Great Smoky Mountains: Big Creek Horse Camp

National Parks
Tags: Bring your own horse, Camping, National park, TN, Top picks, Trail ride, Wilderness
Category: Horse Hotels for overnights, Horse Hotels with RV Hookups and Camping, National Parks, Parks & Wilderness, Top Picks
Type: Horse & Human stays
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Description

Big Creek Horse Campground – Horse Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big Creek Horse Campground is a favorite among equestrian campers. It’s the only horse camp in the park with drinking water and a modern restroom facility, making it a convenient base for multi-day riding adventures.

What to Expect

  • Each site includes a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit/grill

  • No electricity or water hookups

  • No showers onsite, but private fee-based shower facilities are available just outside the park—ask the campground host for directions

  • A general store is located nearby at the intersection of Mt. Sterling and Big Creek Entrance Roads

  • Emergency phone located 1 mile away at the Big Creek Ranger Station

  • No cell service at the campground

Horse Accommodations

  • Horses must be kept in the designated stalls, not at campsites

  • Two stall groups, each with 12 stalls and a manure wagon

  • Campsites 3, 4, and 5 are closest to the stalls; sites 1 and 2 are farther away

Most trails in the area are horse-friendly (with the exception of the Appalachian Trail), making this a prime location for exploring the Smokies on horseback.

Reservations

  • Reservations are required and must be made in advance

  • Book online at Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777

  • No payment or registration is available onsite, and there is no cell signal—if you arrive without a reservation, you'll need to leave the area to make one

  • Always remember your site number before you arrive—there is a daily bulletin board with reservations posted, but it’s not always reliable

Pro tip: Save your reservation confirmation and site number offline before you arrive—cell service is non-existent, and it could save you a long detour.

Explore more at the National Park Service – Horse Riding & Camping in the Smokies.

Big Creek Horse Campground – Horse Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big Creek Horse Campground is a favorite among equestrian campers. It’s the only horse camp in the park with drinking water and a modern restroom facility, making it a convenient base for multi-day riding adventures.

What to Expect

  • Each site includes a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit/grill

  • No electricity or water hookups

  • No showers onsite, but private fee-based shower facilities are available just outside the park—ask the campground host for directions

  • A general store is located nearby at the intersection of Mt. Sterling and Big Creek Entrance Roads

  • Emergency phone located 1 mile away at the Big Creek Ranger Station

  • No cell service at the campground

Horse Accommodations

  • Horses must be kept in the designated stalls, not at campsites

  • Two stall groups, each with 12 stalls and a manure wagon

  • Campsites 3, 4, and 5 are closest to the stalls; sites 1 and 2 are farther away

Most trails in the area are horse-friendly (with the exception of the Appalachian Trail), making this a prime location for exploring the Smokies on horseback.

Reservations

  • Reservations are required and must be made in advance

  • Book online at Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777

  • No payment or registration is available onsite, and there is no cell signal—if you arrive without a reservation, you'll need to leave the area to make one

  • Always remember your site number before you arrive—there is a daily bulletin board with reservations posted, but it’s not always reliable

Pro tip: Save your reservation confirmation and site number offline before you arrive—cell service is non-existent, and it could save you a long detour.

Explore more at the National Park Service – Horse Riding & Camping in the Smokies.
Description

Big Creek Horse Campground – Horse Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big Creek Horse Campground is a favorite among equestrian campers. It’s the only horse camp in the park with drinking water and a modern restroom facility, making it a convenient base for multi-day riding adventures.

What to Expect

  • Each site includes a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit/grill

  • No electricity or water hookups

  • No showers onsite, but private fee-based shower facilities are available just outside the park—ask the campground host for directions

  • A general store is located nearby at the intersection of Mt. Sterling and Big Creek Entrance Roads

  • Emergency phone located 1 mile away at the Big Creek Ranger Station

  • No cell service at the campground

Horse Accommodations

  • Horses must be kept in the designated stalls, not at campsites

  • Two stall groups, each with 12 stalls and a manure wagon

  • Campsites 3, 4, and 5 are closest to the stalls; sites 1 and 2 are farther away

Most trails in the area are horse-friendly (with the exception of the Appalachian Trail), making this a prime location for exploring the Smokies on horseback.

Reservations

  • Reservations are required and must be made in advance

  • Book online at Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777

  • No payment or registration is available onsite, and there is no cell signal—if you arrive without a reservation, you'll need to leave the area to make one

  • Always remember your site number before you arrive—there is a daily bulletin board with reservations posted, but it’s not always reliable

Pro tip: Save your reservation confirmation and site number offline before you arrive—cell service is non-existent, and it could save you a long detour.

Explore more at the National Park Service – Horse Riding & Camping in the Smokies.

Big Creek Horse Campground – Horse Camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big Creek Horse Campground is a favorite among equestrian campers. It’s the only horse camp in the park with drinking water and a modern restroom facility, making it a convenient base for multi-day riding adventures.

What to Expect

  • Each site includes a tent pad, picnic table, and fire pit/grill

  • No electricity or water hookups

  • No showers onsite, but private fee-based shower facilities are available just outside the park—ask the campground host for directions

  • A general store is located nearby at the intersection of Mt. Sterling and Big Creek Entrance Roads

  • Emergency phone located 1 mile away at the Big Creek Ranger Station

  • No cell service at the campground

Horse Accommodations

  • Horses must be kept in the designated stalls, not at campsites

  • Two stall groups, each with 12 stalls and a manure wagon

  • Campsites 3, 4, and 5 are closest to the stalls; sites 1 and 2 are farther away

Most trails in the area are horse-friendly (with the exception of the Appalachian Trail), making this a prime location for exploring the Smokies on horseback.

Reservations

  • Reservations are required and must be made in advance

  • Book online at Recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777

  • No payment or registration is available onsite, and there is no cell signal—if you arrive without a reservation, you'll need to leave the area to make one

  • Always remember your site number before you arrive—there is a daily bulletin board with reservations posted, but it’s not always reliable

Pro tip: Save your reservation confirmation and site number offline before you arrive—cell service is non-existent, and it could save you a long detour.

Explore more at the National Park Service – Horse Riding & Camping in the Smokies.