Overview

Saddle up your horses for a camping trip in the stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the North Carolina portion of the park, this campsite offers miles of horse trails with a breathtaking scenic backdrop. World-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, Great Smoky Mountains is America's most visited national park.

You MUST have a HORSE to camp at Tow String Horse Camp!

Facilities

Tow String offers traditional woods camping, perfect for a getaway trip.

You MUST have a HORSE to camp at Tow String Horse Camp!

Tow String Horse Camp has no electricity or running water (horses can drink from a nearby stream). All campsites have a picnic table, lantern post, and a grill / fire ring. The campground has portable toilets. There are no horse stalls or hitches. Please tie horses to your trailer.

Natural Features

Recreation

With access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, equestrians will never be bored. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also a hiker's paradise, with over 800 miles (1287 km) of maintained trails ranging from short, leg-stretchers to strenuous treks, with a number of those trails easily accessible from Tow String Camp. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities. Campers can enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance. Wildlife viewing is a popular pastime, and with around 1,500 bears living in the park, it's not uncommon for visitors to spot one. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, the Smokies have the most biological diversity of any area in the world's temperate zone. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. The park also holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. Over 90 historic structures, including houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, schools and grist mills, have been preserved or rehabilitated in the park.

Nearby Attractions

The campsite is located just four miles (6.4 km) from Cherokee, North Carolina, which offers groceries and fuel.

Important Notices

• Parking Tag Requirements. The park requires a valid Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Frontcountry campers may park at their designated campsite without a parking tag, but will need one if you park elsewhere in the park. Please note that parking tags will be required for vehicles in excess of what is allowable for each campsite.

• Bears and other wildlife frequent the area. All food and equipment used to prepare and store food must be kept in a sealed vehicle or camping unit of solid, non-pliable material AT ALL TIMES when not in use. All scented items, as well as all water containers MUST be stored. Dispose of garbage promptly in dumpsters provided. Unattended or improperly stored coolers, food and/or scented items may be impounded by campground staff. Violators are subject to fines.

• Pets. Pets are permitted but cannot be left unattended. All pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails.

• Garbage. Dispose of garbage promptly in bear-proof dumpsters. This rule is strictly enforced!

• No Showers or Hookups. There are no showers or electric, water or sewer hook-ups in the park.

• Campfires. Fires are allowed in fire rings only.

• Quiet Hours. Quiet hours are in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Generator use is restricted from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Firewood Restriction. Only heat-treated firewood bundled in its original packing and bearing a certification seal from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought into the park. This rule is strictly enforced. Campers may also collect dead and down wood in the park for campfires.

• Where to Buy Heat-treated Wood. Certified heat-treated firewood is packaged and clearly marked with a state or federal seal and is available from a growing list of private businesses in communities around the park. Concessioners at Cades Cove, Elkmont, and Smokemont sell heat-treated wood during their operating season. Please visit www.nature.org/firewoodmap for a list of available vendors near the park. For additional information visit the park's Frequently Asked Questions about Firewood Policies web page.

• You MUST have a horse to camp in a horse camp. There is a maximum of 4 horses and 6 people per campsite. Stay limit is 14 consecutive days. All horses must have a current Coggins test. Campers are responsible for cleaning their stalls before departure and placing waste in a manure trailer. Fires are allowed in fire rings only. Important Information: Food storage regulations are strictly enforced. Horse feed is also covered by food storage regulations. Pets are allowed in the horse camp but must be on a leash at all times and not left unattended. Pets are not allowed on trails.

• No Stalls or Hitching Posts. Stalls and hitching posts are not provided at the Tow String Horse Camp location. Please only tie horses to horse trailer(s) and NOT to trees.

• No Potable Water. With the exception of Big Creek, horse camps do not have potable water.

• Fishing. A Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license is required to fish in the park. Special regulations apply in the park.

• Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website www.nps.gov/grsm or call the park at 865-436-1200 for more information.

Available Activities

• WILDLIFE VIEWING - Wildlife Viewing
• HORSEBACK RIDING - Horseback Riding
• HIKING - Hiking
• FISHING - Fishing
• CAMPING - Camping
• HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE - Historic Sites

Directions

There is no street address for the horse camp. <p>Tow String horse camp is located 4 miles north of Cherokee, NC off Newfound Gap Road (aka U.S. 441). Turn right at sign for Tow String. Turn left after crossing bridge. </p>

Contact Information

Phone: 828-497-9270

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip