just an update. got home this afternoon from a 4-day adventure up there (I go several times per year to this area), and the roads are in terrible condition. A nice forest service worker lady told me that the earliest she'd heard was 2025 for major road maintenance. The Loop road around the mountain is washed out down to bedrock in a lot of places, and half-soccer-ball sized rocks that are very tough to ride over. I did the loop on an adventure motorcycle last fall and it took forever due to road condition. Keep this in mind if you are planning on going before 2025. This video is still the most relevant I've seen in regards to the sites and the roads leading into this area. Take Gimpy's advice and come in from 360-Citico Rd on the North end if you have anything over 30 feet.
I love lil campsite 6... or maybe its 7 now that I look at this map. Pull off to the opposite side of the creek and has 2 trails. 1 goes all the way up the Mtn and the other starts but goes down by the small creek feeding off the bigger creek. Beautiful
Thank you again. I just watched this video again two more times. I have the real itch to get my old fart ass out and do some camping. Due to lung cancer a few years ago and medical bills I had to sell my pickup truck and fiberglass camper that I used to pull back in to Citico Creek. I've downsized a hell of a lot to a small Chevy Spark that I took the back seats totally out but I have room for a really nice Kodiak 9 by 8 tent all my camping gear cots excetera plus my little dogs can ride in the front seat. I'll probably head down this week sometime I celebrate my 72 birthday on April 17th. I am so tired of being indoors. I have been vaccinated for this virus and now I'm ready to get out again. I do live on a little farm by Fall Creek Falls and enjoy hiking there but I love Citico Creek area. I love your video it is the most informative one for that area I have ever seen. Plus you seem like a really neat guy I enjoyed the information. So if you're back there and see a little tan colored Chevy Spark with an old fart with a white beard and a couple of little dogs please stop and say hello. You guys be safe and have a wonderful fun spring and summer ahead.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL location, but you made me realize how important it is to scout places like this out BEFORE pulling our camper with us! The creeks and rocks are so gorgeous! Very informative video, too!
I have camped on 1, 4, 5 and 6. in 2016 and 2017. All are good spots. I also camped several times At spring city, tenneessee. I enjoyed the video from the island of Leyte in the Philippines.
Love to see boondocking spots! Sure looks beautiful back there. Love that you give detailed info about the road in. Great video - you give all the info needed and then some! 😃👍
Long time Subber here. Hey been searching some places to camp in Tenn. And just added this spot on the to do list. Hoping our 41ft 5th wheel will make in there....lol looking at some of your others in Tenn also. Thanks for the video discoveries to camp at.
If you come in from the end at Vonore it’s not horrible but there were some low hanging branches when we were there. You can always unhook at the first campsite area then explore with the truck to see if you want to go for it
Beautiful location! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!! Many thanks also and much appreciation for your invitation to join the group! Best wishes for safety and health!
Well I’m glad my ever growing internet empire was thrown in your face! Lol. I also put out a video a few weeks ago on the North River campsites in Tellico 😉
FYI just checked out site 14 on 8-27-22 and it has large rocked places by the far edge of the bridge. USFS posted closed for the next two years for camping. Just FYI!
Wow! This is the best review of that area that I've seen anyone produce. I've camped back in there a couple of times. I'm hoping to do some winter camping a little later on in my Kodiak tent. I'm getting bored as hell staying home by myself. Just me and my dog. I know it'll be cold but I do have a little propane heater that I can stay warm enough. I love that area thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for the positive feedback. I tried to make useful information out of it. I camp all year long, glamper, tent, hammock - I don’t care. As long as you have proper equipment it’s all good!
I hear East Tennessee calling! Our little Transit, lovingly called Big Tow :), will fit perfectly back there. We are looking to purchase a small generator next spring. That will allow us to spend more time dry camping. This place looks beautiful.
Unfortunately there are LOTS of idiots amongst us. Looks like a fantastic place to spend some time. Thanks for sharing!!! 👍 The joys of having a 5th wheel. My tonneau cover rails has kissed the underside of rig a time or two. 😎 I will put this in our book for places to camp in Tennessee!!!
Actually when I replied to this, I thought it was a comment on my new video in Vogel State Park. I'm currently working on a video about the North River sites in Tellico as well. It is a tad more accessible, but very curvy with absolutely no shoulder so you still have to be on your game when going down it with a large rig.
Thanks for sharing, great info. Perhaps I missed it somewhere but the sites are first come first serve, what are the stay limits and can you run a generator? We’re always looking for off the beaten path places to explore. Thanks again. Happy and safe travels.
They are first come/ first serve. These appear to be open year around. I never actually saw any information about max stays... but I would assume it’s 14 days. There is no issue with generators here. There is also another area just down the road called North River... it’s on the same road as bald river falls. The only place I know of that can be reserved ahead of time is an area there called Mcnabb group camp. It’s like $30/night with no hookups but I have a friend that absolutely loves it there. The road is narrow and curvy there as well. Information on these areas is limited but can be found here www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=35032&actid=34
This is my playlist of cheap/ free campgrounds... be sure to check out Rhea Springs and Jackson Island as well ru-vid.com/group/PLcETurVQDn8VFHwH0rRvo5uzf0c9f6DYC
@@GimpyCamper have you been to backside of Citico its much easier get to with camper? You can actually see part of it from 129 getting down the steep grade into the campsite would be difficult but the road is much better than citico rd.
The new COVID campers have trashed the area so bad. Leave No trace people! If your new to camping...please encourage others to NOT leave trash....last year was horrible. I wish the roads were in much worse shape to keep those types out....
As a resident of Monroe County that consist of both locations, I have to make some corrections. CITICO has no town but has what is called Citico Creek is located in Citico Mountains Hwy 411 & 360E out of Vonore. Tellico Plains is a small town next to the Tellico River flowing out of Tellico Mountains Hwy 68 & 165. Both are in the Cherokee National Forest and both areas go all the way east to the TN/NC line.
