Cherokee National Forest encompasses 655,598 acres in eastern Tennessee. The forest runs along the northwestern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and comprises nearly the entire eastern border of Tennessee. Inside the forest are notable locations such as the Ocoee River, two large reservoirs, Big Frog Mountain, and a large section of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The terrain is mountainous with undulating ridges interrupted by deep valleys hiding clear streams under deep foliage. Black bears, bobcats, and white-tailed deer roam freely throughout the forest of hardwoods and firs interspersed with deciduous fruit trees such as maple and wild cherry. Visitors from across the country come to Cherokee National Forest to hike, horseback ride, jog, fish, swim, and hunt during the summer months and enjoy an array of winter sports during the months that see ice and snow.
Camping in Cherokee National Forest
You can enjoy the beauty of America's national parks and forests as you travel in an RV. These vehicles allow you to camp under the stars and travel at your own pace. If you have always wanted to hit the road in an RV, make sure to book with RVshare. From motorhomes to campervans, the perfect vehicle is waiting for you.
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Rocky Top Campground and RV Park
If you are looking for an adults-only campground in the Cherokee National Forest region, then Rocky Top Campground and RV Park is the place for you. Children are not allowed in this campground under any circumstances. The campground provides 35 spacious RV campsites, nine of which have pull-through capability. Each campsite is 25 feet in width, which allows you to deploy your slide-outs. The pull-through sites are 65 feet in length, while the back-ins are 60 feet long. A game room, pavilion, and sauna are available for the use of guests. A camp store provides access to groceries, firewood, LP gas, gasoline, and diesel.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 20/30/50 amps
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other Amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, laundry facilities
Fee: $43 per night
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Woodsmoke Campground
Woodsmoke Campground, located within Cherokee National Forest near the small town of Unicoi, TN, provides 27 RV back-in campsites. The sites are 24 feet in width, letting you deploy your slide-outs. Upon arrival, guests are escorted to their campsite to ensure they are parked correctly and hooked into the system. The restrooms and bathhouses are ADA approved. Nature trails run through the forested areas of the campground. If needed, an RV maintenance service is available for guests.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other Amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, restrooms with flush toilets
Fee: $40 per night
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Stoney Creek RV Park
Stoney Creek RV Park offers 13 RV campsites, of which four are pull-throughs. All the campsites are 20 feet in width and 50 feet in length. Located inside Elizabethton, TN, the park offers easy access to restaurants, museums, and Cherokee National Forest.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amps
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other Amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, dump station
Fee: $20 to $25 per night
Cherokee National Forest Hiking Trails
Cherokee National Forest is next door to Great Smokey Mountain National Forest and shares its reputation as a foggy environment. Hikers often come across entire valleys engulfed in thick mists. But, when those fogs and mists dissipate, the views of the surrounding mountains, deep valleys, and multicolored hills are breathtaking.
During the day, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders venture along established pathways to observe wildlife and the environments' incredible diversity. The significant elevation changes that typify the forest topography feature plants that cling to the sides of cliffs, bound across meadows, and run color and texture along ridges.
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Margarette Falls Trail
Margarette Falls Trail is a heavily used pathway located near Greeneville, TN. The trail is an in-and-out path that reaches a picturesque waterfall. The path changes 751 feet in elevation.
Length: 2.7 miles
Intensity: Intermediate
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Benton Falls Trail
Benton Falls Trail climbs only 291 feet. Located near Reliance, TN, the full course runs to a waterfall under dense forests along a well-traveled and bark-dusted course.
Length: 3 miles
Intensity: Easy
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Turtletown Falls Trail
The Turtletown Falls Trail is a loop trail that changes 574 feet in elevation. The track is heavily trafficked but worth the visit to an impressive waterfall. Turtletown Falls Trail is open year-round and is primarily used for bird-watching, nature observance, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Length: 3.8 miles
Intensity: Intermediate
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Bald River Trail
Located near Tellico Plains, TN, Bald River Trail is an in-and-out pathway that changes elevation by 774 feet. Incorporating switchbacks and crossing streams, this pathway features a waterfall and incredible slopes along which the path sidles.
Length: 8.8 miles
Intensity: Intermediate
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Appalachian Trail: Carver's Gap to United States Highway 19 East (US-19 E)
This trail is a section of the Appalachian Scenic Trail located inside Cherokee National Forest. The climb up and down ridges, across creeks, and through rocky terrain makes this section of the trail one of the most difficult along its entire length. Elevation changes rapidly as you climb and descend as much as 2,408 feet repeatedly along this heavily trafficked path.
Length: 16.7 Miles
Intensity: Difficult
Activities in Cherokee National Forest
With more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, there is no shortage of flora and fauna in Cherokee National Forest. There are 43 species of mammals in the forest, including white-tailed deer, raccoons, otters, and black bears. You can find plenty of fish and amphibians, including the hellbender salamander. Along with that, bird enthusiasts will love this national forest. You can spot over 262 winged species fluttering throughout the park, including the northern owl, red-breasted nuthatch, and blue-headed vireo.
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Stargazing
On fogless nights, the entire sky lights up with stars as city lamps cannot possibly challenge the great Milky Way as it blazes from horizon to horizon.
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Fishing
In the northern part of Cherokee National Forest, you will find plenty of streams packed with trout. This forest is one of the best rainbow trout fishing spots in the region. Along with the trout, bluegill, crappie, and bass swim in the streams.
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Geocaching
The terrain lends itself to geocaching games where the rapid elevation changes present challenges to those searching for the hidden items. Geocaching is allowed in the park, but the caches must be clearly marked. You must also leave them along the hiking trails.
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Nature Watching
Nature lovers come to this forest for the animals as well as the woods. Black bears, bobcats, and white-tailed deer inhabit most of the area, which calls for care when visitors encounter them.
How to get to Cherokee National Forest
Address: 2800 Ocoee Street, Cleveland, TN
Fee: Entry fee $0
Cherokee National Forest is an ideal place to spend a vacation in an RV. Visitors often find the hills and streams challenging, and a home-like place to rest is always welcome. RV rentals through RVshare involve a simple process that begins with finding the perfect RV for your family's vacation. After that, memories that last a lifetime pile upon each other.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherokee National Forest
What type of wildlife lives in Cherokee National Forest?
Wildlife in the Cherokee National Forest includes black bears, bobcats, deer, skunks, beavers, otters, and woodchucks. There are also many kinds of birds that live in the forest, along with fish in the lakes and streams, and a variety of other small animals.
Is there a fee to get into Cherokee National Forest?
No, there is no fee to get into Cherokee National Forest. However, there are additional fees for using certain day-use areas, and permits are required for activities like hunting or fishing.
Does Cherokee National Forest offer free camping sites?
Yes, Cherokee National Forest offers free camping sites. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the forest and does not cost. Dispersed campsites have no amenities, so campers need to bring everything with them, including water.
Is there a limit to how long you can camp in Cherokee National Forest?
Yes, there is a limit to how long you can camp in Cherokee National Forest. Campers are allowed to stay a maximum of 14 consecutive days within a 30-day period at a campsite within the forest.
What is the closest town to Cherokee National Forest?
Elizabethton, Tennessee is one of the closest towns to the Cherokee National Forest. It's also the town where the forest's headquarters lie. You can go out to eat, find a place to stay, or stock up on supplies in town.
