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Small Wilds Campground offers six sites with a maximum occupancy of six per campsite and one group campsite with a max occupancy of 30.
This campground is a 2.5-mile hike from the Foster Falls parking lot. Water is available at the parking lot and a seasonal creek that is next to the campground. An outhouse is available at the campground, and a fire ring is at each individual site. Campers must arrive at their site by dark.
Hike in campground located in South Cumberland State Park. Nice, spacious campsites. There is an outhouse, but no other facilities. I liked the area, but if you are looking for a secluded backpacking experience, this is not the campground to go to. It's right off the Fiery Gizzard Trail, so you'll have lots of foot traffic passing directly by the campsite. I prefer more of a secluded wilderness experience, so that's why I'm giving this campground 3 stars instead of 5.
It's about a 2.5 mile hike along the Fiery Gizzard Trail to Small Wilds, and the hike itself is moderate - we saw kids out there backpacking with their parents, so this is not an excessively difficult campground to get to.
Level campsites with ample space and privacy from the surrounding sites. Far enough out that there isn't much through traffic from people coming to see Foster Falls. There is a stream right next to the far end of the campsites so you can filter water if need be. Each site has a fire ring as well. Right across from the main trail are some bluffs where you can walk out to the edge and take in some outstanding views.
Sites are spread out pretty well. Plenty of trees if you're a hammock camper. There is a small intermittent stream nearby for water but can be dry during drought. Plan on watering up before getting here.
Reasonable primitive camp site. Water source nearby, flat for tent campers, trees for hammock campers, fire pit with grill. Would have rated higher but the privy was not something I'd want to use and poison ivy was everywhere!
Also I wish they would have a primitive camp site further down this trail so you could more evenly split the hike between 2 days.
The campsites were more secluded than I thought. Great location which was right across from a lookout point. Everything was wet and made it challenging to start a fire. The climb to the campsite coming from the north end was every bit of an upward battle after 7 hours of challenging terrain. Worth every minute of it!
