There are ten developed campgrounds. Cades Cove in Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina are open year round. The other campgrounds are generally open from late March to early November. Back country Campsites. Back country camping is free but requires a permit.
Most campsites use self-registration at visitor centers or ranger stations.
Shelters and rationed sites require reservations. The Cherokee National Forest runs south of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park where the Tellico River System includes such popular trout streams as the Tellico River, North River and the Bald River. One of the most heavily stocked areas outside of the park is in the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina which provides 30 miles of trout fishing waters open to the public from the last Sunday in March to the last day in February. They say you're virtually guaranteed to land a trout, perhaps even a trophy up to 15 pounds.