sites are all beautiful and not too close together, the bathrooms are always clean and the owners are always willing to help. You can bring your tend or camper and they also have beautiful cabins, fully furnished. I would never think of camping anywhere else in Cherokee NC.

The most relaxing camping trip you'll ever have

Great and clean campground. Awesome for tent campers, with several spacious sites lining the river. They have sites for tent campers with electric and water, some with just water, and some with neither. The bath house is extremely clean. 

Great for all campers 

This campground is absolutely beautiful!  Our site was very spacious right on the creek. The cleanest bathrooms I have seen at a campground. We were on site 50.

Awesome place

By far, one of my favorite places on this planet.

Words can’t describe.

Indian Creek offers the most relaxing creekside camping in North Carolina. 

Every campsite is lush with greenery, private and well maintained after each occupancy. The bathhouse is the cleanest I have found and the campsite store carries all of your forgotten necessities, and more! 

My husband and I love coming back to this campground, because how of well we and our kids sleep! The sound of the creek at night melts all of your worries away and takes you off to peaceful slumber.  

This campground is always in rotation for a visit. 


Creekside Camping

This was our first visit to Cherokee to camp. We loved Indian Creek! It was very quiet at night and the sound of the creek was very relaxing. Everything on our site was clean on arrival and the bathhouse was great as well. Very dog friendly and all the workers were great. One of the workers call us to check on our arrival time since we were coming late. They even left us a map on the office front door with great directions to our site.

Very peaceful 

Beautiful campground! Friendly owners. Secluded sites. Very clean bathhouse with hot showers. Most sites sit along a stocked trout stream.  Highly recommend 

Wonderful Campground

We stayed here in August for just under a week in Premium site 8. Right on the creek. I haven’t had a nicer and more relaxing time anywhere else. The campground staff was friendly, the store had everything we needed, and the facilities were neat and clean. The creek is stocked with trout, so bring your fishing gear! Some of the sites are close quarters to others, but still provide privacy. The wooded setting keeps temps down all day. We can’t recommend this place enough. It’s a fantastic campground and close to a lot of different things, all within about an hour’s drive. Get ready to de-stress. 

Absolutely beautiful and relaxing

One of the most peaceful and beautiful campgrounds I have ever stayed at, I was right on the on the stream, so relaxing to fall asleep to.

Breathtaking 

To have found this place is one of the reasons I love this app so much. This campground is a GEM tucked away from the tourism hustle and bustle. Close enough to be convenient but more than half away for some peace and quiet and a beautifully dark sky full of stars. 

The camp store is packed with everything you could need.

The staff is very friendly and made me feel welcome. 

The creek/river that runs through is amazing with most campsites sitting along one of the two creeks. 

I stayed two nights in a tent site and one night in their primitive cabin. I loved every minute of being there and would have stayed longer if it wasn’t booked up. 

The one thing that was not my favorite is that a road runs through the campground so as a solo camper I prefer being a closed campground. But everyone was so nice there and after getting settled I did feel safe. 

I will 100% return to this magical place that takes me back in time to how camping used to be. 


Serene and Quiet Campground 

Sites 51 and 52 are primitive and you have to cross a foot bridge to get to them. Sites 64 - 68 are primitive as well but you're able to park at your site. Site 52 is by far my favorite and I've anyway reserved it again for July. The staff here is amazing,  bathrooms are well kept, and the creek is crystal clear. 

I love this campground so much that the rain doesn't bother me... definitely prepare yourself for wet weather. 

Love this campground!!

I almost hate to give a glowing review for fear of making this place too famous!  I want it to be my secret place that no one knows about. I’ve tent camped here twice. Once at 14a in August 2019 (amazing, right on the creek, sounds of rushing water all night) and again at site 54 in June 2021.  Came back in July 2021 with a camper!  Loved it!  I feel that places like this are few and far between. The sites are all beautiful and secluded. The owners and staff are so friendly. Bath houses are clean. Love love, love. I’m pretty sure I’ll have a hard time topping this campground. Go tubing at Smokey Mountain Tubing in Cherokee while your there. 

Beautiful campground 

**Campground: Indian Creek** 

**Overall:** This is a very nice, small, quiet commercial campground way off of the beaten path. Very friendly folks, clean and well-kept with a mixture of site options. It is very shady and many sites are right along Bunch Creek, so with a Reservation Fishing permit you can fish from your backyard! I’d come back! 

**Getting there**: 9.5 miles out of Cherokee just a bit off Big Cove Road. Turn right on Bunch Creek Cove Road 

**Check in and staff:** Courteous and helpful. Just plain nice. 

**Amenities:** Good well stocked camp store, sites with water, power, both. Pretty creekside sites. Caveat: NO ATT service and Wi-Fi spotty and slow except when in pavilion. If connectivity is important(and it legitimately can be), this might not be the place for you. There is an outside double sink for doing dishes and cleaning fish. It was always clean and had extra dish soap, sponges, plastic grocery bags and trash can right nearby. 

**Bathrooms:** clean, well kept with lots of hot water! 

**Site:** Level gravel covered sites, some with more privacy than others. Fire pit and movable table provided. You can buy kiln dried wood for use—the store has it and delivers it to your site. It needs splitting so consider bringing an axe. Mosquitoes not much of a problem but there are no-see-ems that can be annoying after a rain but citronella candles(available at store) and bug spray did the trick.

**Nearby:** Town of Cherokee, Mingo Falls (a short 0.44 mile round trip hike up 161 stairs, then a relatively level trail to the base of a beautiful waterfall.  Upper trail closed.

Excellent 3 night stay in a quiet, creekside campground

It was wonderful listening to the creek roll through all night.

Peaceful

This was a neat campground right on a stream. We stayed a little cabin just big enough for 2. There was mostly no traffic but the sites are right on the street and school buses and work trucks would ride by. 

Cherokee!

My wife and I visited Indian Creek from Alabama. The campground was very quiet and clean. There is a creek going through the campground and it so relaxing and pretty. The hospitality received from staff was outstanding. Our site (19 I believe) was very tight but you have to book way in advance to get a nicer spot. Great place overall!