Big Creek campground is located in the northeastern portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the smallest of all the frontcountry campgrounds in the park and offers only 12 tent camping sites. The area offers a pleasant outdoor experience in moderate seclusion with access to several hiking trails and water activites.
Big Creek Campground
The Big Creek campground is located off exit 451 (Waterville) from I-40 near Waynesville, North Carolina. The drive from Exit 407 in Sevierville takes less than an hour. You can also take Highway 321 from Gatlinburg for a drive that is similar in length. The area is generally not very crowded and makes for a nice escape from the more touristy areas near the national park.
Navigate
About The Campground
While Big Creek campground does not offer generator use or recreational vehicles, it is host to the only horse camp in the national park with potable water and flushing toilets. Fly fishing is also very popular here in the springtime when aquatic insects are hatching in large numbers; local anglers say Big Creek has some of the best trout fishing in the area.
Reserve
Hiking at Big Creek
The campground provides direct access to Big Creek Trail and Baxter Creek Trail as well as Chestnut Branch Trail along the access road before the campground. You can reach the firetower atop Mount Sterling via Baxter Creek Trail and even Mount Cammerer via Chestnut Branch or Big Creek to Low Gap.
Big Creek Trail
