Originally Posted by
HooKooDooKu
Big Creek is a GSMNP front country camp ground. These are designed with "car" campers in mind. They were NOT designed with the back-packer in mind, much less a back packer with no tent.
So you will have several concerns to worry about.
1. Reservations
Some (maybe all) GSMNP front country camp grounds have a 'Group Camp' area. These (I believe) are only available by reservation, and would obviously not be appropriate for an individual.
But the rest of the camp sites are a mixed bag of what is available by reservation and what is available on a first-come basis.
* Some camp grounds have camp site that are only available by reservations.
* Some camp grounds have camp sites only on a first-come basis.
* Some camp grounds have a mix (some sites are by reservation, some are first-come)
* What is available by reservation and what is available on a first-come might change during the year
In the case of Big Creek, there are ONLY 12 sites, and all of them are on a first-come basis.
2. Hammocks
You might have to contact GSMNP info and ask if you can camp in a hammock at front country camp sites.
The reason I say this is because back country rules treat hammocks the same as tents, and front country rules state that all tents must be pitched on the tent pad.
I don't know of any front country rules that prohibit campers setting up hammocks around their camp site, but again, because these camp sites are designed with "car campers" in mind, trees might not be available within your selected "camp site" to hang a hammock.
3. Food Storage.
GSMNP requires that food always be properly stored to protect bears from your food. Unlike places such as Yosemite NP, bears have learned to break into cars in their search for food (yet) and therefore the proper food storage at front county campgrounds is in your vehicle.
Some campsites do have a few spots designated for motor cycles. These campsites include bear lockers to place your food in. But off hand, Cosby is the only camp ground in GSMNP I know of that has motor cycle campsites.
Over all, you're going to be better off camping at Mt. Sterling:
1. Bear activity will likely diminish by September.
2. If you're going on a weekend, Mt. Sterling is very popular (so get your reservations early). So you're unlikely to be at the campground alone.
You other option would be to come off the BMT on Swallow Fork Trail and camp at #37. It too is a very popular campground which is currently closed due to bear activity. But again, that's likely to change come September.