Discover the best hiking campgrounds across Tennessee. Experience the best of both worlds with camping that puts you right at the heart of incredible hiking opportunities. Direct trail access and stunning mountain vistas.
Handpicked destinations that define the region
Trailheads launch directly from camp, offering everything from the relentless 4,200-foot climb up Baxter Creek to Mt. Sterling to the gentler Big Creek route with its cascading waterfall and crystalline swimming holes.
Twenty-five miles of trails radiate from your campsite, ranging from gentle lakeside strolls to the moderate Benton Falls route where cascading waters plunge through lush forest.
Step from your campsite directly onto trails that wind through sandstone cliffs and hardwood forests to breathtaking destinations like the massive Twin Arches and cascading Angel Falls.
Hiking camping Tennessee offers unparalleled access to some of the most diverse and spectacular mountain terrain in the southeastern United States, from the iconic peaks of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the dramatic sandstone gorges of Big South Fork and the pristine wilderness of Cherokee National Forest. Tennessee's landscape spans ancient Appalachian ridges, cascading waterfalls, limestone caves, and over 900 miles of maintained trails that wind through hardwood forests ablaze with spring wildflowers and autumn color.
Spring (April through May) ranks as the premier season for hiking camping in Tennessee, when wildflower displays peak throughout Cherokee National Forest and the Smokies, temperatures hover in the comfortable 60-75°F range, and waterfalls run at maximum flow from spring rains. Fall (late September through October) offers equally spectacular conditions with brilliant foliage displays, lower humidity, and reduced insect activity, though campgrounds fill quickly on weekends during peak color in mid-October.
Showing top 20 campgrounds near Hiking Campgrounds in Tennessee
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Discover 21 additional top-rated hiking campgrounds in Tennessee
Trailheads depart directly from camp, leading to the dramatic Backbone Rock formation and cascading waterfalls, with routes connecting onward to the legendary Appalachian Trail.
Trailheads departing directly from camp lead to two spectacular waterfalls: a family-friendly ramble through creek crossings to 45-foot Pete's Branch Falls, and a rigorous 4-mile trek to Squibb Creek Falls.
Trailheads launch directly from camp, leading to Rock Creek Falls through 2.5 miles of creek crossings and rocky scrambles that reward hikers with cascading water. The moderate terrain demands sturdy boots and plenty of water, but delivers authentic Appalachian wilderness just steps from your tent.
Trails launch right from camp, including the challenging Laurel Fork Trail where hikers splash through 26 stream crossings over eight miles of rugged terrain. The legendary Appalachian Trail awaits just a mile away, while Coon Den Falls delivers waterfall views on a quick afternoon adventure.
Multiple trailheads branch from this mountain valley basecamp, including the beloved Abrams Falls Trail—a 5-mile journey winding through pine-oak forests and hemlock groves alongside rushing streams.
Trails wind through pine-oak forests and rhododendron thickets to Abrams Falls, a 5-mile round-trip adventure showcasing the Smokies' diverse ecosystems. Historic valley meadows double as wildlife corridors where black bears and deer emerge at dawn and dusk.
Trails launch directly from your campsite into the Big South Fork's network of paths leading to thundering waterfalls and dramatic sandstone arches. Choose your challenge from easy streamside rambles to rigorous climbs rewarded with Cumberland Plateau vistas at Princess Falls, Yahoo...
The 3.2-mile loop encircling the lake winds through towering hardwoods and opens to shimmering water vistas, delivering an accessible adventure for hikers and bikers of all abilities.
A smooth one-mile paved path winds through camp for easy morning strolls, while the rugged 18-mile Red Oak Ridge Trail and 7.5-mile Accordian Bluff Trail challenge experienced hikers with steep terrain and prime birdwatching overlooks.