Is Birch Branch Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Birch Branch Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Birch Branch Campground?

Birch Branch Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Birch Branch Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Birch Branch Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

Birch Branch Campground

4.07

15 reviews

Top 20%Fall

Peace & Quiet

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

2,621 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book Online Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

2,621 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book Online Official Website

Get Directions

Birch Branch Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

N/A

I manage this campground

Been here recently?

Campers like you keep our info accurate. Fix a detail in under 30 seconds.

Plan a trip to Birch Branch Campground

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

Campground Map

Birch Branch Campground

35.2855, -84.1316

Weather at Birch Branch Campground

Best Time to Camp at Birch Branch Campground

Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of comfortable weather, excellent fishing, and smaller crowds — ideal for first-come, first-served camping. Expect crisp days and cool nights (roughly 45–65°F daytime, 30–45°F nights at 2,600 ft), colorful foliage timing in September–October, and active cold-water fish (trout) as water temperatures drop. With fewer weekend crowds than summer, you’ll have a better shot at scoring a prime campsite and quieter shorelines for casting. Peak months: October, September, May, June

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

5.0 / 5

Top 20% in US

Described as the 'sweet spot' with hardwoods in color and trout moving closer to shore.

Planning Tips

About Birch Branch Campground

Birch Branch Campground sits in the Cherokee National Forest foothills at 2,600 feet, offering first-come, first-served tent and RV sites along a river known for trout fishing. Managed by the Forest Service, this quiet campground attracts anglers and nature seekers who appreciate the streamside setting and fall foliage. Visitors come for the peaceful atmosphere, direct river access, and opportunities to fish and explore the surrounding forest.

Birch Branch Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis and provides standard nonelectric overnight sites.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of comfortable weather, excellent fishing, and smaller crowds — ideal for first-come, first-served camping. Expect crisp days and cool nights (roughly 45–65°F daytime, 30–45°F nights at 2,600 ft), colorful foliage timing in September–October, and active cold-water fish (trout) as water temperatures drop. With fewer weekend crowds than summer, you’ll have a better shot at scoring a prime campsite and quieter shorelines for casting. Peak months: October, September, May, June

Elevation2621 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground borders the Hiwassee River, giving most sites quick access to water. At this elevation in the Cherokee National Forest, you'll find mixed hardwoods that turn color in September and October. The river here is cold-water trout habitat, and the terrain is typical Appalachian foothill forest. Rolling, shaded, not dramatic but reliably green and quiet.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Need help booking Birch Branch Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

Recreation.gov Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

The Birch Branch Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment via the 'Scan and Pay' feature is supported through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Visitors must download the app prior to arrival as cellular service may be unreliable.

I manage this campground

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.1

15 reviews

Satisfactory

Birch Branch Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

User reviews collectively praise the tranquil atmosphere and proximity to a river, making it suitable for relaxation and nature-oriented activities. The average sentiment rating is 4.69 overall, and for campground-specific ratings, it is 5.0.

Review Summaries

Based on 15 reviews

What Campers Love

Highlights from user reviews include the peaceful environment, the river adjacent to the campground, and opportunities for fishing and enjoying nature.

Based on 15 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

You want a quiet, no-reservation river campground with good fall fishing and don't mind cooler nights.

Skip if

You need guaranteed site availability or prefer warmer weather camping.

Nearby Campgrounds

3.6

(8)

Spivey Cove Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Spivey Cove Campground sits in the Cherokee National Forest foothills of Tennessee, offering back-to-basics tent camping near the river. Operated within the national forest system, this peaceful site draws campers looking for a quiet base to enjoy summer evenings by the fire and short hikes from camp. The forested setting and river proximity make it a straightforward choice for those who value simplicity and natural surroundings.

Davis Branch Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Davis Branch Campground sits in the foothills of Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. Operated by the U.S. Forest Service, this campground offers a quiet base for exploring the surrounding national forest terrain. Visitors use it primarily for hiking and enjoying the wooded setting during the fall color season.

North River Campground

null

North River Campground sits along the North River in Cherokee National Forest's Tennessee foothills, offering primitive tent camping at a quiet, very small site. The river's clear pools draw campers for wading, fishing, and summer swimming. Vault toilets and pet-friendly sites provide basic amenities in a remote, forested setting.

Holly Flats Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Holly Flats Campground sits in the foothills of Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, offering streamside fishing and back-to-basics tent and RV camping. The U.S. Forest Service operates this remote spot where anglers work the water in the early morning and evening, and campers enjoy the quiet of a less-traveled corner of the national forest. Summer brings warm days and cool nights ideal for fishing and exploring nearby trailheads.

Holder Cove Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Holder Cove Campground is a very small Cherokee National Forest site in the Tennessee foothills, offering basic fire-ring camping for tents and RVs. Operated by the Forest Service, it attracts anglers chasing trout in nearby waters and visitors seeking a quiet, no-frills base camp. The level, clean grounds make setup easy, though sites run tight.

Big Oak Cove Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Big Oak Cove Campground sits along the Tellico River at 2,736 feet, offering first-come, first-served sites without reservations or hookups. Reviewers consistently call it quiet, clean, and beautifully situated. Cell service is limited, so download the Recreation.gov app before arrival to pay via QR code.

250 Ranger Station Rd, Tellico Plains, TN, 37385, USA

McNabb Creek Group is a secluded primitive campground in Cherokee National Forest near Tellico Plains, operated by the U.S. Forest Service in Tennessee's Appalachian foothills. This group-only site offers access to North River fishing and hiking trails, with fire rings and picnic tables in a quiet natural setting. The campground enforces an overnight gate closure and prohibits alcohol.

$30.00 - $30.00 / night

4.0

(26)

Big Oak Cove Campground

null

Big Oak Cove Campground sits along the Tellico River in Cherokee National Forest, a small foothills site near Tellico Plains popular with trout anglers and hikers. The campground offers tent, RV, and primitive camping with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Reviewers praise the level sites, river access, and quiet atmosphere, though the campground closes seasonally.

Rough Ridge Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Rough Ridge Campground sits in the Cherokee National Forest foothills of Tennessee, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The campground offers tent and RV sites in a wooded setting where campers enjoy hiking, campfires, and stargazing. Fall brings the best conditions with mild days, crisp nights, and peak foliage.

250 Ranger Station Road

Donley Cabin sits in the Cherokee National Forest foothills near Tellico Plains, operated by the US Forest Service. This rustic rental offers a serene base for hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing in hardwood forest that peaks with color in mid-October. The cabin suits groups or couples seeking a primitive experience with vault toilets and fire rings but no modern conveniences.

$35.00 - $35.00 / night

4.3

(30)

State Line Campground

Cherokee National Forest

State Line Campground sits in the foothills of Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, offering a handful of primitive sites with vault toilets. This U.S. Forest Service campground attracts visitors seeking quiet, backcountry-style camping without the crowds, with fall bringing brilliant foliage and ideal conditions for hiking and exploring nearby rock formations. The small scale and peaceful setting appeal to campers who value solitude over amenities.

Campgrounds you may also like

0.0

(3)

Davis Branch Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Rough Ridge Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Holder Cove Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Spivey Cove Campground

Cherokee National Forest

Reservable

2.647 km

No fees available

Campgrounds

Birch Branch Campground

From the U.S. Forest Service

Reference information about Birch Branch Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →

Overview

<p>Looking to camp where you can wake at the crack of dawn and start fishing? This is one of several small campgrounds on Tellico River Road (FS Rd 210). This campground offers 5 campsites with a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post.</p>