Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp
This is a primitive camping area where people camp in self contained RV/Horse Trailers. It is located in an open field with tie outs for the horses. No amenities available. Campers must take their trash with them or take it to the trash dumpster in Canebrake Horse Camp.
More like this: first-come in North Carolina · free in North Carolina · tent only in North Carolina
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fees. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year Round |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Booking | No reservations needed. |
| Fees | No fees. |
| Rules | Alcohol is Prohibited. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 35.4426° N, 80.0407° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | West Trades Unlimited ↗ | 15.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bass Pro Shops ↗ | 38.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Wash Creek Horse Camp, NC from Max O.
Worth a stop
- 1.9 miCove Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 1.9 miFlintlock Valley Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miHome Trail Extension0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miBadin Horse Camp Connector0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miHome Trail2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miIndian Trail1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miJosh Trail1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miCanebrake Loop0.4 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
Birkhead Mountains Wilderness begins about 11.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.5 miBirkhead Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,065 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
On the National Register nearby
- Narrows Dam and Power Plant ComplexHistoric district · Badin · 3.4 mi
- Lane's Chapel Methodist Church and CemeteryBuilding · New London (Eldorado Township) · 4.6 mi
- Badin Historic DistrictHistoric district · Badin · 4.9 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 Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp?
No. Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp is first-come, first-served. No reservations needed. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp?
Nothing. Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp is listed as free. No fees.
Source: Forest Service
Is Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Year Round.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp?
Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Badin Horse Camp or Old Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Canebrake Horse Camp (0.5 mi), Uwharrie Hunt Camp (1.2 mi, first-come), and Arrowhead Campground (1.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby