Best Equestrian Camping near Maryville, TN
Anthony Creek Horse Camp is one of the primary horse-friendly campgrounds near Maryville, Tennessee, located within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The campground offers picnic tables and fire rings at each site while accommodating both tents and RVs with space for horse trailers. Reservations are required for the camping season, which runs from April 1 to November 13. The camping area maintains a strict no-pet policy to minimize wildlife disruptions, focusing exclusively on equestrian use. Young Branch Horse Camp in Vonore provides another option for horse owners with basic amenities including toilets, trash disposal, picnic tables, and campfire rings. Both campgrounds feature sites specifically designed to accommodate riders and their horses, with ample space for trailer parking and room for portable corrals. Many riders note the well-maintained conditions of the campsites despite high seasonal usage.
The trail networks accessible from these horse camps connect to extensive bridle path systems throughout the Smoky Mountains region. Riders at Anthony Creek have direct access to backcountry trails within the national park, while Young Branch Camp connects to trail systems in the Cherokee National Forest. Neither campground offers electric hookups, water hookups, or shower facilities, so equestrians should prepare accordingly with adequate water supplies for both themselves and their horses. Campgrounds typically fill quickly during peak riding seasons, particularly in spring when wildflowers bloom along the trails and fall when foliage colors peak. Bears are common throughout the region, making proper food storage essential for both human supplies and horse feed. The pristine natural setting compensates for the rustic facilities, with numerous opportunities to spot wildlife including deer, turkey, and occasionally bears from horseback along the trail systems.
