Backcountry Camp 26

Made a three day hike (Jakes Creek AT Loop) with the girlfriend, this was our third campsite. This one was the most beautiful, covered with big logs, even pads for tents and plenty of bear cables. If you go East enough there's a log nearby you can use as a field toilet - very convenient ;) The only con is that the nearby creek is dry, so you should plan ahead your water supply if you want to camp here.

Campsite is beautiful with many hemlocks and level tent sites. Nice places to cook with large downed trees to sit on. The water supply is fairly rainfall dependent, so watch the weather carefully. You will need to have some significant rainfall the preceding two weeks before your visit to anticipate an adequate flow 100 feet below the campsite down the east slope.

First, the good. There are plenty of large logs for sitting, the standard bear cables and fire rings, and a pretty good spot for seeing wildlife. Unfortunately, when we were there, the water source was completely dry and, coming from the south on Miry Ridge trail, the last water source is almost 6 miles away at Siler's Bald, so we arrived after a very long day with very little water. If you're coming from Lynn Camp Prong or Jake's Creek, you won't experience this problem, but plan a fill up stop as late as possible. If you're planning to come the way we did, skip this camp entirely and try to make it to 27, which has great water access or stop at Siler's Bald. All of the tent sites were fine, but quite close together. There were 6 other tents the night we stayed and it felt like a front co

Not awesome, but very adequate for a campsite in the Smokies. Probably 6 flat tent spots, 3 bear cables (I think) and a handful of fire rings. There was water during a very wet February in '02. No white noise from a creek or anything. I heard barred owls all night and coyotes at dusk. Can't say there's any good views really close, but if you like quiet, this has it.

The site itself is pretty, with large trees interspersed and several tent pads. However, in late summer the water source is barely a trickle, taking nearly 45 min to fill 5L. Try to refill water at a more reliable source if possible!