Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Reviewed Jun. 8, 2019

Campground near Rafting Excursions on the Pigeon River

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.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • This is one of my favorite parts about the campground.
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  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • To get to Big Creek campground, you have to drive 1.2 miles on a gravel road.
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  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Myron C., June 8, 2019