## Overview

 Rock Creek Recreation Area is named for the small creek that runs alongside this recreation site. The facilities, creek-fed concrete pond and bathhouse were originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. It is located just outside the town of Erwin, TN at an elevation of 2,300 feet - a welcome respite from the summer heat. Be Bear Wise: Food storage compliance is strictly enforced. Store all food and trash in hard-sided containers and vehicles while not in use. Never have attractants in your tent. Violations of the food storage order are ticketable offenses and subject to fines. Food and trash left unattended will be impounded by campground staff. 
## Recreation

 Hike on one (or all) of the trails adjacent to Rock Creek Recreation Area. Visitors can enjoy cooling off in the creek-fed concrete pond. Younger children can enjoy the playground located in the day use area of the recreation area. Campground programs are offered every Friday night in July at the amphitheater.
## Facilities

 There are 27 fully accessible single and five double campsites in Rock Creek Recreation Area; all with electric hook-ups. In addition, there are five walk-in tent sites without electric hookups, which are available first-come, first served only. Three bathhouses are located within the recreation area; one in Loop A, one in Loop C, and one located by the concrete pond - it is a Civilian Conservation Corps-era bathhouse adapted for modern use. Each bathhouse has flush toilets and shower facilities. A dump station is located on site. An on-site host is located in the campground. [Rock Creek Recreation Area Map][1] 
## Natural Features

 Campsites are nestled in a cove hardwood forest. Adjacent to the campground is Unaka Mountain Wilderness area, a rugged and undeveloped area. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The Appalachian Trail crosses TN 395 at Indian Grave Gap, 3.1 miles east of Rock Creek. Mountain Balds, Beauty Spot and Unaka Mountain Overlook are located nearby along Forest Service Road #230. Whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky River is provided by private companies located in Erwin, TN. 

[1]: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5275541.pdf

Rock Creek Recreation Area

**Our friends who are avid whitewater paddlers took us here. It’s a small campground with simple amenities, amazing old growth forest. There are so many great hiking trails here, plus some rock climbing/bouldering. Note that there are some areas with similar names further east near the Appalachian Trail.**

**Yay: Simple and beautiful camping here! Rangers check in periodically and had great recommendations.**

**Nay: no potable water but plenty nearby to treat.**

**Surprise: Make sure to visit Lone Mountain State Forest as well. There are rafting tour companies nearby**

Great access to whitewater and nature 

The road in is a little narrow, but well maintained and easily navigable. Sites are heavily wooded, fairly well spaced, and most sites have a level area, but you have to back all the way in to get level on some. We were in site B16, which had no satellite coverage until most of the leaves fell. B Loop sites are 30A only. The website says there is shared water, which there is, but in B Loop, you can’t hook a hose to it to fill your tank, as the spigot is not threaded. C Loop had at least some threaded spigots. OTA TV was limited to 4 channels(PBS) with our omni antenna. There is no WiFi. AT&amp;T had 1 bar and 0.8 MB/s w/o a booster, 2 bars and 2.4 MB/s with it. The bathrooms/showers were fairly clean and well maintained, but showing their age. There is a nice, but fairly strenuous 4 mile up and back trail from the campground to Rock Creek Falls. Campground was mostly empty during the week, maybe 8 or 10 out of 31 sites occupied, but completely full on the weekend.

Nice, small, quiet, heavily wooded campground

Tight turns, but manageable with our 40' Fifth Wheel. Relatively level parking. Spacious sites. 20-30-50 amp hookups available. No water on sites but available not far away, with plenty of extra hose, for refilling water tank. Serene Campground with plenty of shade. Bathhouses were clean and in good repair. There is a mountain stream running through the campground that has been dammed up to make a swimming hole that is quite large, not sure on depth as we didn't get in, but water is very chilly even in late July. Nice playground just down from camping area and wonderful hiking trails abound.  