About Backcountry Horse Camp Trails (various)
Horses are welcome on selected trails in the Smokies, and the park runs five horse camps for riders. The NPS horse camps page lists the sites and seasons. Sites are near Cades Cove (Anthony Creek), Big Creek, Cataloochee, Deep Creek and Smokemont (Towstring).
The hike
Camp rates in 2026 are $30 a night at most horse camps, and $36 at Big Creek, per the NPS fee schedule. Reservations are required through recreation.gov. Not every park trail allows horses; some are closed to equestrians, including several Helene-damaged trails (the NPS lists the Hemphill Bald, Rough Fork, Pretty Hollow Gap, Hyatt Ridge, Enloe Creek and Camel Gap trails as closed to horses).
When to go
Spring through fall, depending on the camp.
Getting there
Each horse camp has its own trailhead and parking for trailers. The park charges for parking rather than entry: a parking tag is $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes. America the Beautiful and other federal passes are not accepted.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Check the NPS page for current camp rules and seasons.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Oconaluftee River Trail: an easy riverside walk that allows dogs
- Kephart Prong Trail: a 4-mile round trip to a CCC camp
- Chasteen Creek Cascade: a 3.6-mile round trip
Planning and safety
Plan the details before you go, since this is not a single marked trail with one trailhead. Look at a current map, pick a section that fits your time, and arrange parking and any shuttle in advance.
Check conditions the morning you go. The park posts trail and road closures and cautions, and storms, ice and Hurricane Helene repairs can change access with little notice. Carry water, a rain layer and a map, keep a safe distance from bears and elk, and pack out everything you bring in.
Good to know
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
