Round Bottom Horse Camp

Overview

Round Bottom Horse Camp is a small, no-frills horse camp on the quiet North Carolina side, built for riders who want trail access over campground comforts. You must have a horse to camp here, and reservations are required. It’s one of the park’s drive-in horse camps, generally operating spring through fall. Expect solitude, dark nights, and an old-school camping vibe.

Campsites & Amenities

There are five sites, each with a picnic table, grill/fire ring, lantern post, tent pad, and designated gravel parking. Metal four-horse stalls (no roofs) are provided; horses must be kept in stalls and not at the campsite. Facilities are minimal: portable toilets, no electricity, and no potable water. Bring all your drinking water and a bucket to water stock from the nearby stream. No hookups of any kind. Typical rig limit is up to 35 feet, and site parking is mostly back-in; one site may require using the extra parking area at the far end of camp.

Getting There

From Cherokee, turn off US 441 onto Big Cove Road and follow it to a T-intersection. Turn right, continue to the end of pavement, then take the Straight Fork/Round Bottom gravel road by the trout-rearing facility for about 3.5 miles to camp. The final stretch is gravel—plan extra time and go slow.

Rules That Matter

• Reservations required; must have a horse to camp. 6 people and 4 horses max per site.
• Negative Coggins required; keep horses in stalls/hitch racks and never tie to trees.
• Follow bear-aware food storage: keep all food and scented items secured in a vehicle or solid camping unit when not in use; use bear-proof dumpsters for trash.
• Heat-treated firewood only (or collect dead/down wood in park); fires only in rings.
• Quiet hours 10 p.m.–6 a.m.; generator use 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Pets allowed in camp on leash but not on trails.
• Front-country campers parked at their reserved campsite are exempt from the park-wide parking tag requirement; elsewhere in the park, a tag is required for parking over 15 minutes.
• Check-in 1 p.m.; checkout noon.

Riding & What to Expect

Round Bottom exists for saddle time. It offers access to designated horse trails within the park’s extensive network (hundreds of miles are open to stock). Expect traditional backcountry conditions—stream crossings, elevation changes, and seasonal variability. Bring processed feed and plan to clean stalls before departure (manure trailer on-site).

Wildlife & Safety

You’re in prime black bear country. Follow food storage rules to the letter and never leave feed where wildlife can get it. The area’s streams also offer fishing opportunities, but you’ll need a valid North Carolina or Tennessee fishing license.

Best Time to Visit

The horse camp typically runs April–October. Spring and fall offer cooler temps and great riding; summer can be hot and humid even at roughly 3,060 feet. Weekdays are quieter, and sites are limited—book as early as you can (up to six months out). There’s no cell service or Wi‑Fi, so download maps and reservation details in advance.