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**The only horse camp in the Great Smoky Mountains with potable water and flushing toilets!**
Pack up your horses for a getaway at Big Creek Horse Camp, located on far northeastern side of Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 16 miles from Newport, Tennessee. This campsite sits along the gently rolling waters of Big Creek and offers miles of horse trails with breathtaking scenic backdrops.
**You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Big Creek Horse Camp!**
The rolling terrain surrounding the campsite makes for some of the best horseback riding trails in the park. Numerous trails are accessible from Big Creek and for riders looking for a little hiking, the Appalachian Trail can be easily reached via the 2.1 mile Chestnut Branch Trail, located within walking distance from the camp.
Day Use horse area- so invite your horse riding friends and family for a fun day even if they don't want to camp with you.
Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams that snake through the mountains, with Rainbow and Brook trout available in abundance, particularly during spring months.
Big Creek Horse Camp is fairly primitive, providing only the basic amenities, but an unforgettable outdoors experience. The sites are large and the facility does offer flush toilets, drinking water and plenty of shade.
Since horses are not permitted in the camping area, horse stalls and hitching rails are provided to guests.
There are no hookups or showers at the campground, but water is available from the campground spigot.
**You MUST have a HORSE to camp in Big Creek Horse Camp!**
At a 1,700 foot elevation, Big Creek provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. The camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams.
Nearby Mouse Creek Falls, a 35 foot waterfall forming at the confluence of Mouse Creek and Big Creek, is reachable by horseback or on foot via the Big Creek trailhead located on-site.
The beautiful falls splits over moss covered rocks and falls about 20 ft. before pooling and falling another 15 ft. into Big Creek. The falls can be reached via the Big Creek Trail, which is covered in wildflowers during spring months.
The Big Creek Group Campground is located nearby, with plenty of space for larger groups.
Full service grocery stores and medical facilities are located 16 miles away in Newport, Tennessee.
The campground is located off I-40 Exit 451 (Waterville). It sixteen miles east of Newport, TN. Follow Waterville road, crossing over the Pigeon River, past the Walters Power Generating Station and continue one mile to the 4-way intersection at Mt Sterling Gap.
Follow the signs to Big Creek.
Drive up Big Creek Park Road. Shortly after passing the Ranger Station, take the first left turn into the horse camp.
**Coordinates: 35°45'15.7"N 83°06'25.8"W**
**35.754361, -83.107167**
**Mailing Address: (Do not use GPS directions by name)**
236 Big Creek Park Road
Newport, Tennessee, 37821
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Wonderful atmosphere. Went on a hike here - it was beautiful. The only downsides were limited parking and the trail not being marked along the way. It was awesome though
Very pretty location near Big Creek. The sound of the creek will lull you to sleep. All sites are shady and fairly easy for larger rigs to park. Stock water and potable water are in the area. There is a bathroom in camp.
Found this gem if a swim hole. Right next to the camp. Such a beautiful area for a picnic, camping, hiking, kayaking, and anything else.
Big Creek has a special place in my heart. I've been coming here since I was a little kid. My parents got married there. Big Creek is a great place to camp, swim, picnic, hike, or all of the above! I mostly swim at big creek right below the bridge. If you take a short hike the midnight hole is a great spot to swim as well. I love this place. It is one of my happy places.
Headed east to the Fayetteville area, we were looking for a place to stop for the night along I-40 between Knoxville and Asheville. We found Little Big Creek Horse Camp on google. It's 2 miles off 40, they have power (120v), covered tie stalls (we staked out) water for horses, a covered picnic area, fire pit, and vault toilet. They were in the process of replacing their fencing. The gate is giant but because of the amount of rain they've had, we decided to back in so I didn't risk getting stuck turning around. They rent to one party at a time, so no one else was on site. $15/night. You can find them on FB. It's rustic, but very functional. If it was warmer out, it would be an awesome place to leave windows open and have the sound of the river lul you to sleep. We hear there's excellent trails nearby but we didn't have time to ride.
