Horse Creek Recreation Area
Campground · Tennessee · 14 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
North Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area (National Forest/Wildlife Management Area) · Restricted Access
- 14
- Bookable sites
- up to 5
- People per site
- 1,761 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Horse Creek Recreation Area is located eight miles from Greeneville, off TN 107 north. This recreation area is nestled into a hardwood cove beside its namesake, Horse Creek. Horse Creek is located in the Chuckey area of Greeneville, TN. The campground is primarily walk-in, tent camping only. With plenty of forest-related activities to do around the campground and being located right outside the city of Greeneville, Horse Creek is the perfect place to stay! Numerous hiking trails, picnic areas, and swimming spots are located within Horse Creek.
Recreation
- There are several native trout streams within and nearby Horse Creek Recreation Area. See Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for permits as well as rules and regulations on fishing.
- There are two areas for picnicking in the Horse Creek Recreation Area, one upstream and one downstream of the campground.
- Multiple hiking trails can be accessed from Horse Creek.
Facilities
Horse Creek Recreation Area offers a bathhouse for campers use. The bathhouse includes hot showers, flushable toilets, and sinks.
Natural Features
- Squibb Creek Falls: Get your feet wet on this 4-mile (round trip) trail on your way to see the 25-foot tall Squibb Creek Falls. This trail lies almost entirely in the Congressionally designated Sampson Mountain Wilderness. Please take extra caution when hiking this trail, as trails are not blazed and stream crossings may be difficult to negotiate.
- Pete's Branch Falls: This short, easy trail starts to the left of Poplar Cove trailhead after the first creek crossing. The trail follows the creek with 5 creek crossings to a 45-foot waterfall. It is recommended to come during the wet spring and fall months, where the abundance of water makes for optimal viewing. During the dry months, you can expect just a trickle coming over the falls. Please note that hiking or driving on Forest Road 94 requires several creek crossings. Hiking from the trailhead requires an additional 1.5 (each way) hike.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (423) 638-4109.The facts
- Season: 10/24/2024 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 14 bookable sites
- 18 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Up to 5 people per site
- Loops: Horse Creek, Scan and Pay
Site types
- 13 Walk To
- 4 Management
- 1 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills, shade.
18 campsites at Horse Creek Recreation Area
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host Site | Horse Creek | Management | — | — | Drive In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 1 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 10 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 11 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 12 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 13 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 14 | Horse Creek | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 2 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 3 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 4 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 5 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 6 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 7 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 8 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| Site 9 | Horse Creek | Walk To | — | — | Hike In | — | 5 | 🐾 |
| ScanPay 2 | Scan and Pay | Management | — | — | — | — | — | |
| ScanPay 3 | Scan and Pay | Management | — | — | — | — | — | |
| ScanPay 4 | Scan and Pay | Management | — | — | — | — | — |
Getting there
36.10830, -82.65680 · 36°6'29.9"N 82°39'24.5"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 4.0 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Horse Creek Recreation Area
- Can you reserve a site at Horse Creek Recreation Area?
- Yes, Horse Creek Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Horse Creek Recreation Area have?
- 18 sites in total, of which 14 can be booked.
- Are pets allowed at Horse Creek Recreation Area?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Horse Creek Recreation Area.
- Does Horse Creek Recreation Area have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Horse Creek Recreation Area?
- Campfires are allowed at Horse Creek Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Horse Creek Recreation Area also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Horse Creek Recreation Area's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Camping fee is $10 per night.
- Recreation.gov either online or call 1-877-444-6777.
- No fee for Day Use.
Restrictions:
- Camping and picnicking are on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Group size is 5 people, 2 vehicles per site.
- No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the area.
- Food storage restrictions apply at all areas on the Cherokee National Forest. All food and beverages must be stored in an approved bear-proof container, your locked vehicle or hard-sided camper at all times unless being eaten, prepared, or transported.
Camping near Horse Creek Recreation Area
- Horse Creek Pavilion DAY USE 0.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Katy Branch 8.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Paint Creek Campground 13.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bald Mountains 4.3 mi · Facility
- Katy Branch 8.6 mi · Facility
- Dillard Place 8.7 mi · Facility
- Andrew Johnson NHS Visitor Center 10.4 mi · Facility
- Nolichucky River 13.2 mi · Facility
- Paint Creek Corridor with Hot Springs Loops 15.5 mi · Facility
- Paint Creek Corridor 15.5 mi · Campground
- Erwin National Fish Hatchery 15.8 mi · Facility
- International Storytelling Center 16.4 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone N/A
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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