Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Big Creek Campground, located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers a peaceful tent-only camping experience alongside the beautiful Big Creek. With amenities like flushing toilets and potable water, it combines backcountry charm with essential comforts. The area is a hiker's paradise, featuring over 800 miles of trails, including the challenging Baxter Creek Trail and the scenic Big Creek Trail with its stunning waterfalls. Anglers can enjoy excellent trout fishing, especially in spring, while wildlife enthusiasts may spot black bears and river otters. At an elevation of 1,700 feet, the campground is surrounded by picturesque mountains and pristine streams, making it a perfect spot for relaxation and exploration. Nearby attractions include Cataloochee Valley and the Appalachian Trail, enhancing the outdoor adventure experience. Overall, Big Creek Campground is a fantastic destination for nature lovers seeking both adventure and tranquility.

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Big Creek Campground, situated at the northernmost tip of the Smoky Mountains, offers a tranquil camping experience by a beautiful creek. Located at the base of the Baxter Creek Trail, which leads to Mount Sterling, this drive-in campground provides a picturesque backdrop for nature enthusiasts. The campground boasts clearly marked sites for each reservation, ensuring you'll find your designated spot easily. There's a bathroom structure with running water, and two of the restrooms are wheelchair accessible, enhancing accessibility for all visitors. 

One thing to note is that reservations are essential, and this caught us off guard as we hadn't realized it needed to be done in advance. Unfortunately, finding a campground host or staff member can be a challenge, and the lack of internet connectivity near the campground makes it difficult to seek assistance for reservations. During our springtime visit, the flora along the creek was in full bloom, creating a stunning natural landscape. The temperature was perfect for outdoor activities, and the creek provided a soothing background soundtrack to our stay. Picnic tables were scattered throughout the campground and near the trailhead parking, offering a perfect spot to enjoy meals amidst nature's beauty. 

Big Creek Campground offers a plethora of hiking options, catering to various skill levels. For those seeking a challenge, the climb up to the firetower at Mount Sterling is a must-try adventure. However, be prepared to start early, as it's a full-day endeavor to ascend and descend before dark. Alternatively, you can opt for lower-elevation hikes along the creek, providing a more leisurely experience. Our visit was part of a loop, taking us from Mount Sterling to Tricorner Knob, then back via Cosby Knob and Mount Cammerer.

In summary, Big Creek Campground offers a serene camping experience by a beautiful creek, located at the northernmost tip of the Smoky Mountains. The amenities, including cold running water and well-maintained restrooms, enhance the overall stay. Just remember to make reservations in advance, and if you're up for a challenge, don't miss the climb to the Mount Sterling firetower. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a nature lover seeking a peaceful escape, this campground has something to offer everyone.

Camp was great. Pads were large and flat and well kept. Bathrooms were mostly clean and everything worked. Mature trees throughout campgrounds. Minimal privacy but sites were not on top of each other. Nice path to walk and explore along stream which is very beautiful. Will be going back!

I camped here for one night with a friend and our dogs.

The campground is very small with only 12 campsites. Each one has a firepit, picnic table, lantern pole, and a very large tent pad. There are no RV's allowed. Nearby is group camping and horse camping.

You cannot park your car right on the campsite. There is a parking lot and you need to carry your gear in. It's about 100 feet to the sites.

The campground has several trailheads for hiking in the Smokies. A very nice feature is how close the campsites are to the creek. It was great for the dogs to cool off. There are also swimming holes nearby.

The bathrooms are fairly well kept. There are no showers. For running water you can use water spigots that are around the campground.

Due to the dogs we just walked the gravel road but it was definitely a very nice quiet getaway. I would camp here again.

Great campground! Very secluded and very small only 12 tent sites. Many sites have direct access to the creek where you can cool off on a hot day. Plenty of trails near campground. Parking was not far from site. Site was large enough to fit the family and the sites were not very close together. Kids had plenty of room to play

We stayed in Big Creek for 3 nights and wish we could have stayed longer. The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small. We spent one day simply enjoying the campground. There are some trails nearby but most of the popular hikes you’ll need to drive to. Plan to be without WiFi and for your car to navigate difficult ground on your way in and out.

Even though it rained we gad a great hike. The falls were beautiful, and jumping into Midnight Hole was fun. Even at midnight :)

The only tent-only campground in the GSMNP considered frontcountry. Well maintained sites and restroom area. Note that some sites are closer to the parking area than others, and if you have trouble walking long distances I’d recommend site 1! Highly recommend.

Sites are limited and must be reserved through the phone or website.

There are about 10 spots and a parking area to have your car near. There are bathrooms as well but no showers. The sites must be reserved in advance. It’s a good spot for families. Dogs are allowed to camp but not permitted in the Midnight Hole hiking area next to the campground.

Even though the sites are walk-in sites, when I was there it was pretty crowded since the sites are close together.  At night, you can hear the distant sounds of the creek … if the other campers can stop talking.  This is not a campground for RVs.  There are no hookups and there are no places for RVs to park.  The thing I like best about this campground is its proximity to the Appalachian Trail and several other trails, including the Benton MacKaye Trail.  Midnight Hole, which is a 1.5 mile hike, is a great place to cool off.  Once you get there, you can swim to a big rock and jump off into a natural pool.  I believe this is the same place I took Boy Scouts many, many years ago and they loved it.  You just have to be careful because it is deep and COLD.  The trail to Mount Cammerer is quite strenuous, but the view is worth it.  Other than the great trails, the other attraction is the whitewater rafting.  There are a few outfitters just over the state line, and they shuttle rafters to the starting point beside the power station.  The one I used was NOC.  When I first came here years ago, I thought the river looked low, but by the time we put our raft in, the river was raging.  I think the most fun, besides the rafting, at this campground is playing on the rocks in the creek.  There is also a group camping area, which is separate from the family campground.  That is because they release the water just for rafting.  This campground is conveniently located off of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee and North Carolina state line. Once you get to the national park road leading to it, it is a 1.2 mile drive on a gravel road.

this group camp grounds were the best! privacy tent camping, near the stream and great hiking trails. close to the AT . going back!! with the tallest standing chimney

The great smokies are definitely worth a visit! To be fair we didn’t spend much time at the campground as we were off exploring the park, but it was your basic frontcountry campground

Another family favorite. Whether you’re hiking to Midnight Hole (and amazing swimming hole where you can jump off the huge boulders next to a waterfall), or up to Mouse Creek Falls, or camping, or simply having a picnic and sticking your toes in the cool mountain water, it’s an incredible place. Usually pretty quiet and not too many people - except on the hottest days of summer!