Openings · last 7 days
0
Availability is not tracked here yet
Campsite Sniper does not currently hold availability data for Cataloochee Campground. That is a gap in what Campsite Sniper tracks — it does not mean the facility is full, closed, or unavailable. Recreation.gov may well be showing open dates right now.
The site details and map below come from the public Recreation.gov record and are accurate. For current dates and to book, go to Recreation.gov.
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233284
When Cataloochee Campground reopens
Cataloochee Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
109
Openings · last 90 days
316
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 316 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 11:00 and 20:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 60 of 316 detected openings (19.0%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Eastern Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 6 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 3–11 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 19 | 6.0% |
| 13 | 18 | 5.7% |
| 11 | 18 | 5.7% |
| 18 | 18 | 5.7% |
| 1 | 17 | 5.4% |
Site 8 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 19. One free watch covers every site here.
About Cataloochee Campground
Overview
Cataloochee campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley--a relatively remote part of Smoky Mountain National Park. The secluded setting offers visitors the ability to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities like hiking and fishing, without the crowds, which are sometimes common in other parts of the park.
Recreation
The Cataloochee Valley features an extensive trail system that is less heavily used compared to other areas of the park. The two main trails, Caldwell Fork and nearby Rough Fork Trail, run mostly parallel to one another in the central portion of the valley. Either of these trails extend alongside scenic creeks and streams and support both hikers and horeseback riders.
For hikers only, the 3.9-mile Boogerman Trail forms a nice loop off the Caldwell Fork Trail and is less than a mile walk from the campground.
Anglers will agree that some of the best Rainbow and Brook trout fishing in the area can be found in the Cataloochee Basin, one of the most remote sections of the park. Fly fishing is particularly good during spring months when aquatic insects hatch in large numbers.
The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park. A handful of which can be found in the Cataloochee Valley, including the nearby Palmer House, built in 1869, which contains a self-guided museum.
Facilities
Cataloochee offers a traditional outdoor camping experience with the added convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. There are no hookups or showers at the campground.
Hiking trails and fishing streams are easily accessible from the site and the nearby Cataloochee Group Camp can accommodate larger parties of guests.
Additionally, the Cataloochee Horse Camp provides convenient camping for horseback riding enthusiasts.
Natural Features
Cataloochee Campground is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges and pristine mountain streams, like nearby Cataloochee Creek. Elk are common in this part of the park, during the spring and fall.
At a 2,600 foot elevation, Cataloochee provides a moderate climate, characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Whether blanketed in bright spring wildflowers or exploding with vivid fall colors, the scenery at Cataloochee never disappoints.
Nearby Attractions
A number of the park's famous historical buildings, including the Steve Woody and Caldwell Houses, both built in the late 19th-century, are nearby the campground.
The Steve Woody House, built in 1880, is located along the Rough Fork trail, an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot at the end of Ranger Station Road.
27 monitored sitesRVs up to 34 ftNo hookups27 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
Getting there
From I-40 take Exit 20 in North Carolina. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow to the Park boundary. The road goes from pavement to gravel to pavement. Upon reaching the pavement the second time, turn left. Go 2.5 miles to an intersection and continue another .5 miles to the left.
3576 Ranger Station Rd, Waynesville, NC 37876828-497-9270
BackpackingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
02 · Field Photos · roll CS-233284 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233284 · Cataloochee Campground · Waynesville NC12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cataloochee Campground?
Online reservations for this facility, where offered, are made through Recreation.gov. Campsite Sniper has also detected 316 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper does not currently hold availability data for Cataloochee Campground, so there is nothing to date here. That is a gap in coverage — it does not mean the facility is full or closed. Check Recreation.gov for current dates.
How often do new openings appear at Cataloochee Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 316 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which sites at Cataloochee Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 34 ft.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Cataloochee Campground?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 6 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 3-11 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
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