Great Smoky Mountains National Park Horses and Riding Travel Guide

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Horses and Riding Travel Guide

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Grazing horses in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Horses grazing in fields at Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (James Randklev/Photographer's Choice/Getty)
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Horses and Riding Travel Tips

By Johnny Molloy

  • This national park literally has hundreds of miles of trails for equestrians, including the only sections of the Appalachian Trail open to horseback riders. Also, five auto-accessible horse camps make riding the Smokies even easier. More than 40 backcountry campsites also welcome equestrians.
  • Leave Anthony Creek Horse Camp, and see the Smokies from bottom to top. Starting in Cades Cove, climb along a deeply forested, crashing Anthony Creek and ultimately intersect with the main crest of the Smokies and the famed Appalachian Trail. Once on the Appalachian Trail, outstanding views lie before you at Spence Field and Little Bald. Return to Cades Cove via Russell Field Trail with its section of old growth trees.
  • Take the Big Creek Trail up a gorgeous valley to Walnut Bottoms, then ascend to Low Gap and the Appalachian Trail. Take the Appalachian Trail past Mount Cammerer for great views, then descend to Davenport Gap, completing a 14-mile loop.
  • From Cataloochee Horse Camp, make a 16-mile circuit. Head up Pretty Hollow Trail to enter the spruce-fir highlands. Keep climbing to reach 5,800-foot Mount Sterling with its 360-degree views from a restored fire tower. Descend, enjoying old pioneer home sites on the Long Bunk and Little Cataloochee trails.
  • Round Bottom Horse Camp is the most remote of them all. From here, you can climb up to Balsam Mountain, enjoying the high country for miles while circling past Tricorner Knob then returning via Hughes Ridge. This is a long trek, around 25 miles, so consider one of the four backcountry campsites you will be passing as an overnight option.
  • Explore the greater Smokemont area from Tow String Horse Camp. Travel up Bradley Fork and make a loop using the Chasteen Creek Trail, or take the Newton Bald Trail into the upper elevations, and head over to Deep Creek and its all-encompassing beauty.

Horseback Riding Overview: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

About 550 miles of the park's hiking trails are open to horses. There are five horse camps: Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Roundbottom, and Towstring. Reservations and additional information on fees are available through the park information office. Read More

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2 Questions | 2 Answers
  • Where to go to play in snow? I want to take my children to the smoky mountains, just to play in snow! We live down south and we don't get any snow. We don't want to ski, just enjoy the cold and snow. Any ideas?
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question
  • IVE NEVER BEEN THERE? what are the names of the campgrounds that has vac. the9th through the approx. the13th? we want to come from the smokies and camp there(Desota state) on the way home, we are from boaz.We have camped there before and it is beautiful, with the trees and falls around.
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question

Hotels

LeConte Lodge

250 Apple Valley Road
Sevierville, TN 37862 Map

Distance: 28.3 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
3.0

Abrams Creek Campground

Happy Valley
Maryville, TN Map

Distance: 31.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Prospect Hill Inn

274 S. Main St.
Waynesville, NC Map

Distance: 26.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
All Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hotels »
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Attractions

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

expert favorite attraction
Nantahala National Forest
c/o Cheoah Ranger District, Route 1, Box 16A, Massey Branch Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771

Distance: 21.8 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a 3800-acre virgin forest that is part of the 17,000-acre Joyce... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
4_0

Fontana Lake

expert favorite attraction


Distance: 11.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Fontana Lake, bordering the south side of Smoky Mountains National Park, is the ideal venue for... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Trout Streams

expert favorite attraction


Distance: 20.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Literally hundreds of miles of trout streams course through the Smoky Mountains, offering a... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
All Great Smoky Mountains National Park Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Distance (mi.)
Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 135.4 map
Charlotte Douglas Airport 142.7 map
Nashville Metropolitan Airport 187.9 map

Other Smaller Airports near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Distance (mi.)
Knoxville Mc Ghee Tyson Airport 39.9 map
Asheville Regional/Hendersonville Airport 51.5 map
Greer Greenville/Spartanburg Airport 72.4 map

Flight Deals to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Originating From
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Atlanta (ATL) $147
Memphis (MEM) to Atlanta (ATL) $151
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Atlanta (ATL) $155
Kansas City (MKC) to Atlanta (ATL) $156
New Orleans (MSY) to Atlanta (ATL) $156

Feature Articles

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