Closed

The campground is permanently closed and no overnight camping is available. The Hanging Dog Recreation Area remains open for day use only, offering picnic facilities, hiking and biking trails, and lake access.

Nantahala National Forest

Closures in anticipation of Hurricane Isaias

Out of an abundance of caution, the following sites on the Pisgah National Forest are closing in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Isaias: Pisgah Visitor CenterCradle of Forestry Heritage Site and Discovery CenterBlack Mountain Campground (including NFSR 472 South Toe Road from the…

Nantahala National Forest

Siddie Fields Day Use Area closed for improvements

The Siddie Fields Day Use Area on the Croatan National Forest closed this week as we kick off a wide-ranging project to repair storm damage on sites along the Neuse River, improve access and infrastructure, and strengthen resiliency to withstand future hazardous weather events.Members of the public…

Nantahala National Forest

Closure: Bradley Creek Trail (TR351) and a section of Yellow Gap Road ( FS Road 1206)

Bradley Creek Trail (TR351) and a section of Yellow Gap Road ( FS Road 1206) near milepost 6.7 from Highway 276, are temporarily closed to all traffic, including hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.Crews are repairing damage from a landslide that occurred during a previous weather event and was…

About

Hanging Dog Campground was a U.S. Forest Service campground located on the scenic shores of Hiwassee Lake in the Tusquitee Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest. Situated approximately 5 miles north of Murphy, North Carolina, the campground offered lakeside camping in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The campground closed in 2014 due to declining visitor use and increasing management costs. The Forest Service partnered with Cherokee County to reopen it on a trial basis in 2016 and 2017, but occupancy rates dropped to just 11 percent with fee revenue falling far short of operating costs. Facing over $160,000 in deferred maintenance needs, the Forest Service made the decision to permanently close the campground in 2018. While overnight camping is no longer available, the Hanging Dog Recreation Area remains open for day use. Visitors can still enjoy picnic tables with lake views, a group pavilion, an accessible fishing pier, two 1-mile hiking trails (Mingus Trail and Ramsey Bluff Trail), 8 miles of mountain biking trails, and seasonal boat launch access to Hiwassee Lake.

Directions

From Murphy, NC, travel approximately 5 miles north on SR 1326 (Joe Brown Highway) to the Hanging Dog Recreation Area on Hiwassee Lake.

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

Vehicle

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

Contact

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

Cell Service

AT&T Yes
Verizon Yes
T-Mobile None

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