Recreation

A waterfall on the Cherokee National Forest

Hurricane Helene Closure Order Update for Unaka and Watauga Ranger Districts

The public can now access all points of the Cherokee National Forest except for areas identified in the new modified Nov. 6 closure order.

Map of the current life and safety closure for Jackson Farm can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cherokee/maps-pubs.

Campgrounds and day use sites on the Unaka and Watauga Ranger Districts will remain closed for the remainder of this year.

November 6 News Release.

From Big Frog Mountain to Watauga Lake, fifteen different areas offer unique opportunities, activities and experiences across the Cherokee National Forest.

Select an Activity of interest above or begin exploring the Recreation Map below. Click on the symbols to view recreation opportunities featured throughout the National Forest.

Enjoy your visit to the Cherokee National Forest.

Be bear aware! Follow 'Food and Refuse Storage Requirements Closure Order' while camping and recreating.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name	Status	Area Conditions
Apalachia Powerhouse Launch	None
Appalachian National Scenic Trail	None
Baby Falls Day Use Site	Closed	Baby Falls is currently inaccessible due to the construction of the new Bald River Falls Bridge. Tellico River Road is closed from the Tellico Ranger Station to the intersection of North River Road. Please follow detour routes.
Backbone Rock Recreation Area	Closed	BACKBONE ROCK CAMPGROUND AND PAVILIONS IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. The vault toilets at the day use areas are open. Starting Nov 1, 2023 the Large reservable pavilion and the smaller non-reservable pavilion will be CLOSED due to Historic Preservation Repair. This closure will last until approx Monday, Sept 23, 2024. Please familiarize yourself with the Food Storage Order.
Big Bend	None
Big Oak Cove Campground	Closed
Birch Branch Campground	Open
Bubbling Springs Range	Open
Cardens Bluff Campground	Closed	CARDENS BLUFF CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. Please familiarize yourself with the Food Storage Order.
Chestoa Recreation Area	Closed
Childers Creek Trailhead	None	Open year-round.
Chilhowee Recreation Area	Open	All flush bathrooms are now open.
Conasauga River Blue Hole	Open
Dam Creek Walk-In Campground and Picnic Area	Open
Davis Branch Campground	Open
Dennis Cove Recreation Area	Closed	DENNIS COVE CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. Please famialize yourself with the Food Storage Order.
Donley Cabin	Closed	Closed until further notice, due to damage to the bridge crossing North River, caused by flooding during the Easter Weekend 2020 storms.
Dudley Falls	None
East Parksville Boat Launch	Open
Hiwassee River Picnic Area	None
Holder Cove Campground	Open
Holly Flats	Closed
Hood Mountain Overlook	None	Open year-round.
Horse Creek Recreation Area	Closed	Horse Creek Recreation Area is currently closed for construction. A reopening date for this season has not yet been determined. Horse Creek Pavilion is closed indefinitely due to unsafe structural conditions.
Indian Boundary Overflow Campground	Open
Indian Boundary Recreation Area	Closed	Go to recreation.gov for reservations & availability
Jacobs Creek Recreation Area	Closed	JACOBS CREEK CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. You are in Bear Country. Please familiarize yourself and adhere to the Cherokee National Forest Food and Refuse Storage Requirements.
Jacobs Creek Shooting Range	Open
Jake Best Campground	Closed
Kings Slough Boat Launch	Open
Limestone Cove Day Use Area	Closed
Little Milligan Boat Launch	Open	Little Millligan Boat Launch is open.
Little Oak Campground	Closed	LITTLE OAK CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. You are in Bear Country. Please familiarize yourself and adhere to the Food Storage Order.
Lost Corral Horse Camp	Open
Lost Creek Campground	Open
Mac Point Beach	Closed
McNabb Group Camp	Temporarily Closed	Temporarily closed
North River Campground	Open
North River Checking Station	Open
Ocoee Whitewater Center	Open
Old Forge Recreation Area	Closed
Overlook Picnic Area	None
Paint Creek Campground	Closed
Paint Creek Corridor	None
Paint Creek Picnic Area	None
Parksville Boat Launch	Open
Parksville Lake Campground	Open
Pheasant Fields and TWRA Tellico Fish Hatchery	Open
Pinnacle Mountain Lookout	None	Open year-round.
Pond Mountain Shooting Range	Open	Pond Mountain Shooting Range is open.
Quinn Springs Pavilion	Open
Rat Branch Boat Launch	Open
Rock Creek Recreation Area	Closed
Rough Ridge Campground	Open
Round Knob Picnic Area	Closed
Round Mountain Campground	Open
Shook Branch Beach	Closed	Shook Branch Swim Area is closed for the season. Other picnic areas nearby include The Laurels Picnic Area Pavilions and Watauga Point Recreation Area . Other swim areas include Jacobs Creek Day Use Area.
Sink Mountain Boat Ramp	Closed	Road to boat launch is closed due to storm damage.
Spivey Cove Campground	Closed
Spring Creek Shooting Range	Open
State Line Campground	Open
The Laurels Picnic Area	Closed	THE LAURELS PICNIC AREA PAVILIONS IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE.
Thunder Rock Campground	Open	Thunder Rock Campground is currently open. Power and water have been restored.
Towee Creek Launch	None
Tumbling Creek Campground	Open
Walnut Grove Picnic Area	Closed	Walnut Grove is currently inaccessible due to the construction of the new Bald River Falls Bridge. Tellico River Road is closed from the Tellico Ranger Station to the intersection of North River Road. Please follow detour routes.
Watauga Point Picnic Area	Open	The area is open between dawn and dusk. PLEASE NOTE: Bathrooms are CLOSED and WINTERIZED for the season. Area is used First Come First Served only. Reservations for the covered pavilion and the Shady Area will resume the first Monday in April 2025.
Young Branch Campground	Open

Spotlights

Dennis Cove Recreation Area

DENNIS COVE CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. Dennis Cove Recreation Area is a secluded campground and picnic area alongside Laurel Fork Creek in Carter County. It includes a remote developed campground, popular with those seeking a rustic experience. The altitude, creekside location and lush forest surroundings make Dennis Cove particularly desirable during hot, summer months.

Indian Boundary Recreation Area

View of Indian Boundary Recreation Area in Cherokee National Forest

If you are looking for a base camp to explore the vicinity or a destination campground with modern facilities and a family atmosphere, try Indian Boundary Recreation Area (IBRA), accessed off Cherohala Skyway.

Over 87 campsites are equipped with firerings, picnic tables, lantern posts and electrical hookups, with easy access to drinking water, showers, flush toilet facilities and an on-site dump station.

Day use facilities include a 96-acre lake, swim beach, small boat launch, accessible fishing pier and 3.6 mile hike/bike trail around the lake. Did you forget something? Don't sweat it! The Indian Boundary General Store can meet your camping supply needs ranging from bread to firewood, as well as a souvenir for you to remember your trip to IBRA.

Indian Boundary Recreation Area Map

Indian Boundary Recreation Area Guide

Little Oak Campground

LITTLE OAK CAMPGROUND IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO EFFECTS FROM HELENE. Looking to camp near a large lake? Try Little Oak Recreation Area, located on a peninsula along the eastern shore of South Holston Lake in Sullivan County. In this campground, most of the 68 universally-accessible sites have lake views and many have direct access. Little Oak is a designated Watchable Wildlife Area with two interpretive trails. A concrete boat ramp provides a popular launch site into South Holston Lake, and is for use by registered campers and their guests only. Many of the campsites are reservable by going to Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 for your convenience.

Little Oak Campground Map

Recreation

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