Cherokee National Forest
Cherokee National Forest covers 655,598 acres across Tennessee and North Carolina. Free dispersed camping is allowed, up to 14 days.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Oct. 5, 2026.
- Closure: Citico Creek Flood Closure Significant flood occurred in the Citico Creek watershed, Tellico Ranger District. Large potions of road is washed out and the route is currently closed from Indian Boundary to approximately Camp 11. The road is impassable and access is currently closed to motorized vehicles. NFSR 35-1 Citico… Since July 23, 2026.
- Closure: Peavine Sheeds Road Closure for repairs Forest Service begins phased construction to Peavine Sheeds Road, FS 221, south of Parksville Lake in the Ocoee Ranger District. Phase 1 will disrupt access beginning July 16 from 35.0072,-84.6889 to 34.9889, -84.6339 as depicted in the graphic. Major repairs will address storm damage. Marked… Since July 16, 2026.
- Closure: Emergency road closures due to storm damage The Cherokee National Forest has enacted emergency closures to Hurricane Gap Road (NFSR 31) Closed on Rollins Chapel Road side from Mile Post 1.116 to Mile Post 1.665Dick Creek Road (NFSR 307)In addition HWY 395 is now closed blocking Unaka Mnt. access from Indian Gap. Since July 14, 2026.
- Closure: One Unaka Ranger District Campgrounds now closed due to storm Recent weather caused significant damage to key routes on the Unaka Ranger District causing two campgrounds to close. Paint Creek and Horse Creek campgrounds were closed. Horse Creek is now reopened. Since July 13, 2026.
- Closure: Closure order prohibiting protected areas pertaining to Paint Rock Going into or being upon or in the area of closure (this includes all forms ofpresence, including as a pedestrian or by any and all other means) Since May 28, 2025.
- Closure: Wilderness Closure Orders This Forest Order is associated with Wilderness Areas limitations concerning stay duration, group size limits, mechanized equipment, camping and camping equipment. Since Oct. 21, 2024.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Cherokee National Forest on the managing agency's own page.
Cherokee National Forest map
Cherokee National Forest boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
One agency fire restriction order is recorded for this unit as of Oct. 5, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Roan Mountain Fire Restrictions Effective Oct. 20, 2025. Fire Restrictions Continue Along the Appalachian Trail
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Yes, dispersed camping is allowed on Cherokee National Forest without a fee.
- Camping on Cherokee National Forest is limited to 14 days.
Camping on Cherokee National Forest
Dispersed camping allowed Stays are limited to 14 days .
27 campgrounds inside the forest boundary have their own page on campgroundsdb.com, with site counts and reservations:
- Backbone Rock Campground
- Backbone Rock Recreation Area Pavilions camping
- Big Oak Cove Campground
- Birch Branch Campground
- Cardens Bluff Campground
- Chilhowee Group Camp
- Chilhowee Recreation Area camping
- Davis Branch Campground
- Dennis Cove Recreation Area camping
- Donley Cabin camping
- Holder Cove Campground
- Holly Flats Campground
- Horse Creek Recreation Area camping
- Indian Boundary Recreation Area camping
- Jacobs Creek Campground
- Jake Best Campground
- Katy Branch camping
- Little Oak Campground
- North River Campground
- Old Forge Campground
- Paint Creek Campground
- Rock Creek Recreation Area camping
- Rough Ridge Campground
- Round Mountain Campground
- Spivey Cove Campground
- State Line Campground
- Watauga Point Recreation Area camping
- Thunder Rock Campground (right at the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Cottonwood Patch Campground (0.5 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Swan Cabin Group Camp (0.7 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Fire restrictions change by district and season: check the current alerts and restrictions before you go.
Ranger district offices
| Supervisor's Office | Cleveland, TN | (423) 476-9700 | Not on record |
Fishing and water
Whitetop Laurel Creek fishing (0.8 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Cherokee National Forest
- Wilderness areaBald River Gorge Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaBig Frog Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaBig Laurel Branch Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaCitico Creek Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaCohutta Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaGee Creek Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- State parkHiwassee Scenic River State Park lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
- Wilderness areaJoyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness lies inside Cherokee National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- geo.dot.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- en.wikipedia.org (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.