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Open

Open year-round. First-come, first-served; no reservations. No potable water available; bring your own water supply.

Nantahala National Forest

Old Fort Picnic Area -- closed Aug. 28-30, 2026

The Old Fort Picnic Area will be closed starting today through the weekend for paving. The area will reopen for parking Monday, August 31. The parking lot, which was damaged during Hurricane Helene, is being repaved as part of a larger project to restore and improve the picnic area. Due to the…

Nantahala National Forest

Commissary Ridge Dispersed Camping Area Temporarily Closed

Due to an increase in bear activity in the dispersed camping area at Commissary Ridge on the Pisgah National Forest near Mt. Mitchell State Park the camping area will be temporarily closed. This measure is to help provide visitor safety and minimize bear encounters.

Nantahala National Forest

Croatan Ranger District Office Relocation

Beginning Friday, August 7, 2026, the current Croatan Ranger District Office building will permanently close as North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) begins its US 70 widening project. Until construction of the new Croatan Ranger District is complete, visitor services will operate…

About

Bristol Fields Horse Camp is a rustic equestrian campground situated along Fires Creek within the Fires Creek Backcountry Area of the Nantahala National Forest. The campground features 6 sites arranged in an open field setting where campers typically use self-contained horse trailers or RVs. Four single sites are available at $8 per night and two double sites at $16 per night. Horse tethering posts are provided at the sites. The campground offers a double vault toilet but no potable water, so campers must bring their own water supply. The primitive nature of the camp makes it well-suited for experienced horse campers comfortable with minimal amenities. The location serves as a base camp for exploring 18 horse trails totaling approximately 59 miles in the surrounding Fires Creek watershed. The area includes the Fires Creek Rim Trail and connects to the broader Nantahala Mountains trail network, offering a range of terrain from the valley floor to ridgeline elevations above 4,000 feet.

Directions

From Hayesville: Take Tusquitee Street (SR 1300) approximately 4.4 miles. Turn right on SR 1344 and continue about 0.7 miles until the road becomes FR 340 (gravel). Continue on FR 340 for 5 miles to the campground.

Amenities

Water No
Fires Allowed
Toilets Yes
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed
Showers No
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $8 - $16

Vehicle

Max RV Length
Max Trailer Length
Big Rig Friendly
Pull Through Sites

Contact

Email sm.fs.tusquiteerd@usda.gov
Phone +1 (828) 837-5152

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

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