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Winesprings Horse Camp

Open

Open year-round. The camp is gated with combination lock access provided upon reservation. No potable water or restrooms available; campers must bring water and pack out all trash. Fire restrictions beginning April 15, 2026 prohibit campfires outside developed recreation sites, but campfires remain permitted in the provided fire rings at this campground.

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

Wine Spring Horse Camp is a primitive equestrian camping area in the Nantahala National Forest, located approximately 15 miles west of Franklin, North Carolina. The gated facility features 6 designated campsites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and tethering area for horses. Campers receive a combination to access the locked gate. The camp serves as a basecamp for the Wine Spring Trail System, which offers 15 miles of designated horse trails. Two primary loops—Wine Spring Trail #379A and Rocky Bald Trail #379B—each span 7.5 miles and cross Goat Bald at 4,800 feet elevation, providing scenic views toward the Great Smoky Mountains and Chilhowee Mountains in Tennessee. This is a pack-in, pack-out facility with no restrooms or potable water. Horses must not be tethered to trees or in any manner that damages bark. Reservations are made through the Nantahala Ranger District office rather than Recreation.gov.

Directions

From US 19, turn east on Wayah Road (SR 1310) at the Nantahala River Launch Site. Continue approximately 12 miles on Wayah Road. The camp is located off Forest Service Road 711.

Amenities

Water No
Fires Allowed Yes
Toilets No
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed
Showers No
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $10

Vehicle

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

Contact

Email sm.fs.nantahalard@usda.gov
Phone +1 (828) 524-6441

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

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