Horse Riding

Warren Bielenberg Photo

 

 

Horseback Rides

Note: Smokemont Riding Stables are temporarily closed as of April 24, 2025.

Guided horseback rides are available at three concession riding stables in the park from mid-March through late-November. Rides on scenic park trails last from 45 minutes to several hours. Weight limits and age restrictions may apply.

• Cades Cove, near Townsend, TN (also offers hayrides and carriage rides). Visit the Cades Cove Riding Stables website for additional information.
• Smokemont, near Cherokee, NC (also offers wagon rides). Visit the Smokemont Riding Stables website for additional information.
• Sugarlands, near Gatlinburg, TN. Visit the Sugarlands Riding Stables website for additional information.

Hayrides

Cades Cove Riding Stables offers a 1.5-2 hour hayride around the Cades Cove Loop Road. Passengers sit on a bed of hay in a trailer pulled by a truck and enjoy an open air view of the scenery of Cades Cove. Reservations are generally required.

Carriage and Wagon Rides

Carriage or wagon rides are offered at two of the concession horseback riding stables in the park. These rides provide an opportunity to experience a 20-30 minute horse-drawn carriage or wagon ride on a park trail. Please visit the website of the stable you are interested in for additional information.

• Carriage Rides at Cades Cove Riding Stables
• Wagon Rides at Smokemont Riding Stables

Bringing Your Horse to the Park

Caution is advised in the backcountry. The park's backcountry is managed as a natural area where the forces of nature determine trail conditions. Please be prepared for swollen streams, bridge washouts, downed trees, and trail erosion-riding is not recommended from early December until May due to the seasonal nature of the trail maintenance program.

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. The cost of the map is $1. You may also download a trail map.

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.

 

 

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