National Forests in North Carolina

Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/

Lake Santeetlah Dispersed

One loop of campground closed due to a water system issue. This campground, near the entrance to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, has 18 campsites located beside a rushing mountain stream, Little Santeetlah Creek. A few sites remain open year-round, although no water is available in the winter.

Horse Cove

Rattler Ford has four units that accommodate 25 people per unit. Showers, horseshoe pits, and a volleyball court are available. A trout stream and hiking trails are nearby.

Rattler Ford Campground

## Overview

Cheoah Point Campground lies on a peninsula of the vast Lake Santeetlah in the hills of western North Carolina. The lake and surrounding landscape provide countless recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. 

## Recreation

Anglers enjoy fishing for trout, walleye, a variety of bass, bream and crappie and more in the 2,800-acre Lake Santeetlah. Boating, canoeing, jet skiing and swimming are also popular activities on the lake. Nearby, the Wauchecha Bald Trail, which begins as a an easy hike and gets progressively more difficult, provides access to the famed Appalachian Trail. 

## Facilities

The campground provides multiple open and wooded campsites that can accommodate up to 10 guests and 2 vehicles per site. Six RV sites provide 15/30/50 amp electrical hookups. Tables and campfire rings with grills are provided at each site. Flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are provided to help create a comfortable camping experience.

## Natural Features

Lake Santeetlah sits in the Nantahala National Forest, which covers 1.3 million acres of mountain lands. Old forests grace the hills and valleys, with some of the canyons reaching deep into the earth, providing ample hiking opportunities in the beautiful terrain. Cheoah Point is situated in a forest of mature hardwoods at an elevation of 1,760 feet. The campground covers steep terrain and many of the campsites overlook the lake. 

## Nearby Attractions

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just a short distance away, offering an ideal day trip from Cheoah point Recreation Area.

Cheoah Point Campground

Long Hungry Road Dispersed Campsites

Nantahala Hideaway is nestled in the heart of the Nantahala forest at Topton, NC.  We invite to our campground and cabins.  They are surrounded by hiking, trout fishing, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, horseback riding and more. After an exciting visit in the Nantahala gorge, the Nantahala National Forest or any adventure of your choice, enjoy rustic living and by spending a relaxing evening around your own private campfire.

Nantahala Hideaway Campground & Cabins

Pisgah National Forest Carolina Hemlocks Campground

Heartstone tent site at Mountain Creek Rest is a stunningly beautiful, romantic, and very, very private campsite. You won't want to leave, but if you do there are many recreational opportunities in the area such as hiking, biking, rafting, fishing, and more! Enjoy the fresh, much, much cooler mountain air, and the beautiful, private setting! It is perfect for 2, but 2 additional guests are an available option! Heartstone is located on a gently pitched, terraced slope where a divided mountain stream, the tumbling Squally Creek rejoins itself! The sun light filters down through the forest canopy providing a warm, inviting glow!! There is a 9'-6" x 10' tent platform, a picnic table, charcoal grille, and comfort facility all within 30' of your private parking! There is also a nice fire pit area with benches overlooking the fire pit and creek ! Explore upstream on the 500' island trail, or go down stream 75' to a nice pool for dipping!

!!!Heartstone is a "Leave No Trace" site! Please be sure to leave it as clean or cleaner than you found it! The next guest will love you! Thanks!



Mountain Creek Rest

## Overview

Nestled in a remote area of Nantahala National Forest, this primitive log cabin was built in 1931 by Frank Swan in a different location, then later it was moved to its current location near the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. The cabin and the surrounding meadows are named for the Swan Family, who came to the area from Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. Swan Cabin offers a peaceful, quiet retreat where visitors can relax on the front porch and enjoy birdsong and views of the surrounding wilderness. This cabin, which sleeps up to ten people, is available from April 15 through October 31.

ATTENTION: Swan Cabin is considered remote, and is located at a high elevation where climatic conditions can be extreme and can change very quickly. Forest Service Roads 81 and 81 F that provide access to Swan Cabin are gravel roads. During certain times of the year, these roads may be muddy or covered with snow. During ideal conditions, Swan Cabin may be accessed with two wheel-drive vehicles. During muddy or snow covered conditions, four wheel-drive and higher clearance vehicles are required. Please be aware that staying at Swan Cabin requires proper preparation, thorough review of predictive weather reports, and the ability to be self-sufficient during unplanned weather events, which can happen at any time of the year. Refunds will not be issued for inclement weather conditions or the inability to access the cabin due to inclement weather conditions.

## Recreation

There are several nice hikes in the area, including the 3-mile Swan Meadows and the 7-mile Stratton Bald Trails. There is an easy 5-minute hike from the cabin to a waterfall. Nearby boat ramps are available on Santeetlah Lake.

## Facilities

The cabin offers three rooms on the lower floor and a loft on the upper floor. Nine beds are offered, which include three double bunk frames, two single bed frames and a double bed frame. Each are strung with rope to accommodate sleeping bags. A pit toilet is located adjacent to the cabin, and a nearby spring may provide a water source, although it should be boiled or treated. There is no electricity or running water at the cabin. The cabin does not have locks on the door. A picnic table, grill and fire ring are located outside. The woodstove has been removed, so visitors are advised to bring their own heat source.   
  
Visitors may wish to bring their own drinking water, as well as supplies and equipment for food preparation. Tents may be pitched in the surrounding meadows for groups of more than ten. All equipment must be carried in from the parking area, located approximately 100 feet from the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring many of their own amenities. No pets are allowed except for service animals. 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. 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.

## Natural Features

The Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is particularly known for its old-growth forest of oak, poplar and hemlock within the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. This is one of the largest old-growth forests east of the Mississippi. Sun-loving wildflowers are abundant in the spring, and rhododendron, azalea and mountain laurel bloom in the late spring and early summer. The 2 major watersheds in this wilderness are Slickrock Creek and Little Santeetlah Creek. The mouth of Slickrock Creek has the lowest elevation in the wilderness at 1,086 feet. Swan Cabin is situated near the highest elevation in the wilderness: 5,341-foot Stratton Bald in the Unicoi Mountain Range. 

## Nearby Attractions

Swan Cabin is an ideal base for exploring the pristine Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only a short drive away and makes an excellent day trip.

Swan Cabin

Snowbird Camping

Stay in Comfort @ The Simple Life. A quiet / clean Mountain Retreat within minutes of; Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Joyce Kilmer National Forest, Lake Santeelah, and the town of Robbinsville. We have 13 Comfortable / Air-conditioned Tree House Cabins, 2 RV and 6 Tent Sites. Also available is a 6 person bunk-house fully loaded.

Simple Life Mountain Retreat & Campground

National Forest

We got a spot right on the lake. It was nice and quiet. The view was great for watching the sunset. I think there was a pit toilet but we didn’t check it out. We only spent one night here but it was great. I totally recommend this and I’d definitely go back, hopefully for longer next time.

Great and free

Note that there are multiple campsites on this lake, some are drive up, some you have to walk to. There is also a campground called "Lake Santeetlah" that is not free. The site by the boat launch was quiet, free, and had beautiful views of the lake. I arrived right before sunset on a week day and found it unoccupied. There was a picnic table, and established flat area to set up a tent. No bathrooms or running water available. 

Warning: the road to get to Lake Santeetlah has endless sharp turns &amp; drop-offs, would not recommend driving this in the dark.

Drive up site by the lake/boat launch

Spent 3 nights here in December and loved it. We seemed to be the only ones out camping during this time in that whole area. It was the perfect spot for our travel trailer. The other sites did not look to be too RV friendly. This site was long and pretty flat. The lake is beautiful to wake up to each morning, definitely looks to be a popular lake in the summer. It’s right next to a boat ramp and parking lot but saw no one there during our stay. There is also a town only 30mins away. 

Lake Santeetlah Dispersed

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