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Horse Creek Recreation Area in Tennessee
Moderate to BookNational Forest

Horse Creek Recreation Area

Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee

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As of September 2026, Horse Creek Recreation Area is a campground in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee with 13 campsites. Horse Creek Recreation Area is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Horse Creek Recreation Area for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Horse Creek Recreation Area is located at 36.1083ยฐ N, 82.6568ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
5

Horse Creek Recreation Area reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Campsites at Horse Creek Recreation Area

  • Standard 13

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • showers
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, swimming, hiking, wildlife, stargazing, horse riding.

All sites at Horse Creek Recreation Area, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the Horse Creek loop.

SiteTypeSleeps
Site 1Standard5
Site 2Standard5
Site 3Standard5
Site 4Standard5
Site 5Standard5
Site 6Standard5
Site 7Standard5
Site 8Standard5
Site 9Standard5
Site 10Standard5
Site 11Standard5
Site 12Standard5
Site 14Standard5

About Horse Creek Recreation Area

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.

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations โ†’

Horse Creek Recreation Area FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Horse Creek Recreation Area?

Horse Creek Recreation Area is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 13 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at Horse Creek Recreation Area?

Cancellations happen frequently at Horse Creek Recreation Area, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Horse Creek Recreation Area have?

Horse Creek Recreation Area has 13 campsites.

More campgrounds in Cherokee National Forest

Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.

All 22 Cherokee National Forest campgrounds

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