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Horseback Riding in the North Carolina Smokies

A great way to enjoy the rugged beauty of the Smoky Mountains is on horseback. Several stables offer guided horse rides in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Nantahala National Forest. Horseback treks are generally one to four hours, but may also be overnight camping trips.

New: Parking Tags are required to park in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, even if you are parked at a stable inside the Park. Tags can be purchased online or on-site. $5/day, $15/week or $40/year. Parking Info

Are you a horse owner?

  • Carolina Bound Adventures Horseback Riding

    Address: 87 Depot Street
    Bryson City
    NC
    28713

    Contact Name: Mark Van Osdal
    Email: mark@carolinaboundadventures.com

    Call: 828-569-6699
    Website

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    Are you booking horseback riding and other adventures while you're here on vacation? Then save your time and sanity by doing it all on one website!  Our adventure planning and reservation concierge service consolidates your vacation research and planning in one place. Visit our website, choose your desired adventures and we’ll make the reservations plus set up your itinerary – it’s that easy!

  • Smokemont Riding Stable

    Address: 135 Smokemont Riding Stable Rd.
    Cherokee
    NC
    28719

    Contact Name: Jason Cook
    Email: smokymtn@hughes.net

    Call: 828-497-2373
    Website

    Enjoy scenic guided horseback riding within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Rides available for the beginner or experienced rider featuring wooded forests, wildflowers, river and waterfalls. An authorized concessioner of the National Park Service.

  • Deep Creek Horse Camp

    Address: 750 W. Deep Creek Rd. #11
    Bryson City
    NC
    28713

    Contact Name: James Clark
    Email: James28713@aol.com

    Call: 828-488-6961
    Website

    Phone Two: Mobile: 828-736-1270

    Bring your horses, camp and explore the many miles of the most scenic trails you'll ever ride! Close access to five trailheads and 400 miles of trails. If you like riding in the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can do it from our Bryson City horse camp. Twelve large sites, electric and water hookups. Our boarding facilities include 27 stalls, shoe and stock rack, horse wash rack, exercise corral, turn out pen and complementary horse trailers for combo owners. Camping with your horse in paradise does exist!

    • Main photo courtesy Smokemont Riding Stable

    For Horse Owners

    If you like traveling with your own horses, the Great Smokies National Park and the Nantahala National Forest offer excellent horseback riding trails.

    About 550 miles of the 800 miles of National Park trails are open to horses. Download a trail map, which also has regulations for horse use of the Park. GSMNP – 865-436-1231.

    The Tsali Trails in the Nantahala National Forest near Bryson City are multi-use trails. Call ahead to the Nantahala National Forest District office to verify the current schedule for horseback riding – 828-524-6441.

    Bryson City - Swain County
    Chamber of Commerce
    P.O. Box 509
    1191 Main Street
    Bryson City, NC 28713

    Hours 10am – 2pm
    Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

    Email

    Ricky Sanford
    Administrative Coordinator

    828-488-3681

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