Horse Cove Campground

Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains

About this campsite

This campground, near the entrance to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, has 18 campsites located beside a rushing mountain stream, Little Santeetlah Creek.A few sites remain open year-round, although no water is available in the winter.

Location

Horse Cove Campground•NC

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Common questions about Horse Cove Campground

Is Horse Cove Campground free to camp at?

Yes. Horse Cove Campground in NC is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book Horse Cove Campground online?

We hold no online booking link for Horse Cove Campground, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season.

Where is Horse Cove Campground?

Horse Cove Campground sits in NC. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

700m away

RATTLER FORD GROUP CAMPGROUND

Overview Rattler Ford Group Campground sits near the swift-moving Santeetlah Creek in the Nantahala National Forest. Groups of up to 25 guests can enjoy the creek, which is popular for fly fishing, as well as nearby Lake Santeetlah, which provides countless water sports and activities. Recreation The campground is located about 2.5 miles from the Avey Branch boat ramp at Lake Santeetlah, which provides visitors access to all types of water-related activities, including fishing, boating, and canoeing. Horseshoe pits and volleyball courts are available within the campground. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of hiking trails and scenic drives in the area. Facilities The campground offers four sites, each with varying facilities, but all able to accommodate several tents and up to 25 guests. Multiple tables are available at each site, as well as lantern posts and campfire pits. Each site also provides an oversized grill. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided at the campground, as well as hot showers. Some of the sites are situated near the creek. Natural Features Large trees and thick forests provide moderate shade for the campground, while vast meadows also allow for sunshine and open play. Nantahala is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noonday sun," which is appropriate, as the sun only reaches the deep gorges of the western North Carolina mountains and valleys at midday. Nearby Attractions The entrance to Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, which contains nearly 17,000 acres, and Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, containing nearly 6,000 acres of old-growth forest, is located approximately 1/4 mile from the campground.

900m away

Rattler Ford Campground

Rattler Ford has four units that accommodate 25 people per unit. Showers, horseshoe pits, and a volleyball court are available. A trout stream and hiking trails are nearby.

4.4 km away

CHEOAH POINT CAMPGROUND

Overview Cheoah Point Campground lies on a peninsula of the vast Lake Santeetlah in the hills of western North Carolina. The lake and surrounding landscape provide countless recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Recreation Anglers enjoy fishing for trout, walleye, a variety of bass, bream and crappie and more in the 2,800-acre Lake Santeetlah. Boating, canoeing, jet skiing and swimming are also popular activities on the lake. Nearby, the Wauchecha Bald Trail, which begins as a an easy hike and gets progressively more difficult, provides access to the famed Appalachian Trail. Facilities The campground provides multiple open and wooded campsites that can accommodate up to 10 guests and 2 vehicles per site. Six RV sites provide 15/30/50 amp electrical hookups. Tables and campfire rings with grills are provided at each site. Flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are provided to help create a comfortable camping experience. Natural Features Lake Santeetlah sits in the Nantahala National Forest, which covers 1.3 million acres of mountain lands. Old forests grace the hills and valleys, with some of the canyons reaching deep into the earth, providing ample hiking opportunities in the beautiful terrain. Cheoah Point is situated in a forest of mature hardwoods at an elevation of 1,760 feet. The campground covers steep terrain and many of the campsites overlook the lake. Nearby Attractions Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just a short distance away, offering an ideal day trip from Cheoah point Recreation Area.

7.5 km away

Swan Cabin Group Camp

Overview Please be advised: due to health and safety concerns, occupancy within Swan Cabin will no longer be permitted. However, group camping outside the cabin in adjacent grassy field is allowed. Nestled in a remote area of Nantahala National Forest, this primitive log cabin was built in 1931 by Frank Swan in a different location, then later it was moved to its current location near the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. The cabin and the surrounding meadows are named for the Swan Family, who came to the area from Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. Swan Cabin Group Campsite offers a peaceful, quiet retreat where visitors can relax and enjoy birdsong and views of the surrounding wilderness. This group campsite is available from April 15 through October 31. ATTENTION: Swan Cabin Group Camp is considered remote, and is located at a high elevation where climatic conditions can be extreme and can change very quickly. Forest Service Roads 81 and 81 F that provide access to Swan Cabin Group Camp are gravel roads. During certain times of the year, these roads may be muddy or covered with snow. During ideal conditions, Swan Cabin Group Camp may be accessed with two wheel-drive vehicles. During muddy or snow covered conditions, four wheel-drive and higher clearance vehicles are required. Please be aware that staying at Swan Cabin Group Camp requires proper preparation, thorough review of predictive weather reports, and the ability to be self-sufficient during unplanned weather events, which can happen at any time of the year. Refunds will not be issued for inclement weather conditions or the inability to access the group camp due to inclement weather conditions. Recreation There are several nice hikes in the area, including the 3-mile Swan Meadows and the 7-mile Stratton Bald Trails. There is an easy 5-minute hike from the group camp to a waterfall. Nearby boat ramps are available on Santeetlah Lake. Facilities Tents may be pitched in the surrounding meadows for group camping. A pit toilet is located adjacent to the group camp, and a nearby spring may provide a water source, although it should be boiled or treated. There is no electricity or running water at the group site. A picnic table, grill and fire ring are available for use. Visitors may wish to bring their own drinking water, as well as supplies and equipment for food preparation. All equipment must be carried in from the parking area, located approximately 100 feet from the group camp. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring many of their own amenities. Hunting is also a popular activity enjoyed by visitors to the area from September through December. Hunters and their dogs may frequent the nearby trails during that time. Natural Features The Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness is particularly known for its old-growth forest of oak, poplar and hemlock within the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. This is one of the largest old-growth forests east of the Mississippi. Sun-loving wildflowers are abundant in the spring, and rhododendron, azalea and mountain laurel bloom in the late spring and early summer. The 2 major watersheds in this wilderness are Slickrock Creek and Little Santeetlah Creek. The mouth of Slickrock Creek has the lowest elevation in the wilderness at 1,086 feet. Swan Cabin Group Camp is situated near the highest elevation in the wilderness: 5,341-foot Stratton Bald in the Unicoi Mountain Range. Nearby Attractions Swan Cabin Group Camp is an ideal base for exploring the pristine Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only a short drive away and makes an excellent day trip.