Bringing Your Own Horse-Horseback Riding Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers approximately 550 miles of hiking trails open to horses. Horses are restricted to trails specifically designated for horse use. If you wish to ride your own horse in the park, please obtain a copy of the park’s trail map. This map indicates the trails on which you may ride horses and explains the park’s rules and regulations concerning horseback riding in the Smoky Mountains. There are five horse camps in the Park: Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Roundbottom, and Towstring. Horse camping is $23 per site, except Big Creek, which is $29. Fees are not accepted at the horse camp. Payment can be made by credit card. Personal checks are accepted only if the reservation is made at least 20 days in advance.
Each campsite has a limit of six people and four horses. If you have more than six people or four horses, you will need to reserve more than one site. Sites vary, but generally you are permitted to have two vehicles and two trailers (horse or camping) at each site.
A cancellation fee will be charged if you cancel your reservation or if we cancel your reservation because you fail to show up. You will also be charged for one night’s camping fee if you cancel on or after the day your reservation begins or you fail to show up. If you will be arriving late (i.e. after noon of the second day), please phone 865-436-1230 to hold your reservation.
Auto-access horse camps have picnic tables, grills, designated parking spaces (usually gravel), refuse containers, hitch racks and space to pitch a tent or two. Big Creek has flush toilets with cold water. Other horse camps have portable toilets and no drinking water. Water is available for horses either in the campground or at a nearby stream. Reservations are required for these services. If you would like to experience the Park on horse back, call the National Park Reservation Service at (877) 444-6777.
Renting a Horse
The Park also has four commercial stables within its borders. To help in locating the stables, check the map and map location numbers provided. They are open from mid March through the Thanksgiving season. Prices average $20 per hour. Weight limits and age restrictions may apply. Please call the stable you are interested in for operating hours and hourly rates.
Please see Park Map for Map locations:
