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Rattler Ford Campground

Open

Open for the 2026 season from April 15 through October 31. Reservations required through Recreation.gov. Check-in at 2:00 p.m., check-out at 12:00 p.m. Quiet hours 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

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

Rattler Ford Group Campground occupies a forested setting along swift-moving Santeetlah Creek in western North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest. The campground offers four group tent sites, each capable of hosting up to 25 guests. Every site includes multiple picnic tables, a campfire pit, an oversized grill, and lantern posts. Centralized facilities include flush toilets, hot showers, drinking water from a hand pump, horseshoe pits, and a volleyball court. The location is exceptional for those seeking wilderness immersion without sacrificing basic comforts. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, featuring nearly 6,000 acres of old-growth forest with tulip poplars over 400 years old, lies just a quarter mile away. The adjacent Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness encompasses nearly 17,000 acres of backcountry. Santeetlah Creek offers quality fly fishing for native trout, and Lake Santeetlah provides additional water recreation nearby. This is a tent-only campground with no RV hookups. Each site allows a maximum of 3 vehicles up to 30 feet in length. Reservations are required through Recreation.gov. Quiet hours are enforced from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Directions

From Robbinsville, take Highway 129 north to 143 West/Massey Branch Road. Pass the Cheoah Ranger District office and continue to the stop sign. Turn right and drive approximately 7.3 miles, bearing right at the junction of Santeetlah Gap and the Cherohala Skyway. Continue 1.5 miles to the campground entrance on the left.

Amenities

Water Yes
Fires Allowed Yes
Toilets Yes
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed
Showers Yes
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $75

Vehicle

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

Contact

Phone +1 (828) 479-6431

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

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