4.66144 reviews
Price
$20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
42 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
42 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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1070 Massey Branch Road, Robbinsville, NC 28771
Mountain bikers and paddlers who can arrive Thursday or Friday to claim a site before fall weekends fill up. Site 2 fits multiple tents, site 39 handles a 31-ft RV, and the four trail loops (7.3 to 13.9 miles, alternating with equestrians) are right out of camp.
Dirty restrooms are a genuine pattern in reviews, not an occasional complaint. Bring cleaning supplies and a lantern. If that's a dealbreaker, or you need hookups, cell signal, or a guaranteed reservation, this first-come-first-served, no-hookup setup will frustrate you.
Reference information about Tsali Recreation Area sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><strong>Tsali Recreation Area:</strong> Open year round</p><p><strong>Tsali Campground:</strong> Open April 15 - October 31</p><p> </p><p>Enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, motorized boating, kayaking or camping at Tsali Recreation Area, all located within steps of Fontana Lake.</p><p><strong><em>Follow the Trail. </em></strong>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.</p><ul><li>The <strong>Right Loop</strong>, rated moderately difficult, offers 13.9 miles of single track, with shorter 4- and 8-mile loops possible.</li><li>The <strong>Left Loop</strong>, rated moderately difficult, is 11.9 miles of single track with views toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Fontana Lake.</li><li>The <strong>Mouse Branch Trail</strong>, rated moderately difficult, is 8.7 miles of single track and includes old logging roads.</li><li>The <strong>Thompson Loop</strong>, rated moderately difficult, is 7.3 miles of single track.</li></ul><p>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:</p><p><strong>Jan./Feb./March/April/June/Sept./Nov./Dec.</strong><br />Right Loop and Left Loop:</p><ul><li>Horses – Tuesday , Thursday, & Saturday</li><li>Mountain Bikes –Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday</li></ul><p>Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:</p><ul><li>Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday</li><li>Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday</li></ul><p><strong>May/July/August/October</strong><br />Right Loop and Left Loop:</p><ul><li>Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday</li><li>Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday</li></ul><p>Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:</p><ul><li>Horses – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday</li><li>Mountain Bikes – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday</li></ul><p>There is a per-person day use fee for trail use. Fees can be paid at either the Tsali Bike or Horse Trailheads.</p><p><strong><em>Sleep under the Stars. </em></strong>Open early April through October, Tsali Campground offers 42 campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. Many sites accommodate small RVs, but no hookups are available. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Accessible flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are available. Campers pay fees at the campground fee station.</p><p><strong><em>Get in the Water.</em></strong>Fontana Lake offers flatwater paddling and motor boating. One boat launch is located at Tsali, while another is located nearby on FR 2553 at Lemmons Branch. Ample parking is available at either launch. Fishing is permitted year-round, and anglers will find some of the best fishing for walleye in the state. Anglers can also catch black bass, crappie, catfish and white bass.</p><p><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3846521.pdf">Check out the brochure.</a></p>
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Fall delivers the best combination of cool, stable weather and spectacular mountain-to-lake color. Peak foliage typically arrives in October, with daytime highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s and crisp nights in the 30s and 40s. Trails are less buggy and at their most scenic, boating and fishing on Fontana Lake are peaceful, and wildlife is active. Weekdays are quiet, but weekends can get moderately busy as leaf-peepers arrive. Summer brings warm days in the 80s, ideal for lake swimming and paddling, though humidity and bugs are higher. Winter temperatures hover in the 40s during the day and dip into the 30s at night. Cold enough for campfires, mild enough for winter hiking if you layer up.
Fall delivers cool stable weather and "spectacular mountain‑to‑lake color;" often cited as best season.
Accessible flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are available. Many sites accommodate small RVs, but no hookups are available.
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