Tsali Recreation Area
Tsali Recreation Area: Open year round. Tsali Campground: Open April 15 - October 31. Enjoy mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, motorized boating, kayaking or camping at Tsali Recreation Area, all located within steps of Fontana Lake. Follow the Trail. The Tsali (pronounced “SAH-lee”) Recreation Area’s four-loop trail system has become a popular destination for mountain bikers and horseback riders. It is best known as a challenging mountain bike course. The Right Loop, rated moderately difficult, offers 13.9 miles of single track, with shorter 4- and 8-mile loops possible.
More like this: first-come in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $20 fee per night per site. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Fees | $20 fee per night per site. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 35.3946° N, 83.5921° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx - Buck Branch
35 mi from the campground · 652 acres
- PrescribedRx Bird Dog
44 mi from the campground · 34 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | NOC Adventure Center ↗ | 4.3 mi |
| Dump station | Cades Cove New Dump Station ↗ | 17.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Rick's RV Center ↗ | 34.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 0.8 miLemmons Branch Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 14.1 miMassey Branch Fishing Pier ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 0.8 miDave Thompson Loop ↗6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miMouse Branch Loop ↗6.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miTsali Right Loop ↗10.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miTsali Left Loop ↗9.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miTsali Right Loop 1st Connector0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miTsali Right Loop 2nd Connector0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Swain County CourthouseBuilding · Bryson City · 8.6 mi
- Frye-Randolph House and Fryemont InnBuilding · Bryson City · 9.1 mi
- Charles Noden George HouseBuilding · Topton · 9.9 mi
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Tsali Recreation Area?
No. Tsali Recreation Area is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Tsali Recreation Area?
$20 fee per night per site.
Source: Forest Service
Is Tsali Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Tsali Recreation Area have?
42 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Tsali Recreation Area?
Tsali Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Tsali Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Deep Creek Campground (10 mi), Deep Creek Group Camp (10 mi), and Appletree Group Campground (12.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby