Maureen G.
Ranger
RangerSmokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Shady level sites near stream
Nice sites but fairly open layout so not private.
Equestrian Camping near Waynesville, NC
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Horse facilities near Waynesville, North Carolina are extremely limited based on campground data. None of the campgrounds in the area offer dedicated horse corrals, stalls, or specific equestrian amenities. Harmon Den Area provides the closest option for primitive horse camping, with access to nearby forest service trails. The surrounding Pisgah National Forest lands allow backcountry camping with horses in designated areas, though campers must follow Leave No Trace principles and properly manage horse waste. Most visitors report bringing their own portable corrals or high-line systems as no permanent equestrian facilities exist at established campgrounds.
Trail access points in the Waynesville area connect to portions of the Appalachian Trail and forest service roads that permit horseback riding. Several Forest Service roads in the Harmon Den area permit horse trailers, though the narrow mountain roads require careful navigation. Riders should check with the Pisgah Ranger District for current trail conditions and specific horse regulations before planning their trip. Water for horses is available from natural streams in the Harmon Den area, but campers need to bring their own water containers and filtration systems. Most equestrian campers recommend bringing sufficient hay and feed, as local supply options are limited and storing feed securely is essential in bear country.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Waynesville (46)
1. Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
"The North Carolina part has a slightly different feel. Less of a circus and less crowded and more laid back. Loving it! Beautiful. Just wish there were showers here....lol."
"This: Access to Cataloochee is via a narrow, winding, mountain road. A 3-mile stretch of gravel road contains many narrow, blind curves."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
2. Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
"Smokemont is a great campground in the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. It is a perfect base camp to enjoy this amazing national park."
"We only stayed for 1 night but really enjoyed the campgrounds proximity to activities on the North Carolina side of the park."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
3. Cherokee-Great Smokies KOA
"If I’m not mistaken, the one we were at this time was either the same cabin or one close to it. It is perfectly situated beside the river. "
"But if you’re a tent camper, be aware that the tent sites are located near the road (I will never understand why campsites do this, since we are the ones with no soundproofing)."
4. North Mills River
"Small campground, but there are free off road sites not too far down the road. Cell service disappears but I love that kind of disconnect."
"This is a great campground next to the beautiful North Mills River. Hosts were very accommodating and delivered ice and firewood for a cheap price upon request."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $31 - $62 / night
5. Big Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
"Nearby is group camping and horse camping. You cannot park your car right on the campsite. There is a parking lot and you need to carry your gear in. It's about 100 feet to the sites."
"The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small. We spent one day simply enjoying the campground."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
6. Harmon Den Area
"To get to the campsite, you have to get off on Exit 7 along Interstate 40 in North Carolina and travel a gravel road for several miles."
"There are specific campgrounds only a ten minute walk from the summit. This is where I camp when I go."
7. Cades Cove Campground
"There’s a river that runs a long the outside of the campground. Good swimming holes. A store that sells food (the best ice cream), firewood & camping supplies."
"This campground is off the beaten path but found by LOTS so have a reservation. There is an 11 mile loop with historic structures and lots of wildlife. Watch for BEARS!"
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
8. #39 Pretty Hollow — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
"These sites are next to a river. Has fire pits and places to hang your gear. It's a great site down in the valley and the trail is beautiful getting there."
9. Upper Cove Creek - UCC1 Dispersed
"just a quick 15 minute walk across the river and up the trail (follow Daniel ridge trail loop from parking lot)."
"With that said:
- remote- you have to want to get up here but it's really easy to do once you drive it a few times.
*clearly marked spots. I am actually located at ucc-2. ** The Dead End spot."
10. Deep Creek Tube Center & Campground
"Located close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is a private campground and has several types of camping opportunities. "
"Campground review: Located in Bryson City, N.C. on Deep Creek, this campground has around 50 sites with full hookups."
Drive Time
- 25 min from Asheville, NC
- 1 hr 24 min from Greenville, SC
- 2 hrs 2 min from Morristown, TN
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Waynesville, NC
19 Photos of 46 Waynesville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National ParkJ
Cherokee-Great Smokies KOAR
Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Parkm
Bent River Equestrian
Paradise Ridge PermacultureT
Randy’s Horse Camp
Cades Cove Group Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cades Cove Campground
Whetstone Horse Camp
The Wandering Llamass
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Waynesville, NC
470 Reviews of 46 Waynesville Campgrounds
- JJonathan B.
GuideNorth Mills River
Quiet campground
Have camped here before. Very quiet campground.
- RRoddrickGuide
Cades Cove Campground
Very Nice
Great campsites, little closer together than what I like but still nice and shaded all paved. Have three dump stations that are very nice. Will definitely come back. Better have reservations, cause it does stay full.
Vinny D.RangerBig Ivy Primitive Camping
Good spot, quiet
It says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
Rogier P.
ScoutCherokee-Great Smokies KOA
Fantastic site!
Great site with nice facilities like pool. Reception with large shop with basic camping needs, groceries and beer and wine. Wood service, delivered to your site, is also great! Could be experienced as a bit busy, but not noisy at all.
- HHope H.Guide
Cades Cove Campground
Scenic Quiet Campground
There is a beautiful drive to get to this campground once you get through the traffic jam of Sevierville. Enjoy the scenic and winding river road! Only loop C is open in the off season. Generators are allowed at this time of year, but must be off by 8pm. The women's restroom was revoltingly smelly (some animal had sprayed in there, smelled like male cat x100). I hope this was a temporary situation.
The sites have nice new pads(not perfectly level though) and the tent pads are spacious and flat. Cade's Cove loop was definitely worth taking, and I would do it again and stop at every stop. Take the pull outs and let the people pass you so you can really soak it all in. Also, make sure to get a parking pass and a brochure at the first stop, which explains the sites along the loop. I saw many turkeys showing off their fan tails. And a large black bear chowing down on the sweet, fattening, tender spring grass. Also there were quite a few deer out. The scenery was magnificent!
- GGreg M.Scout
Standing Indian Campground
Hidden Gem
The staff are fantastic and they keep the maintenance up. The bathrooms are the cleanest I have had at a campground. A lot of locals camping and they are great people to visit with.
Cathy H.GuideCherokee-Great Smokies KOA
Liked it
At this koa there's alot of stuff to do on the property. One cool this is the axe throwing thing and the big jumping pillow and the pool and hot tub. I tent camped at the sand pad with water and electricity. It was right in front of the lake. There where frequently duck in it . This koa was also very close to tiwn/in town.
Chris V.
TravelerCherokee-Great Smokies KOA
Big kid friendly campground
Right on the doorstep of GSMNP. Indoor and outdoor pool, lots of things for kids. Sites are well spaced and everything is clean and well maintained. Not a wilderness experience, but a great place for a family.
Guide to Waynesville
Horse camping options in Pisgah National Forest near Waynesville, North Carolina are primarily centered around the Harmon Den area, which sits at approximately 2,700 feet elevation. Located about 25 miles from Waynesville, this region offers primitive equestrian camping with access to miles of forest service trails winding through dense hardwood forests. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, requiring campers to prepare accordingly.
What to do
Trail riding opportunities: The Harmon Den Area provides direct access to forest service trails suitable for horseback riding. A camper noted, "Harmon Den is mostly known as a horse camp, although car camping without horses is a common occurrence. When I was there, I passed by a couple of car campers that did not have horses. I did see a few vehicles with horse trailers pass by on the road."
Waterfall hikes: Several horse-accessible trails lead to waterfalls within a 5-10 mile radius. At North Mills River, campers enjoy "fly-fishing, hiking, & horse trails." One visitor mentioned, "As you wind back to reach the campground, there is a section to the right of the road for hook-ups. Across the bridge there are more spots for tents and campers. There are also primitive sites up two different roads."
Wildlife viewing: Many equestrian trails offer opportunities to spot local wildlife. According to a camper at Cataloochee Campground, "The wild life here is so wonderful. If you want to see the elk, you're going to have to be up early. I use to be in the park at 5 AM with night vision gear, I saw some very nice elk. If you go in the winter, the elk are out eating most of the day."
What campers like
Peaceful creek sounds: Horse campers particularly enjoy sites near water sources where horses can drink. A visitor to Big Creek Campground shared, "We stayed in Big Creek for 3 nights and wish we could have stayed longer. The camp is beautiful and you are surrounded by the magical sounds of rushing water. There are two creeks nearby, one big and one small."
Secluded forest settings: Equestrian campers appreciate the privacy offered by dispersed sites. At Upper Cove Creek, a camper noted, "The campsites are very secluded and quiet." Another mentioned, "It was a great site, although there are only a few campsites on the road to it. We ended up driving to the top and someone already claimed it, so we had to go back down to a less convenient spot."
Historical sites: Many horse trails pass by historical structures. One camper at Cataloochee Campground wrote, "There are historical homesteads, a school, churches and cemetery to take you back in time. Trails by creeks there to hike. Bears, turkeys, deer and the Elk."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Horse campgrounds near Waynesville are primarily primitive. A camper at Tricorner Knob Shelter explained, "To safeguard against bear encounters, bear cables were available and necessary to hang all food overnight. Additionally, there is a water source available at the site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Waynesville, NC?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Waynesville, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Waynesville, NC is Cataloochee Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Waynesville, NC?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Waynesville, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 46 equestrian camping locations near Waynesville, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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