USA 250 Shirt →
Canebrake Horse Camp
Open

Open year-round. Most sites are reservable through Recreation.gov. Sites 9 and 22 are first-come, first-served only. Check-in is 4:00 PM, check-out is 2:00 PM.

Uwharrie 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…

Uwharrie 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.

Uwharrie 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

Canebrake Horse Camp lies in a quiet forest of pine, oak, and hickory near the shore of 5,000-acre Badin Lake in central North Carolina's Uwharrie National Forest. The facility is designed specifically for campers traveling with horses and offers both single and double campsites, all with electric hookups, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, lantern posts, tie posts, and tack tables. Parking spurs accommodate horse trailers, and up to two vehicles are permitted per site. Campers have access to flush toilets, hot showers, potable water spigots, a centrally-located dump station, and a horse washing station. The equestrian trail system is extensive, with approximately 40 miles of forested paths ranging from easy to difficult that can be accessed directly from the campground via the Home Trail. The surrounding recreation area also offers swimming, boating, and fishing on Badin Lake, plus 17 miles of OHV trails and opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and hunting. Alcohol and fireworks are prohibited. Pets must be kept on a leash. Off-highway vehicle use on designated trails is permitted April 1 through December 15 only. Prescribed burns occur throughout the year; contact the ranger district for updates.

Directions

From Troy, NC, take NC 109 north for approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Mullinix Road (NC 1154) and travel about 2 miles to a T intersection. Turn right onto FR 544 (McLeans Creek Road) and continue about one-quarter mile to the campground on the right.

Amenities

Water Yes
Fires Allowed Yes
Toilets Yes
Dump Station Yes
Wifi
Pets Allowed Yes
Showers Yes
Electric Hookups Yes
Water Hookups No
Sewer Hookups No
Camp Store
Price $54

Vehicle

Max RV Length
Max Trailer Length
Big Rig Friendly
Pull Through Sites No

Contact

Email uwharrie@usda.gov
Phone +1 (910) 576-6391

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon Yes
T-Mobile None

Availability

Photos

Canebrake Horse Camp
Enjoy camping and riding the trails directly from Canebrake Horse Camp.
Enjoy time with your friends, family and horses here.
Access to Home Trail directly from your campsite.
One of the bathhouses at Canebrake Horse Camp.
Campsites have electric hookups, picnic tables, tack tables, lantern hooks, grills and fire rings and horse tie out area.
Double Site # 19 is popular with horses and campers alike.

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