Best Equestrian Camping near Whitwell, TN

Davis Pond offers primitive equestrian camping within the Prentice Cooper State Forest Wildlife Management Area. Located down a long, winding gravel road, the site features multiple dirt-and-rock fire pits in a clearing beside a fishing pond with shady trees surrounding the camping area. The last 7 miles are on a gravel road with the final half mile requiring a vehicle with some clearance. The meadow area can accommodate many tents and provides ample space for horse trailers. Two picnic tables and lantern posts are available near established campsites. The site includes a two-station pit toilet, though users report it is poorly maintained. A gravel parking lot with a trail map and sign-in sheet sits adjacent to the camping area.

Access to numerous trails for hiking, ATVs, and horses makes Davis Pond popular with equestrians exploring the wildlife management area. The campground serves as a base for riders accessing miles of forested trails throughout Prentice Cooper. The open meadow configuration allows for groups to camp together with their horses. Firewood can be gathered on site, and the fishing pond provides a water source. The campground is free with first-come, first-served availability. Most suitable for self-contained camping with limited facilities, Davis Pond provides a true primitive horse camping experience approximately 45 minutes outside Chattanooga. The area can accommodate multiple riders and their horses, making it ideal for group trail riding excursions.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Whitwell, Tennessee (11)

    1. Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground

    145 Reviews
    Spencer, TN
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 881-5298

    $8 - $32 / night

    "Hiking trails, great water falls, horse back riding, fishing, golf and wildlife. There are cabins available as well. Shower houses are clean and well situated."

    "There is also a riding stable close by. The kids loved it! I got to ride Leonard the horse who looked a bit like the Wonky Donkey. 😂"

    2. Tennessee Wall Camp

    3 Reviews
    Lookout Mountain, TN
    11 miles

    "There is a parking lot right off the road after a fun ~30 minute drive through residential roads right on the water, then sites with fire pits are scattered throughout a small clearing."

    3. Davis Pond Campsite

    3 Reviews
    Signal Mountain, TN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (423) 658-5551

    "This lightly developed site has two picnic tables, and two lantern posts near the tables."

    "About 45 mins outside Chattanooga, it’s a beautiful drive. Last 7 miles are on a windy gravel road. The last 1/2 mile gets a little dicey and needs a vehicle with some clearance."

    4. Fairview Campground — Tims Ford State Park

    22 Reviews
    Winchester, TN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (931) 968-3536

    "Some really nice sites on lake and shaded. Inner sites are nice as well and have sewer. Good space between sites. 30 and 50 amp. The old section that was for yearly rental is gone."

    "Gravel drives & pads with water & electric at sites. Our site #28 had an exceptional view out the kitchen window & from the pinic table of the lake. Newer shower house centrally located."

    5. Rvino - The Broken Banjo

    16 Reviews
    Manchester, TN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (931) 728-9777

    $31 - $999 / night

    "The staff will come around and collect your trash for you (which isn’t necessary but a nice plus!)"

    "This park is located in Manchester, TN right next to I-24, so if you are in the pull-throughs on the front row, you will hear the traffic.

    The staff was extremely friendly and helpful."

    6. Shady Grove

    1 Review
    Fort Oglethorpe, GA
    25 miles

    $2 - $38 / night

    7. Walls of Jericho - Clark Cemetery Backcountry Campsite

    11 Reviews
    Estillfork, AL
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (931) 968-6215

    "Park at either the Alabama or the Tennessee trailhead (make sure not to park at the horse trailhead earlier on the road) and descend down into the canyon."

    "It is also at an easy access point to the falls as well as the other trails in the area. The site has easy access to water most of the year and can provide space for over 10 tents."

    8. Sawmill Lake Campsite

    6 Reviews
    Rising Fawn, GA
    37 miles
    Website

    "It is, however, a free, primitive camping site just a short 5 min drive (or walk) from the Rocktown trailhead. The close proximity to the many wonders of Rocktown is a dream for climbers."

    "This is a nice primitive camp site just a 2 min walk from Petty John Cave and a 5 min drive to Rock Town Trailhead. Come here to try your hand at rock climbing and spelunking."

    9. Mountain Cove Resort

    3 Reviews
    Mentone, GA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 539-2683

    $25 - $30 / night

    10. Twisted South Stables

    Be the first to review!
    Manchester, TN
    41 miles
    +1 (501) 762-4262

    $30 - $65 / night

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Whitwell, TN

6 Photos of 11 Whitwell Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Whitwell, TN

210 Reviews of 11 Whitwell Campgrounds


  • Asher K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2017

    Walls of Jericho - Clark Cemetery Backcountry Campsite

    Great backpacking

    The walls of Jericho are an incredible site to see if you are willing to make the backpacking adventure to them. The hike in takes only about an hour and is all downhill. Park at either the Alabama or the Tennessee trailhead (make sure not to park at the horse trailhead earlier on the road) and descend down into the canyon. When you reach the bottom of the trail and cross a river there are several campgrounds that you can set up at. After getting settled keep following the trail back into the canyon and you will get to the first waterfall/pool. Don't stop there though cause the real view is the waterfall at the back of the canyon that takes a little scrambling to get to. While there recently with my wife we spent 2 nights camping at the horse campground and spent our full day doing a loop hike into Tennessee. The only thing you have to be cautious of is it can get pretty muddy if it has rained heavy recently. I would suggest going in spring cause that is when everything is blooming and so beautiful.

  • Abigail P.
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Sawmill Lake Campsite

    Primitive camping perfect for Rocktown climbers

    If you’re looking for amazing scenery, this is not the place. It is, however, a free, primitive camping site just a short 5 min drive (or walk) from the Rocktown trailhead. The close proximity to the many wonders of Rocktown is a dream for climbers. Meant we could spend most of the climbing, rather than making a long approach. My group went for several days over thanksgiving 2018, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Nights turned a bit chilly, so make sure to pack layers if camping in the fall or winter season. I think you’re technically supposed to have a Georgia outdoors permit to stay here (which we did), but we did not encounter a single ranger during our six-day stay. Check the Rocktown forum on Mountain Project for up-to-date info on permit requirements.

    The road leading up to the campsite is extremely rough and washed out. We were in a Subaru Outback, and it was a very slow-going, bumpy ride — we bottomed out several times.

    You can pretty much set up camp anywhere there’s open ground. Plenty of trees around for hammock camping as well. My group of 10 people had no problem finding open areas to set up camp together. There are several man-made fire pits, and plenty of wood and brush lying around to scavenge for fire-making. There are no water hookups, so make sure to pack plenty of water with you. There is also an area at the campground for equestrian camping, though we didn’t check that out, as, alas, none of us had horses.

  • D
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground

    One of the nicest campgrounds we camped.

    Offers everything you can possibly want. Hiking trails, great water falls, horse back riding, fishing, golf and wildlife. There are cabins available as well. Shower houses are clean and well situated.

  • William S.
    Sep. 27, 2021

    Davis Pond Campsite

    Away from it all

    Down a long and winding (and dusty) gravel road into the WMA is the Davis Pond camp site, a real gem with shady trees and a fishing pond. 

    This lightly developed site has two picnic tables, and two lantern posts near the tables. However, it can easily accommodate many more campers in the space and has multiple dirt-and-rock fire pits.

    While there is a two-station pit toilet, it's a bit of a horror show with a lot of trash accumulating in the structure. Another downside, after I set up my tent I noticed that some hornets were flying into a nearby dead tree. I quickly moved to another spot but luckily noticed it before it got dark.

    There's a gravel parking lot with a trail map and sign in sheet right next to the camping area. 

    In addition to the multiple trails (for hiking, ATVs, and horses) closer to the entrance to the WMA (and far from the camp) is a shooting range.

  • K
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground

    We love this State Park!

    Fall Creek Falls is a beautiful park. The campsite was nice and spacious, and the kids loved having swings right by our site. There a several nice hikes, waterfalls and swimming holes. There wasn’t much water in the falls when we were there last, but it was still beautiful. There is also a riding stable close by. The kids loved it! I got to ride Leonard the horse who looked a bit like the Wonky Donkey. 😂

  • @HomegrownRV 😎.
    Oct. 19, 2023

    Rvino - The Broken Banjo

    Relaxing but small spaces

    Pros: The staff are all incredibly friendly. We loved interacting with them (especially Eric!) during our stay. The laundry and bathrooms are very clean and spacious. The staff will come around and collect your trash for you (which isn’t necessary but a nice plus!) The location is directly off the highway and close to stores if you need a late night run for anything. The dog park was cute and offered a lot of extras. The heated pool was nicely taken care of and would be fantastic for the summer season. The camp store had lots of necessities and cute decor plus a dvd rental library and a pizza place onsite!

    Cons: There was a massive cell phone tower within walking distance from our RV. Literally on the property of the RV park behind their utility shed and next to the playground. The highway traffic is quite loud. The campsites are very close together! The playground and fun type amenities in the back of the park weren’t kept up very well it seemed. A lot of the stuff was missing or broken.

    For more detailed reviews and photos, follow us on TikTok and Instagram @HomegrownRV!

  • Nate H.
    Dec. 9, 2020

    Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground

    Roaming Deer

    Fall creek falls is one of the best recreational areas in Tennessee. The park is very large and has so much to do. The falls are amazing, and it’s a moderate hike down to the base. Sometimes the falls are just a small trickle and sometimes they are flowing, depending on rainfall amounts. There are also smaller falls with pools that you can swim in, and those are next to the parking area. There’s a great amount of wildlife in the park, the deer were everywhere, and they are not afraid of humans. They will walk directly through your campsite. The park also has a lake, golf course, pool, playground, great biking, so much to do. The campground is large and has walk-in tent sites and RV sites with hookups. The sites are well spaced and wooded, so even if the campground is full, you don’t feel overcrowded. I always enjoy camping here and I highly recommend Fall Creek Falls.

  • Asher K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2021

    Walls of Jericho - Clark Cemetery Backcountry Campsite

    Great for groups

    This is one of the larger campsites available at Walls of Jericho and definitely the easiest to find. I have stayed here a couple of times and always enjoyed it. The one downside to this site is that it can get somewhat flooded after heavy rains. It can also get fairly crowded since there are multiple firepits and tent clearings not far apart from each other. This is definitely the best site if you have a large group or want to be able to set up multiple tents. It is also at an easy access point to the falls as well as the other trails in the area. The site has easy access to water most of the year and can provide space for over 10 tents. If it seems crowded and you want more privacy though you can turn left off the trail and walk a short ways to the horse camp which is more secluded and removed from the trail. My last suggestion is that if you are here on a clear night head out to the field abutting the site and enjoy some stargazing!

  • Matthew
    Sep. 6, 2021

    Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground

    Tons To Do

    We stayed Memorial Weekend of 2021 for a total of 4 nights. Tons to do at one of Tennessee’s top state parks. We hiked Fall Creek Falls trail, visited the nature center, walked the suspension bridge, went to the Cane Creek Falls overlook, swam in the Cascades, ate pizza at the snack bar, watched people catch stocked trout at George Hole, and played on the playground. The weather was a little damp, but we didn’t let that stop us!


Guide to Whitwell

Tennessee offers a fantastic experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to both riders and their equine companions.

Tips for equestrian camping near Whitwell, Tennessee

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • The Happy Camper Campground allows pets, making it a convenient choice for horse campers who want to bring their animals along.
  • At Mountain Cove Resort, you can enjoy electric hookups and other amenities that make your stay more comfortable while accommodating your horse.
  • Shady Grove features reservable sites and allows pets, ensuring that your horse has a welcoming environment during your camping trip.

Equestrian campgrounds include unique features

  • Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground offers a variety of activities and well-maintained trails, perfect for exploring on horseback.
  • The Rvino - The Broken Banjo is known for its spacious sites and friendly staff, making it a great spot for horse campers looking for a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Sawmill Lake Campsite provides a beautiful natural setting, ideal for those who want to enjoy the outdoors with their horses in a serene environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Whitwell, TN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Whitwell, TN is Fall Creek Falls State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 145 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Whitwell, TN?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Whitwell, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.