Horseback Riding In
The Great Smoky Mountains
National Park

Renting A Horse

If you wish to rent a horse, horseback riding is available at commercial stables located in the Park from mid-March through late November. There are four stables in the Park where you can rent horses. Rates 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.

• Cades Cove, near Townsend, TN (865) 448-6286
• Smokemont, near Cherokee, NC (828) 497-2373
• Smoky Mountain, near Gatlinburg, TN (865) 436-5634
• Sugarlands, near Gatlinburg, TN (865) 430-5020

Taking Your Horse To The Park

About 550 miles of the Park's hiking trails are 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 horse riding in the backcountry. It also provides information about backcountry camping, and permit requirements. To obtain an official trail map, stop at any Park visitor center or call (865) 436-0120. The cost of the map is $1. You may also download a trail map by Clicking Here.

Horses are allowed only on trails specifically designated for horse use. Off-trail or cross-country riding is prohibited. Horse riders may use designated campsites located on trails open to their use. However, some backcountry campsites must be reserved in advance. These sites are indicated on the park's trail map.

Five drive-in horse camps provide ready access to backcountry horse trails in the Park. Camps are located at Cades Cove (Anthony Creek), Big Creek, Cataloochee, Round Bottom, and Towstring. Horse camps are open from April through October. Reservations are required and may be made for all five-horse camps through the National Park Reservation Service by calling 1-800-365-2267 (park code GRE) between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. or by visiting the web site by Clicking Here. Please write down your reservation number, you will need it when you register at the horse camp.

Fees are $20 per site, except for Big Creek, which is $25. You must pay for the site when you make your reservation. Fees are not accepted at the horse camps. 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 an additional 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 your reservation is canceled 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 if you fail to show up. To make changes to your reservation or to cancel, please call 1-800-388-2733. 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.