Horse Camps

Valid Parking Tags Required

Registered campers parked at their designated parking area will not be required to have a parking tag. If parked elsewhere in the park, a parking tag is required.

 

Warren Bielenberg

 

Drive-in Horse Camps

Five drive-in horse camps provide ready access to backcountry trails within the park.

These horse camps have picnic tables, fire rings, designated parking spaces (usually gravel), refuse containers, and tent pads. Four horse hitch racks are located at each site in Anthony Creek and Cataloochee; other camps have central hitch racks. Big Creek has flush toilets with cold water. Anthony Creek and Catalooche have vault toilets; Round Bottom and Tow String have portable toilets. There is no drinking water except at Big Creek. Water is available for horses, either in the campground or at a nearby stream.

 

 

Horse Camp	2025 Dates	Number of Sites	Accessible Sites	Potable Water	Toilets	Fee
Anthony Creek	3/28–11/8	3	No	No	Pit	$30
Big Creek	Closed	5	Yes (1)	Yes	Flush	$36
Cataloochee	5/23-10/26	7	No	No	Pit	$30
Round Bottom	Closed	5	No	No	Pit	$30
Tow String	5/19-10/26	3	No	No	Pit	$30

 

Horse Camp Directions

Anthony Creek

30 miles southeast of Maryville, TN on U.S. Highway 321. Take U.S. 321 to Townsend, TN. Take Highway 73 to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Follow signs for Cades Cove Campground. The horse camp is located in the back of the picnic area, through the gate to the Anthony Creek Trail.

Big Creek

16 miles east of Newport, TN on I-40. Exit I-40 at exit 451. Follow the road past Walters Power Generating Station to 4-way intersection. Follow signs to Big Creek.

Cataloochee

25 miles west (north) of Asheville, NC on I-40. Exit I-40 at exit 20. Turn right onto Cove Creek Road 0.1 mile from I-40. Follow Cove Creek Road approximately 11 miles to Cataloochee horse camp.

Round Bottom

Just north of Cherokee, NC turn off U.S. 441 onto Big Cove Road. Go 0.2 mile to the stop sign and turn left. Go 8.8 miles to a "T" intersection. Turn right and continue 0.9 miles to end of pavement. Take the gravel road (adjacent to trout rearing facility) 3.5 miles to horse camp.

Tow String

4 miles north of Cherokee, NC off U.S. 441. Turn right at sign for Tow String Road and horse camp. 

 

Reservations

Reservations for horse camps may be made online or by calling [phone] from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. EST. Remember to write down your reservation number—you will need it when you register at the horse camp.

To reserve a horse camp site, you must have a horse. Campsites are limited to six people and four horses. Bring only the number of horses you reserved. Sites vary in the number of vehicles that can be accommodated, please check the reservation website for more details

A cancellation fee applies if you cancel your reservation or if we cancel it due to a no-show. If you cancel on or after your arrival date, or fail to show up, you’ll also be charged for one night’s camping.

To modify or cancel your reservation, call 1-888-448-1474. If arriving after noon on the second day, call 865-436-1230 to hold your spot.

 

More Information

• Firewood FAQs
• Horseback riding in the park
• Backcountry camping

Horse Camp Rules and Regulations

Stall care: Keep horses in stalls, not at the campsite. Clean stalls before leaving; discard old hay in designated areas.

Leave no trace: Pack out what you pack in. Leave campsites cleaner than you found them.

Tying horses: Use only hitching racks and stalls; do not tie to trees.

Supervision: Never leave horses unattended.

Feed policy: Use processed feed to prevent weed seed introduction. Do not leave feed accessible to wildlife.

Coggins test: All horses must have an original or copy of an official negative Coggins test.

Trail access and conditions: Know which trails are open to horses; check the current trail map for updates. Avoid thawing or frozen trails. Stay on designated trails and walk or ride single-file. Dismount and lead horses when crossing roads.

Watering: Keep horses away from springs. Use a collapsible bucket for watering.

Secure food: Keep all food and preparation equipment sealed in a vehicle or a solid camping unit when not in use.

Garbage disposal: Dispose of garbage in provided dumpsters. Unattended food may be impounded, and violators may face fines.

Firewood: Only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought into the park. Campers may also collect dead and down wood found in the park for campfires.