Houston Valley

Great Smoky Mountains

HOUSTON VALLEY in Great Smoky Mountains — photo 4

Houston Valley

Great Smoky Mountains

About this campsite

Overview

Houston Valley Recreation Area (elevation 1,800 feet) is centrally located to both Paint Creek and Weaver Bend. It is located directly off Tennessee (TN) Scenic Highway 107.

Recreation

Equestrian trails and hiking trails are located close to the recreation area. An open grass area is available for games.

Facilities

Houston Valley Recreation Area has eight picnic sites and two group picnic areas in addition to the pavilion. A green-space restroom and trash cans are located a short distance from the pavilion. The pavilion itself contains three large picnic tables and is located adjacent to two single tables with grills.

Natural Features

The recreation area is nestled along the edge of a hardwood forest. Fall colors are spectacular along this stretch of TN Scenic Highway 107.

Nearby Attractions

Meadow Creek, a Fire Tower that has recently been renovated as a lookout platform, is a short drive or hike away. Burnette Gap Trailhead is a short distance away. Bubbling Springs Rifle Range is located off TN Scenic Highway 107. Another scenic drive along Brush Creek Road (#209) leads to Weaver Bend and Allen Branch Pond. An accessible .2 mile trail rings Allen Branch Pond and Weaver Bend Road (#209C) parallels the French Broad River.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (423) 638-4109.

Location

HOUSTON VALLEY•TN

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Common questions about HOUSTON VALLEY

Is HOUSTON VALLEY free to camp at?

Yes. HOUSTON VALLEY in TN 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 HOUSTON VALLEY online?

We hold no online booking link for HOUSTON VALLEY, 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. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is HOUSTON VALLEY?

HOUSTON VALLEY sits in TN. 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

9.2 km away

Paint Creek Campground

Overview Paint Creek Recreation Area (elevation 1760 feet) is located in Greene County in a mountain cove along Paint Creek. A majority of the widely-spaced campsites have streamside views and are screened by a variety of native plants, including rhododendron, hemlock and laurel. 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 Recreation opportunities abound along the Paint Creek corridor. Paint Creek is a popular stream for swimming, wading and fly fishing. TWRA stocks Paint Creek with Rainbow trout throughout the summer. Warm water fishing is a short drive away at Paint Creek Pond. Two hiking trails begin within walking distance of the campground: Paint Mountain Trail (#7) and Paint Creek Trail (#10). Bike riding along the Paint Creek corridor to Hot Springs, NC is becoming a favorite pastime. Several scenic auto loops can begin at Paint Creek campground. Facilities 20 total campsites All single occupancy 3 sites (13, 14, and 16) are tent-only 2 vault toilets, one in each loop Drinking water available at the center of the campground Paint Creek Campground Map Natural Features Waterfalls: Kelly, Dudley and Ricker Falls can be seen from Forest Road 41 along Paint Creek. Cascades: 15 feet each. Paint Creek Pond: Among the cattails and other aquatic plants, watch for beavers and listen for frog calls. In the early morning, watch mist rise from the placid surface of the pond. The pond is an easy drive or bicycle ride from Paint Creek Campground. Contact Info Nearby Attractions French Broad River: Class I-III rapids. A popular commercial section runs 13 miles from Hot Springs, North Carolina, to Del Rio, Tennessee, with local rafting services. Scenic drives along Paint Creek Corridor with Hot Springs Loops - Meander along 5-mile Paint Creek Corridor to historic Paint Rock. Stop for a picnic, check out scenic waterfalls or splash in the ripples along the way. Extend your trip by travelling along French Broad River via River Road to the community of Hot Springs, North Carolina. Two overmountain routes will bring you back to Paint Creek: From Hot Springs, take US 25/70 west to TN 107 to Forest Road 54. Catch scenic mountain vistas along this winding gravel road that intersects Forest Road 41 near Paint Rock. From Hot Springs, take US 25/70 east to Forest Road 467 and wind through Pisgah National Forest to Hurricane Gap. Forest Road 31 brings you back to Paint Creek at Moses Turn trailhead. Take a side trip at Hurricane Gap to Pisgah National Forest’s Rich Mountain Firetower or catch the Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1.

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Hot Springs Campground

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Round Mountain Campground

Overview This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (423) 638-4109.