Sweeping mountain views below a mostly clear, blue sky with trees in the foreground. — NPS Photo

Cataloochee is home to one of the park's two main elk herds and preserves rich cultural history nestled in a valley surrounded by rising mountains. The nearby Balsam Mountain area offers cooler temperatures with its high elevation and has beautiful views that overlook the valleys. The area includes a picnic area, two wooded campgrounds, scenic drives, and access to multiple trails.

Places to Go in Cataloochee & Balsam Mountain Area

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Beech Grove School
A historic two-room schoolhouse built in 1901.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Heintooga Picnic Area
A 41-site daytime recreational area with tables, charcoal grills, and nearby trails at high elevation.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Caldwell Place
A historic barn, springhouse, and two-story framehouse completed by Hiram Caldwell in 1906.

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Things to Do in Cataloochee and Balsam Mountain

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Visitor Center & Campground Information

The closest NPS visitor center to Cataloochee & Balsam Mountain is Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

Near Cherokee, North Carolina, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is an ideal starting point as you enter the park's South District. Explore cultural history exhibits. Enjoy ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Peruse the park bookstore and shop. Find public restrooms and drink vending machines.

The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn crib and others.

Every Day:9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Hours vary seasonally.

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Winter Hours

December 1–February 28

Every Day:9:00 AM–4:30 PM

Hours vary in December, January, and February.

Holidays

2025–2026

Holiday	Date	Hours
New Year's Day	January 1, 2026	9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.	January 19, 2026	9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Washington's Birthday	February 16, 2026	9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Christmas Day	December 25, 2025	Closed

Grass and yellow flowers in front of a striking building with many windows, a porch, and a chimney.

A topographic map display in a room with large windows and a TV display plus park information

A porch railing overlooking a grassy field with mountains and trees in the distance

Shelves and displays of merchandise like stuffed animals, books, postcards, clothes, and more.

A covered porch area with a chimney, benches, and light fixtures on the ceiling.

The front of a building with many windows divided by brown frames beside gray brick siding.

Information panels about protecting park resources. Wooden and stone support beams in view.

Oconaluftee Visitor Center and administrative building adjacent to parking lot.

Grass and yellow flowers in front of a striking building with many windows, a porch, and a chimney. — The Oconaluftee Visitor Center offers a shady porch for warm days.
NPS Photo

A topographic map display in a room with large windows and a TV display plus park information — The Oconaluftee Visitor Center's LEED-certified infrastructure provides wonderful natural light with its large windows.
NPS Photo

A porch railing overlooking a grassy field with mountains and trees in the distance — The Oconaluftee Visitor Center porch can be a great spot to watch elk from a safe distance.
NPS Photo

Shelves and displays of merchandise like stuffed animals, books, postcards, clothes, and more. — Find the perfect souvenir at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center's park bookstore.
NPS Photo

A covered porch area with a chimney, benches, and light fixtures on the ceiling. — The porch at Oconaluftee Visitor Center offers a shaded resting spot for all.
NPS Photo

The front of a building with many windows divided by brown frames beside gray brick siding. — Large windows greet visitors to Oconaluftee Visitor Center
NPS Photo

Information panels about protecting park resources. Wooden and stone support beams in view. — The park visitor centers offer opportunities for learning about the park and ways to protect it.
NPS Photo

Oconaluftee Visitor Center and administrative building adjacent to parking lot. — Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC
NPS Photo

Closed

Cataloochee Campground

Cell Phone Reception: No
Internet Connectivity: No
Trash/Recycling Collection: Yes, Seasonal
Food Storage Lockers: Yes, Seasonal
Camp Store: No
Ice for Sale: No
Firewood for Sale: No
Staff On Site: Yes, Seasonal
Amphitheater: No
Laundry: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water: Potable Water - Seasonal

Cataloochee Campground is located in the historic Cataloochee Valley surrounded by mountain ranges and pristine streams. With an elevation of 2,610 feet (796 m), it is characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. It offers traditional camping with the convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. No hookups or showers are available in the campground.

TOTAL SITES: 27

Electric Hookups: 0

RV Only: 0

Tent Only: 0

Walk to/Boat to: 0

Group: 3

Horse: 7

Other: 0

View Details

Closed

Balsam Mountain Campground

Cell Phone Reception: No
Internet Connectivity: No
Trash/Recycling Collection: Yes, Seasonal
Food Storage Lockers: No
Camp Store: No
Ice for Sale: No
Firewood for Sale: Yes, Seasonal
Staff On Site: Yes, Seasonal
Amphitheater: Yes, Seasonal
Laundry: No
Dump Station: No
Potable Water: Potable Water - Seasonal

Balsam Mountain Campground is surrounded by mountain ranges and streams. With an elevation of 5,310 feet (1,618 m), summer daytime temperatures rarely exceed 70°F (~21°C) and lows may dip to 50°F (10°C). RV and tent sites plus flush toilets and drinking water are available. No hookups or showers are available at the campground and the restrooms do not have lights.

TOTAL SITES: 43

Electric Hookups: 0

RV Only: 0

Tent Only: 19

Walk to/Boat to: 0

Group: 0

Horse: 0

Other: 0

View Details

Getting to Cataloochee

The entrance road to Cataloochee Valley is a winding, gravel road that has some steep drop offs with no guard rails. The road is narrow, so drivers may be required to stop or back up their vehicles to allow oncoming motorists to pass. Horse trailer traffic may be encountered on the road. Please use caution when driving on this road.

The most direct route into the valley is to take Cove Creek Road. To get to the valley from interstate I-40, exit at North Carolina exit #20 and travel 0.2 miles on route 276. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow the signs 11 miles into the Cataloochee Valley. To get there from Oconaluftee or Cherokee, take the Blue Ridge Parkway to Highway 19. Follow 19 (toward Asheville) through Maggie Valley. Turn left onto Highway 276 N. Just before the entrance ramp to I-40 (but past gas station), turn left and follow the signs 11 more miles to Cataloochee. Using the Cove Creek Road route, motorists will be traveling on a gravel road for approximately 15 minutes.

A more scenic route (not recommended for RVs) is to take a long winding road, highway Route 32, from Cosby, TN to the Tennessee-North Carolina state border, where the road becomes gravel.

Alerts In Effect

Park Closures

Cosby Entrance Road closed for construction

Seasonal closures in effect for some park roads

Cataloochee & Balsam Mountain Area

Places to Go in Cataloochee & Balsam Mountain Area

Beech Grove School

Heintooga Picnic Area

Caldwell Place

Things to Do in Cataloochee and Balsam Mountain