Harmon Den Horsecamp


Area Status: Open

**THIS IS A RESERVATION ONLY CAMPGROUND** There are no walk up/first come first serve sites

 This page was last updated 6/30/2023

Current Notes of Interest: 

Temporary Closure ​Cold Springs Horse Trail #302 in Hot Springs is temporarily closed due to timber harvesting. Hazardous machinery and falling trees present.

NC Department of Transportation state road closure in Haywood County:
Starting as soon as Nov. 9, all traffic in both directions will be funneled into a one-lane pattern
prior to the bridge [at Harmon Den, exit 7 on I-40] and will use the ramps as a detour around the bridge.
Traffic will remain in this pattern into May while crews remove and replace the deteriorating structure.
Drivers desiring to go from Asheville to Dandridge, Tenn., may choose to take I-26 West to Kingsport
and then I-81 South to Dandridge. This route adds about 45 minutes to driving time
compared to a typical trip through the gorge.
Please see the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation News Release (with map)
at this link: News Release


This does not include USFS Road 148/Cold Springs Creek Road to Harmon Den area. This road remains open until seasonal closure in January,
but will require you to take the detour and reroute back south through the detour to access the turn into the road.
www.ncdrive.gov is a great resource for planning your trip during this time.

Set in a remote area and accessed by the interstate, this 10-site horse camp offers a variety of recreation, from horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, hunting and fishing. While the camp is designed for horseback riders, sites are open to everyone. The camp is nestled in a cove below Hurricane Mountain. This campground closes for the year on October 31st and reopens in the spring.

At a Glance

Current Conditions: Timber traffic, some trail closures
Operational Hours: Reservable only on www.recreation.gov
Reservations: Campsites are available by reservation only and must be made 4 days in advance of desired arrival date. Combination gate code given upon reservation, through email. District office cannot give out code in the event of loss of number. *Please make note- unavailable campsites are listed as "FF" on recreation.gov. This does not mean there area any "first come, first served" campsites. There are no FF campsites on Harmon Den.  To make reservations call (877) 444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov.
Fees: The fee is $15.00 per site per night.
Open Season: May 1st - October 31st
Closest Towns: Hot Springs
Water: Hand pump-Drinking Water
Restroom: Vault
Operated By: For reservations call (877) 444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov

General Information

Directions: From Interstate 40: Harmon Den Horse Campground can be accessed via Interstate 40 exit #7, then take a right traveling northeast for approximately 4.0 miles on Cold Springs Road, NFSR#148, then a right on Fall Branch Road, NFSR# 3526, and then approximately 0.5 mile to entrance of campground located on the left. From Hot Springs NC: Take NC Hwy 209 South for approximately 7.0 miles turn right onto Meadowfork Road NCSR# 1175, then approximately 6.0 miles turn right onto Little Creek Road NCSR# 1181, then approximately 3.0 miles take a left onto Max Patch Road NCSR# 1182, then travel approximately 0.75 mile and take right onto Cold Springs Road NFSR# 148. Travel Southwest for approximately 3.0 miles to the intersection of Fall Branch Road NFSR# 3526 and then travel approximately 0.5 mile to entrance of campground located on the left.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Campground Camping

River and Stream Fishing

Day Hiking

Horse Camping

Harmon Den Horse Campground has 10 sites with a community hand pump well centrally located for all sites. Facilities provided include horse stalls and mangers that accommodate a maximum of 4 horses and 8 people at each site with a picnic table, gravel tent pad, lantern post, fire ring and parking for a single vehicle with horse trailer. Additional vehicle parking is NOT available. Also located within the campground is a self service livestock manure station, a livestock community watering tank and a SST toilet.
No. of Sites 10
No. of Accessible sites 10
Water Availability Yes
Fees: $15 per night

Horse Riding

Viewing Scenery

Picnicking