Cataloochee Campground

Photo · Tom Wilson

Not publishedStatus

ReservableAccess

27Sites

34 ftMax rig

The place

Cataloochee campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley--a relatively remote part of Smoky Mountain National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park. Recreation The Cataloochee Valley features an extensive trail system that is less heavily used compared to other areas of the park. The two main trails, Caldwell Fork and nearby Rough Fork Trail, run mostly parallel to one another in the central portion of the valley. Keep reading

Either of these trails extend alongside scenic creeks and streams and support both hikers and horeseback riders. For hikers only, the 3.9-mile Boogerman Trail forms a nice loop off the Caldwell Fork Trail and is less than a mile walk from the campground. Anglers will agree that some of the best Rainbow and Brook trout fishing in the area can be found in the Cataloochee Basin, one of the most remote sections of the park. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers. The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. A handful of which can be found in the Cataloochee Valley, including the nearby Palmer House, built in 1869, which contains a self-guided museum. Facilities Cataloochee offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground. Hiking trails and fishing streams are easily accessible from the site and the nearby Cataloochee Group Camp can accommodate larger parties of guests. Additionally, the Cataloochee Horse Camp provides convenient camping for horseback riding enthusiasts. Natural Features Cataloochee Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams, like nearby Cataloochee Creek. Elk are common in this part of the park, during the spring and fall. At a 2,600 foot elevation, Cataloochee provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or exploding with vivid fall colors, the scenery at Cataloochee never disappoints. Nearby Attractions A number of the park's famous historical buildings, including the Steve Woody and Caldwell Houses, both built in the late 19th-century, are nearby the campground. The Steve Woody House, built in 1880, is located along the Rough Fork trail, an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot at the end of Ranger Station Road.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 27

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	1	standard nonelectric	31 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	10	standard nonelectric	33 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	11	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	12	standard nonelectric	34 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	13	standard nonelectric	28 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	14	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	15	standard nonelectric	27 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	16	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	17	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	18	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	19	standard nonelectric	20 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	2	standard nonelectric	25 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	20	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	21	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	22	standard nonelectric	27 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	23	standard nonelectric	28 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	24	standard nonelectric	22 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	25	standard nonelectric	27 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	26	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	27	standard nonelectric	25 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	3	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	4	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	5	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	6	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	7	standard nonelectric	34 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	8	standard nonelectric	32 ft	N/A
CATALOOCHEE CAMPGROUND	9	standard nonelectric	28 ft	N/A

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Fees

Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a$10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Customers that check out early or do not plan to use their reservation MUST contact the campground office the day they leave or are due to check in, in order to receive a refund. Refund requests for early departure or non use of the site made AFTER the reservation has ended will be denied. Office phone numbers are given in the Facility Contact information for each campground.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Your representative

This campground sits in NC-11. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard