Campground · Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Twelve tent sites by the creek, with big hikes close at hand.
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The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Great Smoky Mountains audio tourRecorded for this place
Big Creek and Mouse Creek Falls“You're coming up on Big Creek, where a gradual forest hike leads to Mouse Creek Falls. Allow two and a half to three hours for the four-mile round trip along an old logging railroad grade.”
Plays as you drive up to Big Creek Campground in the Parkwolf Great Smoky Mountains Tour Guide.
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“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Big Creek is a small, seasonal frontcountry campground beside Big Creek at about 1,700 feet, in the park’s remote eastern corner. Its 12 sites are for tents only. Each has parking, a gravel tent pad, picnic table and fire ring; there’s a short walk from parking to the tent pad. RVs and trailers aren’t allowed.
Big Creek Trail follows the stream toward a waterfall. Baxter Creek Trail makes a strenuous climb of about 4,200 feet toward Mount Sterling, so this is a useful base for hikers planning a long day out. The stream runs alongside camp, giving the sites a wooded, water-side setting.
NPS says black bear sightings aren’t uncommon around camp, while river otters are occasional visitors to Big Creek. The stream is also known for trout fishing, especially during spring insect hatches. Fishing in the park requires a Tennessee or North Carolina license and follows park rules.
All 12 sites require reservations; there are no first-come sites. The campground is seasonal, and drinking water and flush toilets are seasonal too, so check the current operating dates before planning. There are no showers, utility hookups or camp store, so bring your food and supplies. The park requires food, cooking equipment, scented items and water containers to be secured when not in use.
Wildlife
1,569 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
900 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
142 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
26 sightingsBobcatMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
42 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Great Smoky Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateBig Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls4 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.1 mi awayAn old railroad grade reaches an unmarked pool and 41-foot falls.
ChallengingBaxter Creek Trail12.2 mi · 9 hr · 0.2 mi awayA steep Big Creek climb to a 1935 summit fire tower.
ChallengingCamel Gap Trail10.6 mi · 8.5 hr · 0.3 mi awayA long creekside approach to the Appalachian Trail at Camel Gap.
ChallengingChestnut Branch Trail2.1 mi · 2 hr · 0.7 mi awayA steep 2.1-mile climb from Big Creek to the Appalachian Trail.
ChallengingMount Sterling Trail5.4 mi · 4 hr · 3.5 mi awayA steep climb to a historic tower and wide clear-day Smokies views.
ChallengingSwallow Fork Trail3.9 mi · 4 hr · 3.6 mi awayA forest climb links Big Creek to the high ridge routes.
ModerateMount Sterling Ridge Trail5.3 mi · 3.5 hr · 3.7 mi awayA remote 5.3-mile traverse from Mount Sterling to Balsam Mountain Trail.
ChallengingGunter Fork Trail4.1 mi · 4.5 hr · 4.6 mi awayTwo cascades reward a long, steep backcountry climb.
Picnic area · 0.1 mi awayBig Creek Picnic AreaBreak by Big Creek before setting out on a nearby trail.
Campground · 0.4 mi awayBig Creek Horse CampA five-site creekside base for horse campers and backcountry rides.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayMidnight HoleA shaded Big Creek pool reached by a steep, rocky scramble.Sight · 1.7 mi awayMouse Creek FallsA 41-foot waterfall with Midnight Hole along the way.
Sight · 3 mi awayMount Cammerer Lookout TowerA rock summit and a 1930s fire tower reward a big climb.Sight · 3.4 mi awayMount Sterling Fire TowerA 1935 lookout atop a steep, remote Smokies summit.Parkwolf’s Great Smoky Mountains ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
