Horse Creek Recreation Area

Cherokee National Forest

Horse Creek Recreation Area is located eight miles from Greeneville, off TN 107 north. This recreation area is nestled into a hardwood cove beside its namesake, Horse Creek. Horse Creek is located in the Chuckey area of Greeneville, TN. The campground is primarily walk-in, tent camping only. With plenty of forest-related activities to do around the campground and being located right outside the city of Greeneville, Horse Creek is the perfect place to stay! Numerous hiking trails, picnic areas, and swimming spots are located within Horse Creek.

Horse Creek Recreation Area offers a bathhouse for campers use. The bathhouse includes hot showers, flushable toilets, and sinks.

Notifications and Alerts

• This location is closed until further notice due to significant impacts from Hurricane Helene. Please continue to monitor this location’s facility page on Recreation.gov for status updates or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee for details. Keep in mind, local personnel may be attending to this urgent situation and not available to provide updates immediately.

Need to Know

• It is your responsibility to read, know, understand, and follow all specific rules and regulations which are also posted at the campground.

• 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. A copy of the Food Storage Order can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd574347.pdf 

• Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.

• The following items are expressly prohibited:

  o Firearms and fireworks

  o Alcohol and illegal drugs

  o Public nudity

• All sites are primitive, walk-in camping only. Water and electricity are NOT available at the sites. Walking is required to access the sites.

• The bathhouse and bathrooms are located a considerable distance from the sites.

• Use designated fire rings for all fires. Do not build additional fire rings. No burning plastic or other non-wood materials except local wood in fire pits and charcoal in grills.

• Max of 5 people per site, including infants and children. Max of 2 tents and 1 canopy.

• There is one public water spigot located next to the host site.

• All users' equipment must be contained within the site. Sites must be kept neat and orderly.

• All animals must be crated or on a leash not longer than 6 feet.

• Check-out time is 12:00PM. Check-in time is 2:00PM. If you arrive earlier, you may have to wait for a campsite.

• Forest Service Volunteer Campground Hosts help manage the area and can provide visitor information.

Natural Features

• Squibb Creek Falls: Get your feet wet on this 4-mile (round trip) trail on your way to see the 25-foot tall Squibb Creek Falls. This trail lies almost entirely in the Congressionally designated Sampson Mountain Wilderness. Please take extra caution when hiking this trail, as trails are not blazed and stream crossings may be difficult to negotiate. 
• Pete's Branch Falls: This short, easy trail starts to the left of Poplar Cove trailhead after the first creek crossing. The trail follows the creek with 5 creek crossings to a 45-foot waterfall. It is recommended to come during the wet spring and fall months, where the abundance of water makes for optimal viewing. During the dry months, you can expect just a trickle coming over the falls. Please note that hiking or driving on Forest Road 94 requires several creek crossings. Hiking from the trailhead requires an additional 1.5 (each way) hike.

Recreation

• There are several native trout streams within and nearby Horse Creek Recreation Area. See Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for permits as well as rules and regulations on fishing.
• There are two areas for picnicking in the Horse Creek Recreation Area, one upstream and one downstream of the campground.
• Multiple hiking trails can be accessed from Horse Creek.

Contact Information

Mailing

Unaka Ranger District 4900 Asheville Hwy Greeneville TN 37743

Physical

2897 Horse Creek Park Road Greeneville TN 37641

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: N/A

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Available Campsites

• Site Site 10, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 5, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 4, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 11, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 8, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 7, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 14, Loop Horse Creek, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site Site 9, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 2, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 12, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 3, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 6, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 1, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To
• Site Site 13, Loop Horse Creek, Type Walk To

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