Rock Creek Recreation Area — Attraction in Tennessee

This was probably a great campground in it's post-CCC heyday. Unfortunately, the campground has been abused and underfunded so long that it just has a very "down-on-it's-luck" feel. Pros: Beautiful setting; Large, relatively private sites; Close proximity to support services in the town of Erwin; Near some beautiful recreation sites; Nice people in Erwin. Cons: Lots of downed laurel and rhododendron all over the area (looks intentional, like for fire prevention or stream access) is an unsightly fire hazard and needs to be removed; Cigarette butts and other bits of trash are everywhere a human might set foot; Bath houses are constantly flooded, maybe because the showers appear to back up most of the time; Chronic lack of funding has probably led to backlog of needed maintenance and sewer overhaul and/or showers are not being cleaned adequately; Visitors seem to have no respect for themselves or others: (loud music heard far from source campsites, far more than 2 cars per campsite, stuffing personal trash in bathroom garbage cans rather than disposing of it in dumpsters, barking dogs throughout the campground, cigarette butts thrown down without any thought to how long they will remain in the campground or the pollution they will cause when they wash into the stream). Observations: I know everyone loves their pets, just as I did when I had my own. However, some dogs do not like it when other dogs walk by their campsite. This causes a lot of commotion from day to night. If your dog generally does not like others, or is a constant barker, please consider leaving him at home with a friend or family member. Most of us come to the woods for peace and quiet, but seldom get...

Stayed one night in walk in site #36 with a tent. They are having water issues right now so main bath house was closed at the swimming area. Nice bike path. 10pm quiet hour was not enforced. Very nice campground though. After I put up my tent I noticed a dozen bugs on my tent that look very much like ticks. I learned later that they are not ticks. They are weevils. So don’t panic! They are harmless. There is a beautiful 2 mile hike to Rock Creek Falls. The trail head starts right at the walk-in tent sites. The falls are beautiful, pack a lunch and picnic while at the base of the falls. I’m 60 and in good shape. No problem. Lots of rocks that twist your ankle so wear above ankle hiking shoes. Take water, hat, walking stick, bear spray and nuts for snacks. Moderate hike especially the last half mile. My cell phone worked at site #36. Most camp sites do not have coverage. Once you start the hike there is no cell service the rest of the way. You will cross rock creek 4 times on the hike. I had no problem walking across rocks and not getting wet at all. I’ve heard of rattle snacks in the area but saw none. Plan one hour going up and 45 minutes going back down. I spent 30 minutes admiring the falls and surroundings. Bring a pen to fill out the camp site registration form. It’s self service! You pay with cash or check(US bank only) and drop into a box. Bring drinking water! Town of Erwin 3 miles away. Everything...

♡♡♡♡♡ this parK... so peacefuL and weLL kepT up.. me and mY kids camp here all summer... "the pooL" is a concrete pond that has fresh mtn. WaTer coming into it... iT's coLd.. loL.. buT mY kids LoVe it... has LiKe a beach area where you can pay I'm sun... has shower houses all thru the park... camp siTes are good size... we tent camp and the spoTs are greaT.. fLaT wiTh LiKe a shed type thing . Where you can store stuff and has roof.. lantern hanger... fire piT/grill... there's hiking traiLs... theres a faLLs you can hiKe too.. it's longer than what TraiL says takes bout hr /hr and half to hike it .. depends on how many in your group.. like kids... cause it's all up hill and creek crossings... buT it's so worTh it once ya geT there... we finally made it up there after 3 attempts... loL... but luv this lol park... has a...