Indian Boundary

Cherokee National Forest

Indian Boundary Recreation Area is the crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest on the Tellico Ranger District. This family-oriented campground offers a swim beach and picnic area with grills and an accessible picnic pavilion, as well as a fantastic, 3.2-mile hiking and biking trail around the lake. Spectacular mountain views, glimpses of wildlife, and a peaceful setting await visitors who come to Indian Boundary.

The 87-site campground has electric hookups, water faucets throughout the campground, grills, picnic tables and lantern posts. Modern restrooms add to the comfort of visitors in this natural setting.

An on-site campground store sells bread, ice, milk, ice cream and other camping supplies.

Indian Boundary Recreation Area Map

Need to Know

Check In is at 2:00 p.m. Check out is now 1:00 p.m. These hours are new for 2023. Campers with reservations must arrive within 24 hours of their reservation (by 2 p.m. the following day of their first night) or they will forfeit their campsite.
Main gate to campground closed from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Late arrivals may walk in or camp in the adjacent Overflow Campground. Gate opened for emergencies only.
Be Bear Wise: Never leave food out on tables or in the open. Store unattended food in bear-resistant containers, in a vehicle in solid non-pliable material, or suspend food at least ten feet off the ground. Remember to use the bear resistant trash receptacles provided at this facility.
Campground road is designed for vehicles up to 26 feet in length; any damage caused by larger vehicles may result in a fine
Please fill your RV at the dump station before you enter the campground
Alcohol is prohibited
Please do not call the Indian Boundary Outpost for information or reservations; they are a private concessionaire.
Click here for more information on the Cherokee National Forest
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.
Hammocks are considered camping equipment and MUST be hung within the campsite's timbered borders. Hammocks are NOT allowed outside the timbers or in the woods.
When plugging in your camper/RV electric cord to the electrical outlet please do the following:

• Check to make sure the breakers are turned off prior to plugging the camper/RV to the electrical outlet.

• After plugging the RV/camper to the electric outlet, turn the breakers on. Close the cover so that water does not get into the outlets.

• Multiple appliances in the camper and RV cannot be turned on at the same time. You must run one appliance at a time. Do not run your air conditioning unit and another appliance at the same time, including your television.

• Turn off the electric breaker prior to removing your RV/camper electric cord before leaving the campsite.

By following these steps, it helps prevent the electric breakers from failing during your stay at the Indian Boundary Recreation Area.
Campsites are non-transferrable (you cannot sell your campsite to another person) from one person to another and cannot be reserved for the purpose of selling them to someone else especially for a higher price. As stated in the confirmation letter, you CANNOT do this. Fines for this activity began at a miniumum of $80.

Natural Features

Indian Boundary Lake covers 96 acres at an elevation of 1,560 feet, and sits among hardwoods and pines. At the lake, visitors enjoy watching beaver that inhabit an adjacent pond, identifying several species of ducks and other waterfowl and trying their luck at catching bass, sunfish and catfish.

The Cherokee National Forest is located in eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. The 650,000-acre swath of land is Tennessee's only national forest. It lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachians and is home to more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, as well as many rivers, creeks and lakes. Elevations range from 750 to 5,500 feet.

Nearby Attractions

The campground is two miles off the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway that stretches from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina. Bald River Falls on Tellico River Road 210 is a popular destination. The Pheasant Fields Fish Hatchery also on Tellico River is operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and is the rearing pools for the fish stocking program on Tellico River, Citico Creek, and the Green Cove Pond.

Recreation

Opportunities abound for fishing, swimming, boating, wildlife viewing and scenic driving. Other popular activities include hiking and biking the trail around Indian Boundary Lake.

The recreation area contains a swim beach, boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic area and volleyball court.

Contact Information

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Physical Address

205 Ranger Station Rd Tellico Plains TN 37385

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: (423) 253-8400

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From I-75 at Sweetwater, Tennessee, take State Route 68 to Tellico Plains. From Highway 68 in Tellico Plains, take Highway 165 (Cherohala Skyway) east for 16 miles. Turn left onto Forest Development Road 345 and travel 2 miles to the entrance.

Available Campsites

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