Nantahala National Forest Guide Profile

Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Nantahala National Forest

Welcome to the Nantahala National Forest! The Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountain and valleys of southwestern North Carolina. The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. The Forest is divided into three Districts, Cheoah in Robbinsville, NC, Tusquitee in Murphy, NC, and the Nantahala in Franklin, NC. All district names come from the Cherokee language. "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noon day sun," a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday.The Nantahala National Forest was established in 1920 under authority of the 1911 Weeks Act. This act provided authority to acquire lands for national forests to protect watersheds, to provide timber, and to regulate the flow of navigable streams. In the Nantahala National Forest, visitors…

Camping & reservations

The booking button opens the published reservation system for Standing Indian Campground. Other campgrounds in this forest may use different reservations, first-come sites or permits. Check each named site.

Tsali Recreation Area ↗

Tsali Recreation Area: Open year round Tsali Campground: Open April 15 - October 31 Enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, motorized boating, kayaking or camping at Tsali Recreation Area, all located within steps of Fontana Lake. Follow the Trail. The Tsali (pronounced “SAH-lee”) Recreation Area’s four-loop trail system has become a popular destination for mountain bikers and horseback riders. It is best known as a challenging mountain bike course. The Right Loop , rated moderately difficult, offers 13.9 miles of single track, with shorter 4- and 8-mile loops possible. The Left Loop , rated moderately difficult, is 11.9 miles of single track with views toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Fontana Lake. The Mouse Branch Trail , rated moderately difficult, is 8.7 miles of single track and includes old logging roads. The Thompson Loop , rated moderately difficult, is 7.3 miles of single track. Hikers may travel the trails on any day, but mountain bikers and equestrians–the primary users–are kept separated by alternating days on the trails. Be sure to follow the trail schedule: Jan./Feb./March/April/June/Sept./Nov./Dec. Right Loop and Left Loop: Horses –…

Reservations: First Come First Served

Standing Indian Campground ↗

Standing Indian Campground is a camper's delight, whether you're camping in an RV or in a tent. The campground is surrounded by 5,000-foot peaks and crossed by several natural trout streams. It is the focal point of numerous hiking trails and has easy access to the Appalachain Trail . The campground can be a pleasant stopover on your trip or a place to spend several days to explore this scenic and historic section of the Nantahala National Forest . All this within a scenic, 20-minute drive to Frankliln, N.C. The campground has 5 loops with sites available first come, first serve or by reservation. Fire ring grills, lantern posts, and picnic tables are provided at each site, with close proximity to drinking water, flush toilets and showers. A group camping area, Kimsey Creek , is located in Standing Indian Campground. Check out the brochure.

Reservations: There are 33 campsites available for reservation by contacting Recreation.gov at 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov . The sites available for reservation are: 12-18, 29-42, and 55-71. First Come-First Serve Sites: 1-11, 19-28, 43, 46-54, and 72-84 Nanatahala Ranger District is not able to make or change reservations. Reservations can only be made by contacting Recreation.gov.

Site rules: Camping is limited to a 14 day stay. Parking in grass is prohibited. Pets must be on a leash and cleaned up after. No golf carts allowed. Horses are not permitted in the campground or on hiking trails. Hurricane Creek Horse & Primitive Campground and access to horse trails is available 2 miles away on FS 67. Firewood may be purchases at the campground store and delivered to your site. Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood…

Fires Creek Recreation Area ↗

This remote area offers excellent trout fishing, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. The 25-mile Rim Trail in the Fires Creek Backcountry Area, is a hiking trail, however, some trail sections are open to horses. As the name implies, the Rim Trail climbs the ridge around Fires Creek and makes a large loop. The trail offers vistas as it crosses several highelevation balds. Located on Fires Creek, Bristol Campground has nine sites, a vault toilet, and accomodates horse campers. Huskins Branch Hunters Camp offers primitive camping. From the Leatherwood Falls Picnic Area, a 0.7-mile loop goes to Leatherwood Falls.

Reservations: Reservations not needed

Truck-camping & permitted overnight use

The official recreation inventory lists Fires Creek Recreation Area, Fires Creek Hunters Camp, Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area for dispersed camping. Read each site’s current rules; this does not authorize camping on every forest road.

Fires Creek Recreation Area ↗ — This remote area offers excellent trout fishing, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. The 25-mile Rim Trail in the Fires Creek Backcountry Area, is a hiking trail, however, some trail sections are open to horses. As the name implies, the Rim Trail climbs the ridge around Fires Creek and makes a large loop. The trail offers vistas as it crosses several highelevation balds. Located on Fires Creek, Bristol Campground has nine sites, a vault toilet, and accomodates horse campers. Huskins Branch Hunters Camp offers primitive camping. From the Leatherwood Falls Picnic Area, a 0.7-mile loop goes to Leatherwood Falls.

Fires Creek Hunters Camp ↗ — .

Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area ↗ — Panthertown Valley, referred to as the Yosemite of the East, lies on the eastern continental divide in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. With more than 25 miles of designated trails in this 6,300 acre backcountry area visitors can enjoy deep gorges and broad valleys, mountain bogs and granitic rock domes, tranquil creeks and plunging waterfalls while hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Camping is permitted in Panthertown, but groups are limited to no more than 12 people per site. No commercial equestrian or mountain bike outfitter/guides are permitted. Please be cautioned the roads to the parking areas are rough and four-wheel drive is…

Activities, hiking & trails

Tsali Recreation Area ↗
Tsali Recreation Area: Open year round Tsali Campground: Open April 15 - October 31 Enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, motorized boating, kayaking or camping at Tsali Recreation Area, all located within steps of Fontana Lake. Follow the Trail. The Tsali (pronounced “SAH-lee”) Recreation Area’s four-loop trail system has become a popular destination for mountain bikers and horseback riders. It is best known as a challenging mountain bike course. The Right Loop , rated moderately difficult, offers 13.9 miles of single track, with shorter 4- and 8-mile loops possible. The Left Loop , rated moderately difficult, is 11.9 miles of single track with views toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Fontana Lake. The Mouse Branch Trail , rated moderately difficult, is 8.7 miles of single track and includes old logging roads. The Thompson Loop , rated moderately difficult, is 7.3 miles of single track. Hikers may travel the trails on any day, but mountain bikers and…

Standing Indian Campground ↗
Standing Indian Campground is a camper's delight, whether you're camping in an RV or in a tent. The campground is surrounded by 5,000-foot peaks and crossed by several natural trout streams. It is the focal point of numerous hiking trails and has easy access to the Appalachain Trail . The campground can be a pleasant stopover on your trip or a place to spend several days to explore this scenic and historic section of the Nantahala National Forest . All this within a scenic, 20-minute drive to Frankliln, N.C. The campground has 5 loops with sites available first come, first serve or by reservation. Fire ring grills, lantern posts, and picnic tables are provided at each site, with close proximity to drinking water, flush toilets and showers. A group camping area, Kimsey Creek , is located in Standing Indian Campground. Check out the brochure.

Standing Indian Picnic Area ↗
Picnic area open to the public. Parking fee required. Group Reservations are available

Maps & road access

Consult the current Motor Vehicle Use Map for permitted motor routes, vehicle classes and seasonal designations. A route on an MVUM is not a guarantee that it is maintained or passable. Check current road closures and conditions with the district; carry an offline map.

Use the official directions for the exact named campground or trailhead; forest boundaries and administrative offices are not campsite entrances. Official directions / site access ↗

Before you travel

Check the forest’s current alerts, seasonal services, fire orders and campground rules. Download the relevant official maps before entering areas with limited reception.

Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. USDA Forest Service official information ↗

Photograph sources & licensing

Banner: Stream in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Nantahala National Forest Info on the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/joycekilmer.pdf
Credit: Michael Sprague. Original source ↗ · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Second large photograph: Large trees in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Nantahala National Forest Info on the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/joycekilmer.pdf See where this photo was taken at maps.yuan.cc .
Credit: Michael Sprague. Original source ↗ · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.