Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Camping Reservations

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Parking for Backcountry Camping Trail Access

Virgin Falls State Natural Area is located 45 minutes North of Fall Creek Falls State Park. Parking for backcountry camping trail access is located at 2080 Scotts Gulf Road, Sparta, TN.

Choose your first and last camping nights or select the Calendar View button to view all campsites for two weeks starting 10/23.

Select the Map View button to show available sites for on interactive maps.

Check In Check Out

Choose a check in and check out date. Use arrow keys to navigate calendar days and Enter to select dates.

Camping at Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park offers a variety of backcountry campsites.

Select your camping dates to:

View available sites for any date range
See next available dates for individual sites
Learn about the features of specific campsites
Complete your reservation and receive confirmation.

Learn more general information about the Scott's Gulf Wilderness campground.

Park Contact Info:
3663 Country Club Rd
Sparta, TN 38583

Other Reservation Options:

Here you'll also find: Events & Programs

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Reserve Your Favorite Sites

See All Available Nights

You can view all available nights, up to 12 months ahead, of any campsite that is showing unavailable for your selected dates. Unavailable campsites are shown on the map as gray icons.

Show Available Dates

The description window of any unavailable campsite includes a large green button with "Show Available Dates". Use this button to reveal an interactive calendar that shows every available date for that campsite — allowing you to easily change your dates so you can reserve that favorite campsite.

This will also reset your selected dates so that you can select more than one campsite for the same dates.

If you need assistance making campsite reservations, please give us a call at 1-888-867-2757. We'll be happy to help you plan your next camping trip.

Park Donations

Donations help support trails, conservation and education at your Tennessee State Parks.

Credit Card Security Codes

Credit card security code location diagram showing the 3-digit code on the back and 4-digit code on the front of American Express cards

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Privacy Policy

Tennessee State Parks does not disclose or share your personal information without your express consent.

This is a secure reservation form.

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Camping Reservation Policies

Backcountry Camping Policies

Policies, rules, and regulations are established and enforced. (Violation of any park rules and regulations shall be a misdemeanor and punishable under general laws relating to misdemeanors by the authority of T.C.A. Section 11-1-108.)

Absolutely no hiking after dark.
Camp only in designated campgrounds. No Exceptions.
Quiet Hours in all Campgrounds are between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.
Pack In - Pack Out all trash. Trash burning is prohibited.
The gathering of firewood is limited to dead materials on the ground. Fires are permitted in established fire rings only. Do not move fire rings, burn trash, or leave a fire unattended.
Hike on designated trails only. No off-trail hiking, shortcuts, or "bushwhacking." All trails are marked with a white or blue blaze.

Important Information for Backcountry Campers

Trailhead Parking & Directions

Overnight parking for backpackers is available at the following trailheads:

Virgin Falls Trailhead – Main Trailhead: 2080 Scott's Gulf Road, Sparta, TN
Lost Creek Trailhead: 3990 White Cave Road, Sparta, TN

Please use the appropriate trailhead location when planning your trip. Do not use the park office in Dog Cove as your destination for backcountry access.

For questions or assistance, please contact the Visitor Center at (931) 319-7539.

Arrival

There is no designated check-in time for backcountry camping. Backpackers are encouraged to arrive and begin their hike as early as possible to allow adequate time to reach their campsite before dark.

Cell Phone Coverage

Cell phone coverage in Scott's Gulf can be spotty or non-existent. If friends or family members are expecting check-in calls or messages during your trip, please let them know in advance that cell service may be poor or unavailable in certain backcountry areas.

Departure

On the final day of your reservation, please have your campsite fully packed, cleaned, and vacated by 12:00 noon CST. Please follow Leave No Trace principles and ensure all trash and personal belongings are packed out.

Backcountry Permit & Vehicle Security

Please keep your reservation confirmation/backcountry permit with you rather than displaying it in your vehicle. For vehicle security, do not leave your permit or other materials visible that could indicate your vehicle will be unattended overnight.

Camping Reservation and Cancellation Policies

Nightly campsite fees are based on location, season, and site amenities. Fees are subject to state and local taxes and are subject to change. Advanced reservations are available prior to arrival, and may be made up to 1 year in advance. There is a non-refundable $5.00 Advanced Reservation Fee per campsite that provides for managing the reservation system at Tennessee State Parks.

Individuals requesting to rent overnight accommodations must be eighteen (18) years of age or older. A parent or an adult must accompany children or individuals under the age of eighteen years. Valid identification may be requested and/or required by park personnel for verification of age.

Discounts and coupons are not allowed on premium sites.
Only one discount or coupon can be applied per reserved site.
Each discounted site must be occupied by a discount eligible guest.
U.S. Active Military members can take advantage of a 25% to 50% discount on nightly camping rates. Current U.S. Military ID Card or leave papers are required upon check-in at the park. Active Military discounts are only available within 30 days of the reserved arrival date.
TN State Employees and retirees qualify for a 25% to 50% discount on camping rates. State-issued identification is required at check-in at the park. TN State Employee discounts are only available within 30 days of the reserved arrival date.
Reservations may be cancelled up to and including 2 days prior to the scheduled arrival date with a refund of all campground fees - minus the $5.00 advanced reservation fee.
Cancellations made 1 day prior to arrival date will forfeit the first night's campsite fees, taxes and the $5.00 advanced reservation fee, per campsite.
Cancellations made the same day as the scheduled arrival, for reservations of two or more days, will forfeit the first two nights rate, taxes and the $5.00 advanced reservation fee, per campsite. If only one night was reserved, cancelling on the scheduled arrival date will forfeit all fees and taxes, per campsite.
If this reservation is part of a contracted group, then the contract's cancellation policies supersede the above individual cancellation policies.
To cancel your reservation, please call Central Reservations at 888-TNPARKS (888-867-2757) or call the park directly during regular business hours or cancel online. Cancellations may not be made via voicemail or social media. The Park Manager has the discretion to adjust the cancellation procedures as deemed necessary.
Refunds to credit / debit cards can take up to 7 days.
Guests that do not occupy their reserved site by 12:00 noon the day following the first nights' reservation will forfeit all fees and the reserved campsite may become available for other guests. If you do not intend to occupy a reserved site on the first reserved night, contact the park so that we can hold the site for you, or assist you in making other arrangements.
If payment is made using a gift card, please retain this gift card in case you cancel your reservation. Any refunds must be made to the original gift card.

TDEC / TN State Parks reserves the right to cancel a reservation and/or contract anytime with 100% refund of all monies received for the reservation.

Supporting TN State Parks

Thank you for supporting your Tennessee State Parks. Your reservations and purchases provide critical funding for this park system. Want to learn how you can do even more to support the parks? Visit https://tnstateparks.com/donate to learn about volunteer and fundraising opportunities.

Firewood Policy

Only Certified Heat Treated Firewood is allowed to enter the state park. Please help us to protect Tennessee's state parks and forests. See http://www.protecttnforests.org for more information about invasive forest pests. You may also go to http://www.firewoodscout.org to find a vendor who sells Certified Heat Treated Firewood.

Tennessee Conservationist Magazine

Want to learn more about your Tennessee State Parks as well as native species, history, conservation, archaeology, and Tennessee culture? If so, we invite you to check out a sample of the Tennessee Conservationist Magazine, the official magazine of Tennessee State Parks! Our bi-monthly print and online publication features smart articles and stunning photography. In our pages, you'll discover insider tips on things to see and do, and find ways to connect with resources and activities in Tennessee State Parks and across our state. And if you like what you see, be sure to subscribe online to the Tennessee Conservationist Magazine, where you may opt for a print version or a digital version, or both!

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Parkwide Availability Calendar

Select Available Nights

To select nights for your camping reservation, click on an active check-in date for the desired campsite. Then select the last night of your stay. Your reservation will be highlighted and your check-out date is indicated on the next date. Most campsites require a minimum of a 2-night stay.

Use the Calendar or links to change the date range of the list.

Select Multiple Campsites

Using this view, you can select more than one campsite, as well as multiple check-in and check-out dates, on the same reservation. This allows you to assemble a longer reservation from more than one campsite - helpful during the busy season. You can also reserve multiple sites for your group to accommodate varying arrivals or departures.

Consecutive Nights Required

You may select any number of campsites and dates as long as your reservation is no longer than 14 nights and all dates are consecutive or overlap.

As an example, you can make multiple campsite reservations with varying check-in or check-out dates as long as all dates overlap or are consecutive.

Reserving campsites with separate date ranges, such as over two different weekends with unreserved dates in between, requires making separate reservations. You can complete one reservation and use the Make Another Reservation button in the confirmation stage to easily make additional reservations.

Rates & Descriptions

The nightly rate for each campsite is displayed by date and individual site. Note that rates are subject to change based on availability and season.

The quoted rate for each night does not include taxes or the reservation fee.

Information on each campsite is displayed by selecting the campsite name in the left column.

Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park

Multi-Site Camping Itinerary

How do I create a multi-site camping itinerary?

This park offers the ability to create a camping itinerary that spans multiple nights and different campsites — allowing campers to hike throughout the park and stay at a variety of sites, all in one reservation and incurring only one reservation fee.

To add the next date to your reservation; select the button to return to the site selector stage. Your arrival date of Saturday, October 24 will be set as your next Arrival date for this leg of your itinerary.

From the site selection stage, choose the campsite(s) for the next night of your itinerary. The number of campsites you may select for each leg is limited to the number of sites from previous leg.

You may repeat this process for up to a total of 14 nights per reservation. Once you have settled on your itinerary, simply complete the reservation process below. A confirmation will be emailed to you with details of each campsite and dates in your itinerary.