Cades Cove Campground

Over 2 million visitors annually come to enjoy the scenic beauty of Cades Cove and its many historic structures, popular biking and hiking trails and scenic waterfalls and streams. Tucked in the mountains under a lush, shaded canopy, this group campground offers the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer.

Recreation

The Great Smoky Mountains are a hikers paradise and visitors to Cades Cove Campground love the 5-mile roundtrip hike to Abram Falls. From Cades Cove Loop Road, turnoff at the sign and follow the directions to the trailhead.  

Although Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over falls more than makes up for its lack of height. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque. The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. The waterfall and creek are named for Cherokee Chief Abram or Abraham whose village once stood several miles downstream.  

A nearby horse stable provides one-hour horseback rides as well as hay rides and carriage rides from March through October, offering recreational activities for the entire family.  

Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.

Facilities

Cades Cove Group Camp provides a primitive camping experience, with conveniences such as flush toilets and drinking water, but there are no hookups or showers at the campground. with the modern conveniences of flush toilets and drinking water. The four group campsites can accommodate up to 20 guests each, and multiple sites may be reserved for larger groups.   

A camp store provides visitors with basic necessities as well as bike rentals, and events like Interpretive Programs in the nearby amphitheater and Bicycle Only Days on the loop road provide visitors with a fun and unique experience.

Natural Features

Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park.   

Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible.  

For hundreds of years Cherokee Indians hunted in Cades Cove but archeologists have found no evidence of major settlements. The first Europeans settled in the cove sometime between 1818 and 1821. By 1830 the population of the area had already swelled to 271.

Nearby Attractions

The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park, a few of which are easily accessible from the Cades Cove Loop Road.   

Townsend, located about nine miles away, offers full service grocery stores and fuel.

Charges & Cancellations

&nbsp;• If you plan to arrive at a date later than your arrival date you MUST contact the campground office 865-448-4103 in order to avoid a cancellation to your reservation. If you wish to cancel your reservation the day of your arrival you MUST contact the campground office 865-448-4103 in order to receive a refund.

• Rules and reservation policies can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies

Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
ADA Access: N



Cades Cove Group

Anthony Creek Horse Camp is located near the gently rolling waters of Anthony Creek. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Anthony Creek never disappoints.

You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Anthony Creek Horse Camp!

Recreation

With access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, equestrians will never be bored. Anthony Creek Trail intersects the campground and takes travelers up Bote Mountain, a 3,000 foot altitude gain. Although the trek is fairly strenuous, the trail is one of the most popular in the area due to the extraordinary views.  

For access to the Appalachian trail, visitors can take the Anthony Creek Trail to either the Bote Mountain Trail or the Russell Field Trail, both of which intersect with the Appalachian Trail.   

During spring, stopping to see the pink Mountain Laurel blooms on Spence Field is a must for anyone in the area.   

The nearby horse stable provides one-hour horseback rides as well as hay rides and carriage rides from March through October, providing recreational activities for the entire family.  

Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.   

The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park, a few of which are easily accessible from Anthony Creek via the Cades Cove Loop Road.

Facilities

Anthony Creek offers primitive-woods camping. There are no hookups or showers at the campground.   

Potable water is available from the campground spigot, about 1/2 mile away, and water for horses can be collected from the nearby stream. However, visitors must bring their own drinking water.  

The nearby Cades Cove area offers additional amenities.

You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Anthony Creek Horse Camp!

Natural Features

Anthony Creek Horse Camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges, pristine streams and rivers and clear blue skies that set the backdrop for your camping and horseback riding adventure. At 1,800 feet elevation, Anthony Creek provides a moderate climate, typified by mild winters and hot, humid summers.   

Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves the rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. The mountains have a long human history spanning thousands of years, from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early European settlements in the 1800s, to loggers and Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees in the 20th century. The park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of all the people who once called these mountains home.

Nearby Attractions

The Cades Cove Campground, Group Campground and Picnic Area are located just a short walk away, providing additional camping for larger groups without horses.   

The area offers a popular 11-mile loop road, where campers often bike and hike. A camp store offers basic supplies as well as bicycle rentals, and three historic churches are all located along the loop.   

Townsend, located about nine miles away, offers full service grocery stores and fuel.

Charges & Cancellations

&nbsp;• If you plan to arrive at a date later than your arrival date you MUST contact the campground office 865-448-4103 in order to avoid a cancellation to your reservation. If you wish to cancel your reservation the day of your arrival you MUST contact the campground office 865-448-4103 in order to receive a refund.

• Rules and reservation policies can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies

ADA Access: N



Anthony Creek Horse Camp

#06 Turkeypen Ridge

#05 Rich Mountain

#10 Ledbetter Ridge

#09 Anthony Creek

Bote Mountain Campsite 18

Shelter on the Appalachian Trail at the North Carolina / Tennessee border.

Mollies Ridge Shelter

#18 West Prong

Campground fills up so made reservations. The 11 mile loop is awesome but get there when they open. I saw lots of turkey and deer. 

Lots of wildlife 

Unreal and must visit Smoky Mountain destination. Awesome automobile loop scenic drive and several other hiking paths we took. All sort of wildlife and abandon cabins and farm houses. 

Deiving tour and hike

Great smokies campground. Nice walking trail and beautiful scenic loop to drive. Along the drive there are historic buildings and cemeteries.  Tent sites were too close together. Not enough privacy

Cades Cove Campground

About This Campground

Features

For Campers

For Vehicles

Access

Reviews

2021 Explorer Giveaway

Lots of wildlife

Deiving tour and hike

Love this smokies campground

Location

Coordinates

Nearby Campgrounds

Cades Cove Group

Anthony Creek Horse Camp

#06 Turkeypen Ridge

#05 Rich Mountain

#10 Ledbetter Ridge

#09 Anthony Creek

Bote Mountain Campsite 18

Mollies Ridge Shelter

#18 West Prong

About This Campground

Features

For Campers

For Vehicles

Access

Location

Coordinates

Nearby Campgrounds

Cades Cove Group

Anthony Creek Horse Camp

#06 Turkeypen Ridge

#05 Rich Mountain

#10 Ledbetter Ridge

#09 Anthony Creek

Bote Mountain Campsite 18

Mollies Ridge Shelter

#18 West Prong

For Campers

For Vehicles

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