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A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

Houston Valley

Forest Service campground in Cherokee National Forest, Cocke County, Tennessee. About 1,800 feet. 8.8 miles from Parrottsville.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Cherokee National Forest
Elevation
About 1,800 ft As the Forest Service states
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Cocke County

Overview

Houston Valley Recreation Area (elevation 1,800 feet) is centrally located to both Paint Creek and Weaver Bend. It is located directly off Tennessee (TN) Scenic Highway 107.

Recreation

Equestrian trails and hiking trails are located close to the recreation area. An open grass area is available for games.

Facilities

Houston Valley Recreation Area has eight picnic sites and two group picnic areas in addition to the pavilion. A green-space restroom and trash cans are located a short distance from the pavilion. The pavilion itself contains three large picnic tables and is located adjacent to two single tables with grills.

Natural Features

The recreation area is nestled along the edge of a hardwood forest. Fall colors are spectacular along this stretch of TN Scenic Highway 107.

Nearby Attractions

Meadow Creek, a Fire Tower that has recently been renovated as a lookout platform, is a short drive or hike away. Burnette Gap Trailhead is a short distance away. Bubbling Springs Rifle Range is located off TN Scenic Highway 107. Another scenic drive along Brush Creek Road (#209) leads to Weaver Bend and Allen Branch Pond. An accessible .2 mile trail rings Allen Branch Pond and Weaver Bend Road (#209C) parallels the French Broad River.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • day use area
  • hiking
  • horseback riding
  • lookout tower
  • mountain biking
  • picnicking
  • scenic drive
  • star gazing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Houston Valley

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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