2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Harmon Den Horse Campground offers primitive horse camping in Pisgah National Forest near Afton. The campground requires a gate code obtained during reservation and features spacious sites with room for horse trailers. Trails throughout the area accommodate horseback riders, with hitching posts available at each site for securing horses. Campers should be aware that manure is prevalent throughout the area, including on tent pads. Access requires navigating gravel roads with potholes and protruding rocks, making high-clearance vehicles recommended for the journey.
Located approximately 7 miles from Interstate 40 at Exit 7, Harmon Den provides direct access to forest riding trails while maintaining a remote, quiet camping experience. The campground sits at over 3,000 feet elevation, offering cooler temperatures during summer months. Riders particularly appreciate the convenient location for accessing Max Patch, a mountain bald with spectacular 360-degree views crossed by the Appalachian Trail. The campground provides basic amenities only, with no running water (the pump was reported non-functional), minimal facilities, and pit toilets requiring self-contained camping setups. Horse owners should bring their own water supply for themselves and their animals, as the nearest services are some distance away.
"Good trails along the rolling hills and creeks. Very simple rustic site with very little facilities. Pros: very wooded and private large campsites, babbling creek, outhouses."
from $7 / night
"Panther Creek SP Panther Creek State Park was an unexpected find outside of Knoxville, TN , in Morristown. I’ve driven by the sign but no need to camp so close to home."
"Nuzzled into the East Tennessee hills. Very pretty. Nice State Park. Would stay here again."
Available this weekend
"The Tennessee and NC sides each have great things to offer. Just feel that the NC side has more smaller campgrounds and is generally a little more quiet and laid back. Go NC!"
"This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"Absolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp"
"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
"River sites are first come first serve Has group camping {must reserve online} Large tent pads Rv sites Fishing Can purchase: Ice Soda/water Ice cream Kindling Fire starter Wood
Hiking: Access to"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"I’d never used a KOA before but was tremendously impressed with the serene beauty of this place situated well away from traffic in a bucolic setting."
"They have cabins, a nice pool, a blob, lots of outdoor activities, playground area, horse shoes, even with it being a smaller KOA Campground there is a lot to do."
"A few friends and I visited this campground in June of 2018 so we could visit the Natural Tunnel and the Devil's Fork Loop Trail."
"What a great experience for the whole family and kids and enjoyed the privacy water was a little cold this time of year but I had a great fire next to the river Under the Stars roasting s'mores"
"It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it."
from $65 - $79 / night
"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 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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutI stayed long term while working in the area, including through the winter months, and loved the propane delivery. Coming home to a full tank already dropped at my site was such a nice perk.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it. It’s not a parking lot like other places I’ve stayed the sites are tiered on the mountainside but level and large. Staff is friendly, they have a game room and laundry room and the store sells cold beer! It was a nice home away from home while working in town
ScoutLovely camping site employees are courteous and helpful the area is super neat and clean. Very pretty and borders a lake
ScoutClean and well-kept campground. Nuzzled into the East Tennessee hills. Very pretty. Nice State Park. Would stay here again.
ScoutAbsolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp
TravelerThe campground itself was good. Bathhouse was clean-ish. The one shower stall smelled quite moldy/mildewy. Not a lot of amenities. We stayed a week and all days during the week - Monday through Friday, there was construction literally right beside our RV. Constant leaf blowing. I understand that they are doing improvements, that is great. A head's up about it, possible option to stay at another site, a noise discount, or at least letting us know, so we could make a choice, would have been nice. Would never stay here again.
TravelerI had a very cute camp spot up in the woods away from the road it was number 50 it was so cute and quieter than the rest of the spots. It also had two fire pits one up by the tent area and one down by the picnic table
ScoutFR 472 is closed at the Golf Course and there are hefty fines if you are caught walking beyond the gate. Black Mountain Campground was destroyed by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The bridge across the S. Toe River was broken and washed out. The water system is also destroyed as well as the road network in the campground. There have been no announcements by the Forest Service about plans to repair the facility and, after a year, my guess is that there never will be.
LegendWe chose this campground because it was close to Natural Tunnel and Devils Fork trail (30-45 min). Both of these are worth doing if you are in the area. We chose to only hike to Devils bathtub (about 2 miles one way). It was exceptional but difficult.
Most of the final road to campground is paved with exception of last mile, its wide enough but slow going. You will lose cellular pretty quickly when you turn on that road.
Campground is well maintained, lots of playground equipment for kids and a launch for tubes/kayaks. At main road there is a public launch if you want to put in there and then float to campground.
No laundry. Bathhouse is just ok, dated but functional.
Owners are nice, and communicate quickly by email or phone. We had issue with the site we reserved and just moved over one site when setting up late and in the rain…told owner next day and it was no problem.
Harmon Den Horse Campground sits at over 3,000 feet elevation in Pisgah National Forest, approximately 7 miles from Interstate 40's Exit 7. The area features extensive trail networks connecting to nearby wilderness areas through the mountains of western North Carolina. Horse camping in this region requires navigating forest roads with variable conditions that can be challenging during inclement weather.
Trail connections to Max Patch: The area provides riding access to Max Patch, a mountain bald crossed by the Appalachian Trail. "A wildlife officer came through our camp with a fishnet full of trout to stock the creek. She asked us if we brought our fishing poles," notes a visitor at Harmon Den Area.
Fishing in Cold Springs Creek: The streams in Harmon Den offer productive trout fishing with regular stocking. "There were also quite a few people fishing in the creek on the way to the campsite since the creek is a popular place for trout fishing," shares another camper who visited the dispersed sites near the horse camp.
Visit nearby Cataloochee Valley: Located within driving distance of Harmon Den, Cataloochee offers wildlife viewing opportunities. "They do not have showers, but do have a bathhouse with water toilets and sinks. We camped near the creek and it was beautiful. Also viewing the elk is an experience I will never forget," explains a visitor to Cataloochee Campground.
Remote location with water access: Many equestrians appreciate the proximity to water for themselves and their horses. "We had a great night at the campground! The volunteer, Buck, was so wonderful and helpful! We will for sure be back!" shares one camper at Cataloochee, which offers similar creek-side camping experiences.
Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation provides relief during summer months, with temperatures typically 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding valleys. "Going in the winter, the elk are out eating most of the day. The rut here usually goes on from about Late October through December," notes a visitor describing seasonal wildlife patterns.
Multiple trailhead access points: Black Mountain Campground visitors appreciate trail connections. "Outstanding place for all of the following 1. Car Camping, 2. Jumping off point for the Mt. Mitchell trail, 3. Trail terminus location for a descent from Mt. Mitchell's summit," explains a reviewer describing a nearby area with similar trail networks.
Road access limitations: Forest roads leading to horse camps can be challenging for larger rigs. "The gravel road up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, that most people will take to drive to Mt. Mitchell, is lined with several pull-off primitive campsites. Note that the gravel road is steep at times and minimally maintained," cautions a reviewer from Black Mountain Campground.
Seasonal water availability: The camp water supply can be unreliable. "No water so bring treatment methods. Not far from the Appalachian Trail, the TN/NC border, and highway 26. Asheville is about an hour away," advises a visitor to Old Forge Recreation Area.
Plan for self-sufficiency: Services are limited in this remote location. "All tent spaces are open with folks near you. Nice little creek but, cold. Each spot has a fire pit with plenty of wood nearby," explains another camper describing the primitive conditions at Old Forge Recreation Area.
Pack entertainment for children: With limited amenities, bring activities for kids. "There is a trailhead in the campground and several other trailheads in easy walking, pedaling distance, plus an awesome overlook and more strenuous hike up the road," suggests a camper from Panther Creek State Park Campground.
Prepare for weather changes: Mountain weather can shift rapidly. "Panther Creek State Park has a great campground for families to spend time at. For a lesser known state park, they have a lot of amenities. Playgrounds, hiking, horseback trails, mountain bike trails," notes another visitor.
Supervise children around horses: At equestrian campgrounds, keep children at safe distances from unfamiliar horses. "I had a very cute camp spot up in the woods away from the road it was number 50. It was so cute and quieter than the rest of the spots. It also had two fire pits," shares a camper who found a family-friendly site at Panther Creek.
High-clearance vehicles recommended: Horse trailers require vehicles suited for rough terrain. "The road is quite the trip just in a car, and I can't imagine driving a large RV on it. There are two approach roads," warns a camper describing access to Big Creek Campground.
Plan arrivals during daylight: "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," notes another visitor, highlighting the importance of navigating unfamiliar roads before dark.
Confirm site lengths: Many equestrian campsites accommodate longer rigs, but verify before booking. "Sites are limited and must be reserved through the phone or website," advises a Big Creek Campground visitor, emphasizing the importance of securing your spot in advance for horse camping areas near Afton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Afton, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Afton, TN is Old Forge Recreation Area with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Afton, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 equestrian camping locations near Afton, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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