Best Dispersed Camping near Winchester, TN
Prentice Cooper State Forest offers several dispersed camping areas within an hour of Winchester, Tennessee. This 24,000-acre wilderness maintains two primitive campgrounds—Hunter's Check Station and Davis Pond—plus multiple backcountry options. The Davis Pond area features open field camping near a small fishing pond with bass, while the forest areas provide hammock-friendly tree cover. Roads throughout are unpaved and can become challenging during wet conditions.
Access requires navigating approximately 5-7 miles of gravel roads, with some areas requiring high-clearance vehicles. The forest has seasonal closures between December and March affecting most camping areas. No hookups are available, and the rudimentary vault toilets at sites like Davis Pond are frequently reported as unusable. One camper noted, "If you want seclusion, this is your spot," while another warned about "gunshots starting at 6:30 at a nearby gun range." Additional primitive camping can be found at Tennessee Wall Camp and Walls of Jericho Trailhead, both offering fire rings but minimal amenities.
