Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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

Davenport Shelter

Big Creek Campground is located in a remote portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The beautiful flowing waters of Big Creek parallel the campground offering the visitor a pleasant soundscape and peaceful beauty. Recreation Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks. The Big Creek area offers some of the most challenging hikes within the Park. Baxter Creek trail begins near the campground and with an elevation gain of 4200' from trail head to the summit of Mt Sterling provides a strenuous work out for the strongest of hikers. The nearby Big Creek trail offers a pleasant hike along the waters of Big Creek with a beautiful waterfall along the way. Local anglers agree that Big Creek offers some of the best trout fishing in the area. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 black bear living in the park, it is not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. Facilities Big Creek Campground offers 12 TENT ONLY campsites for a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. There is an emergency phone available at the Big Creek Ranger Station located 1 mile from the campground. No generator use or recreational vehicles are allowed in Big Creek Campground. There is a food storage locker available for public use. Natural Features Located at an elevation of 1,700' Big Creek Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and a pristine mountain stream. Black Bear sightings are not uncommon and some lucky visitors may spot River Otter playing in Big Creek. Nearby Attractions Nearby attractions include the Cataloochee Valley, Newport, TN, Cosby Campground, Hartford Whitewater Rafting, the Appalachian Trail and the Max Patch/Pisgah National Forest. ADA Access: N

Big Creek Campground

## Overview

**The only horse camp in the Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets!**

Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 16 miles from Newport, Tennessee. This campsite sits along the gently rolling waters of Big Creek and offers miles of horse trails with breathtaking scenic backdrops. 

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

## Recreation

The rolling terrain surrounding the campsite makes for some of the best horseback riding trails in the park. Numerous trails are accessible from Big Creek and for riders looking for a little hiking, the Appalachian Trail can be easily reached via the 2.1 mile Chestnut Branch Trail, located within walking distance from the camp. 

Day Use horse area- so invite your horse riding friends and family for a fun day even if they don't want to camp with you.   
  
Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams that snake through the mountains, with Rainbow and Brook trout available in abundance, particularly during spring months.

## Facilities

Big Creek Horse Camp is fairly primitive, providing only the basic amenities, but an unforgettable outdoors experience. The sites are large and the facility does offer flush toilets, drinking water and plenty of shade.   
  
  
  
Since horses are not permitted in the camping area, horse stalls and hitching rails are provided to guests.  
  
  
There are no hookups or showers at the campground, but water is available from the campground spigot. 

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

## Natural Features

At a 1,700 foot elevation, Big Creek provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. The camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams.   
  
Nearby Mouse Creek Falls, a 35 foot waterfall forming at the confluence of Mouse Creek and Big Creek, is reachable by horseback or on foot via the Big Creek trailhead located on-site.  
  
The beautiful falls splits over moss covered rocks and falls about 20 ft. before pooling and falling another 15 ft. into Big Creek. The falls can be reached via the Big Creek Trail, which is covered in wildflowers during spring months. 

## Nearby Attractions

The Big Creek Group Campground is located nearby, with plenty of space for larger groups.   
  
Full service grocery stores and medical facilities are located 16 miles away in Newport, Tennessee.

Big Creek Horse Camp

## Overview

Big Creek Group Camp is located in the far northeastern corner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near the Tennessee-North Carolina border.   
  
With the gentle waters of Big Creek running alongside the site, and a handful of trailheads within walking distance, this campsite offers an ideal setting for group camping excursions.

## Recreation

Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are accessible from the campground and in the surrounding areas. Most notably, the Appalachian Trail is easily reached via the Chestnut Branch Trail, a 2.1 mile trail for hikers only, beginning down the road from the campground.   
  
Nearby Baxter Creek Trail meanders along the water, while equestrian campers might enjoy taking the Big Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls or Midnight Hole, an area where Big Creek squeezes between large boulders, forming a deep, beautifully-colored pool.   
  
Compared to some other areas of the park, Big Creek is not crowded with anglers. Spring provides ideal conditions for fly fishing on Big Creek, with Rainbow and Brook trout looking for the aquatic insects which hatch during this time.

## Facilities

Big Creek Group Camp offers an unforgettable outdoor experience combined with the convenience of flush toilets, drinking water and sinks.   
  
The campsite can accommodate up to 25 guests and tent pads, grills and fire rings are provided. The site is surrounded by a heavy canopy of towering forest, providing plenty of shade for guests.

## Natural Features

Big Creek Group Camp is nestled among the scenic mountains and pristine streams surrounding the big creek section of the North Carolina Smokies.  
  
Nearby Mouse Creek Falls, a 35 foot waterfall forming at the confluence of Mouse Creek and Big Creek, is a stunning geological feature of the area.  
  
The falls splits over moss covered rocks and falls about 20 ft. before pooling and falling another 15 ft. into Big Creek. The falls can be reached via the Big Creek Trail, which is covered in wildflowers during spring months. 

## Nearby Attractions

The Big Creek Horse Camp is located nearby, with horse stables and riding trails available.  
  
Full service grocery stores and medical facilities are located 16 miles away in Newport, Tennessee.

## Charges & Cancellations

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.

Big Creek Group Camp

It's all about location!! Our camp is uniquely situated in one of the few remote areas in the Smokies, surrounded by many recreational activities. Our campsites are the perfect basecamp for your next adventure! Our property borders the Pisgah National Forest and is next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Big Creek entrance. Within 4 miles, there is an entrance to the Appalachian Trail, rafting along the Pigeon River, the Smoky Mountain 1000 bike trail, horseback riding trails, 4x4 trails, multiple hiking trails and so much more! Cataloochee Valley, NC and Cosby, TN are both fun drives (all gravel roads) from the camp. We are happy to share more information with you!

Each campsite can be rented individually or the entire camp can be rented for a group camp. Each campsite has a fire ring, electric hookup, water hookup, room for multiple vehicles or tents, and access to the community bathhouse and the Big House. The bathhouse features a sink, flushing toilet, and a single shower. The Big House features a full-size refrigerator, stove/oven, and farm table. Potable water is now available onsite!

Please note: This camp is remote! 4x4 or all wheel drive is required to access this property. There is a very small creek crossing to access the property. Cell service is spotty and major services (stores and hospitals) are 30-45 min away. Please come prepared.

NOTE: The nightly rate is $45 PER VEHICLE. Each site can accommodate multiple vehicles, however each vehicle must be registered for each night on the property. You will register additional cars by "adding a guest". For example, if you have 2 cars for 2 nights at one campsite, you will need to "add an additional guest" so that you are charged $40 x 2 nights x 2 vehicles. If you would like to rent the entire camp for a group please reach out to us first so we can verify availability.



Falcon Expeditions - Big Creek Rustic Camp

Fox Fire Riverside Campground 

We are a campground with tent sites and cabins. 40 acres to explore, the grounds are heavily forested, with walking trails and nature, nature, nature. Each site is secluded, We are located in the Cherokee National Forest at the foot of the Smokey Mountains. Just outside the towns of Hartford and Cosby. Hartford has River Rafting, Zip Lines, Kayaking on the Pigeon River. You will be able to get away from it all. but less than 45 minutes from favorite tourist attractions like Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville. We are located 2.6 miles off of I-40 at mile marker 447 just across the NC state line.



Shoestring Creek Campground

Pigeon River Campground 

[View of Wasp Community Area in Cherokee National Forest](http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5274071.jpg) Favorite activities in this remote area include whitewater rafting, hiking and camping. Located between the French Broad and Pigeon Rivers, this area offers pockets of backcountry nestled among the rural communities of Cocke County, TN. This area is home to Catherine Marshalls’s novel Christy and the historic Wasp Community. Hike a section of the Appalachian Trail and other forest trails. Camp at Round Mountain, rated as the number one tent campground in Tennessee. Explore Martha Sundquist State Forest and contact local outfitters to help guide your whitewater adventure. Pigeon River Area Map Pigeon River Area Guide

Pigeon River Campground

Cosby Campground - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tucked in the mountains under a canopy of cool shade, this campground creates a peaceful and secluded environment for visitors, offering the best that the Great Smoky Mountains National park has to offer. More than 100 campsites are available at Cosby TN Campgrounds on a first-come, first-served basis and 26 campsites are available for advanced reservations. All campsites accommodate tents and, even when all reservation sites are booked, tent campers are likely to find a great site anytime except Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day weekends. RV sites are less common and reservations are recommended on busy weekends. Call (423) 487-2683 to check availability. This campground is usually quieter and without the hustle and bustle of the busier campgrounds. Come and give this campground a try! Natural Features: World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian culture, Great Smoky Mountains is Americas most visited national park. At 2,460 feet, Cosby Campground provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to the early 19th century European settlers, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home. Recreation: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hikers paradise, with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Cosby Campground, including the Appalachian Trail, just three miles away via the Lower Gap Trail. Hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities. 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. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, its not uncommon for visitors to spot one. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. 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. Facilities: Cosby Campground provides campers with a secluded environment for traditional camping. Though some RV sites are available, Cosby is mostly a tent campground, with plenty of shade and tent pads at each site, along with fire rings, grills and tables, perfect for family meals and late night smores. The site offers modern amenities like flush toilets and drinking water. Although 26 sites are reservable, an additional 131 sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Nearby Attractions: Cosby, Tennessee, located about five miles from the campground, offers convenience stores and fuel. Gatlinburg, a one of the Smokies famous tourist towns, is located about 20 miles from the site, offering visitors tours, organized rafting trips, museums, restaurants, galleries, an aquarium, skiing and more. ACTIVITIES Historic & Cultural Site: Historic Sites Fishing Hiking Horseback Riding Visitor Center: Ranger Station Wildlife Viewing Day Use Area: Amphitheater

Cosby Campground

National Park Service

**This is a beautiful shelter on the Appalachian Trail. The trail from the parking lot to the shelter is at least 3 miles, so this is a true backpacking trip. The shelter is both logs and stone, lots of personality. It sleeps at least 10 people. There’s a great fire pit, nice water spigot nearby, places to hang bags, caged in to protect from bears. If you are day hiking in, consider being a trail angel and bring some treats for the thru-hikers :)**

Amazing shelter but NOT car camping 

Coming upon Davenport shelter we decided to eat a snack and rest up. The shelter has a cage around it to keep out the bears. (They all did in the smokies until people started feeding bears to coax them to stay for photos. Then the bears showed up to much. It was like a reverse zoo. Now the fences are gone except for this one so it was good to see) I might avoid setting up your tent outside of the fence at this shelter. One of my hiking partners sat in the cage and pulled out his travel guitar. We ate to the sound of beautiful acoustic Bach music. What a perfect day.

While we did not see any bears at the shelter, we read in the hiker's log that a black snake dropped right onto a woman in the middle of the night. This was the night before we arrived. Anything is to be expected out in the Appalachian wilderness.

The hike out of the Smokies leads right to a hostel with bunks, showers, laundry and food available. A welcome location in the wildness of this area. Don't miss out on hiking through the Smokies!

Davenport Shelter

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2022 Explorer Giveaway

Amazing shelter but NOT car camping

Davenport Shelter on the Appalachian Trail

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Nearby Campgrounds

Big Creek Campground

Big Creek Horse Camp

Big Creek Group Camp

Falcon Expeditions - Big Creek Rustic Camp

Fox Fire Riverside Campground

Shoestring Creek Campground

Pigeon River Campground

Pigeon River Campground

Cosby Campground - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cosby Campground