Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables provides horse-friendly accommodations in Bluff City, approximately 20 miles from Jonesborough. The campground offers electric and water hookups for RVs, tent sites, and cabin rentals alongside horse stabling options. The stable area includes paddocks for horses with ample trailer parking adjacent to camping sites. Campground facilities include fire rings with free firewood, picnic tables, showers, and toilets. The site is accessible via a narrow country road that leads to a peaceful setting away from main traffic routes. Horse owners particularly appreciate the ability to camp near their animals, with the central campground featuring a communal fire ring surrounded by back-in sites. Campers report the husband and wife team operating the facility are attentive and accommodating to both riders and their horses.
The property offers numerous exploration opportunities through wooded trails suitable for riding. Located approximately 25 minutes from Bristol Motor Speedway, the campground provides a quiet retreat for equestrians seeking countryside riding experiences. Trail access directly from the property allows riders to explore the surrounding terrain without trailering horses to separate riding areas. While the campground doesn't feature elaborate horse amenities like wash racks or designated manure disposal areas, the natural setting and convenient camping-to-riding access make it popular with equestrians. The campground operates seasonally from March through November, with visitors noting the peaceful atmosphere and small, intimate camping environment. No playground or pool facilities exist, maintaining the focus on horse-centered activities and natural surroundings.
"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."
"Absolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp"
"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
"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
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
"The campground is in an excellent location, just 5-10 minutes away from downtown Blowing Rock and of course it’s right on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway!"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"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 next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"This is a small quite camp ground with horse stables. Husband and wife working there were very nice."
"Cabins, RV spots mostly level, paddocks for horses. Lots of exploration in the woods potential."
from $15 - $45 / night
"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 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground."
"A little below where we set up camp, we found a natural spring for water and theres a decent amount of firewood around. We parked at the top of Mt."
GuideMother nature is amazing and helps relieve stress from the ones who never deserved to be around you to take and cover it up. So I'll run to God's beauty, and enjoy my fire at the same time. Come on baby light my fire! ;)
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
ScoutAbsolutely love camping here at warriors path State Park it's beyond one of my favorite places to camp
LegendA quiet, easy-access campground with good site privacy and great lake views. Some site boundaries feel a bit unclear and the bathrooms can get crowded, but the location is perfect for exploring the Blue Ridge. A solid stay, especially with the RV and primitive areas kept separate.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/3NspCX_Zgnw
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.
TravelerMost campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.
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.
Equestrian camping near Jonesborough, Tennessee provides access to the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Most horse-friendly campgrounds in this area operate seasonally from March through November, with limited winter availability.
Trail riding with views: Bristol-Kingsport KOA offers proximity to Warriors Path State Park's trail system. "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," notes Susan E., who enjoyed exploring the trails near the Bristol-Kingsport KOA.
River swimming opportunities: During summer months, the South Toe River at Black Mountain Campground provides a refreshing break from trail riding. "There is a swimming hole on the South Toe River in the campground just beyond the end of the riverside sites. It has a small sandy 'beach' area and a neck deep refreshing hole," explains Scott K. from Black Mountain Campground.
Buncombe Horse Range exploration: Access to higher elevation rides from Maple Camp Bald. "It's a 6 mile hike up Maple Camp Ridge on trail 191 (Buncombe Horse Range) starting from a small parking lot close to Carolina Hemlocks Campground," shares Francis C., who found that "there are 3-4 areas to set up camp, two of them could accommodate multiple tents."
Free firewood: Unlike many campgrounds that charge for wood, some horse-friendly sites include it with your stay. "Free firewood. No pool or playground, but still a nice peaceful campground," notes Holli C. about Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables.
Central fire rings: Communal gathering spaces create opportunities for rider meetups. "Campground consist of a fire ring in the middle with benches and tables surrounded by back-in camp sites," Holli C. continues about Cherokee Trails Campground and Stables, highlighting the community-focused layout.
Natural springs for water: Some backcountry equestrian sites offer natural water sources. "A little below where we set up camp, we found a natural spring for water and theres a decent amount of firewood around," explains John L. from Maple Camp Bald, though he cautions about the final trail section: "The final ascent to back to the parking lot at the peak of Mt. Mitchell was brutal on the lungs and legs!"
Road conditions vary: Some horse-friendly campgrounds have challenging access roads. "We chose this campground because it was close to Natural Tunnel and Devils Fork trail (30-45 min). 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," warns Beth B. about Clinch River Family Campground.
Weather considerations: Mountain elevations near Jonesborough experience significant temperature drops after sunset, even in summer. "Having followed the weather for a bit after going, I think I'd be planning for April if we did it again," advises John L. about spring camping at Maple Camp Bald.
Cellular connectivity gaps: Most rural equestrian camping areas have limited service. "I drive a Kia Soul (low profile vehicle) and the roads to the campground were challenging due to the deep ruts and wash out," reports Terri S., adding that facilities at some campgrounds may be basic: "They advertise restrooms and showers but they were in very poor condition."
Check for kid-friendly facilities: Not all equestrian campgrounds offer children's amenities. "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. The park is also near Warriors Path State Park, which is fun to go hike and see," recommends Laura H. about Bristol-Kingsport KOA.
Consider tent site locations: At some campgrounds, tent sites can be inconveniently located. "I tent camped with a group here and the sites are very rugged and pretty far from water/bathrooms but there is a pool and the staff is very friendly and helpful," notes Erin R. about Bristol-Kingsport KOA.
Plan for weather changes: Mountain weather near Jonesborough can shift quickly. "It had been raining alot while we were here and it can be pretty slick if you don't stay on the thin gravel road with your vehicle," warns Erin R., highlighting the importance of proper gear for changing conditions.
Site selection matters: Choose sites based on your specific needs. "They have several large pull through sites, as well as back in smaller sites. They have 50amp service and full hookup sites," advises Laura H. about Bristol-Kingsport KOA, adding "Cellular reception is decent for TMobile and AT&T."
Leveling challenges: Mountain terrain creates uneven sites at some campgrounds. "Mostly level gravel spots. Sites are close together," notes Dennis about Clinch River Family Campground, suggesting modest expectations for site spacing.
Seasonal considerations: Some equestrian campgrounds near Jonesborough have limited seasonal operation. "The campground operates seasonally from March through November," with visitors noting the peaceful atmosphere and small, intimate camping environment despite basic horse amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Jonesborough, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Jonesborough, TN is Bristol-Kingsport KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Jonesborough, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near Jonesborough, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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