About Old Forge Recreation Area
Are you looking for a primitive tent camping experience? Come stay at this small campground located along the banks of Jennings Creek. Large walk-in tent sites are screened by native vegetation. In the early 1900’s, this area was the site of an iron forge. Iron ore was smelted and made into materials for the railroad operation that harvested timber in the area.
- Fees: Camping fee is $7 per site per night.
- Season: 5/1/2024 – 10/24/2024
- Managed by: USFS - Cherokee National Forest
- Where: 7 mi southeast of Tusculum, TN · 36.09017, -82.67948
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Dec–Feb.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Creek | ATV road | 1.3 mi | 4.8 mi |
| Anst - Appalachian Rd | Hiking | 2.6 mi | 159.7 mi |
| Fork Ridge | Hiking | 2.6 mi | 2.1 mi |
| Big Butt | ATV road | 2.8 mi | 1.1 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
Verizon 5G · AT&T 5G · T-Mobile 5G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way is clear overhead but fades toward town glow.
Class 4 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Propane: 9.3 mi
Nearest of each within 25 miles, straight-line.Camps nearby
- Horse Creek Recreation Area 1.8 mi
- Bald Mountains 4.9 mi
- Campsite · 5 mi E of Tusculum 8 mi
- Campsite · 5 mi NE of Tusculum 8.3 mi
- Lazy Llama Campground 8.6 mi
- Campsite · 7 mi SW of Banner Hill 9.1 mi