Posted 2008-10-20 11:53 AM (#93274) Subject: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Madison, NC
Hey,
can anyone provide good camp grounds to stay at that have trails going from them to the park?
I am trying to plan a trip for the next year and wanted to find a good campground with great trails to ride.I ran across Orchard coves Stables and it looks pretty good. any thoughts from anyone?
Posted 2008-10-20 1:02 PM (#93278 - in reply to #93274) Subject: RE: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Member
Posts: 38 Location: somerville,al
Orchard Cove is the best camp ground to meet the requirements you described. You have direct access to the park, they provide trailers if you want to haul and it is a brand new facility. I also provide guide and pack service for customers out of this camp ground. Call Mrs. Webb and tell her Harvey sent you!
Posted 2008-10-21 7:09 AM (#93327 - in reply to #93274) Subject: RE: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Member
Posts: 21
Location: Ryland Heights, KY
Went to the Smokey's last year and it was some of the best riding you will find. We have a 4 horse LQ trailer but from all the advice that I received from this forum decided to take the 2 horse and get a cabin so that we could trailer to different trail heads and ride more areas. I was glad that we did because you would have not gotten a large rig into some of the trail heads and I loved not being restricted to riding from just one location. Planning on going back next year and will do the same. Friends of mine have been there many times and have told me about some other trail heads to ride from that offer some beautiful riding that I can't wait to see! If you decide to camp I do recommend renting a trailer from your host and going to other trail heads, its worth it.
Posted 2008-10-29 8:40 PM (#93908 - in reply to #93352) Subject: RE: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
You can make Rich mountain loop, be sure to go to Spence Field, I like the loop from Abrams falls Ranger station it is pretty long though23-24 miles There is another one one the left as you go into the cove but I can't remember the name . There is no shortage of places to ride there
Posted 2008-10-30 6:54 AM (#93937 - in reply to #93274) Subject: RE: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
We stayed with Mrs. Webb 3 yrs ago when she first opened and loved it!! She has direct access from the rear of the camp that goes up the hill to the Schoolhouse Gap trailhead ( you do have to ride up the hill along a gravel road about 10 minutes or so to get to the trail head, but easy to get to). I believe Turkeypen Ridge is off of that trail. We rode Schoolhouse Gap out until we got to the road crossing going into Cades Cove; we chose not to cross the busy road since the kids were riding with us. We also trailered over to the Cove and rode the Anthony Creek trail and it was beautiful. The only downfall to riding out of the Cove trails is the traffic; October is a very busy month and the park wants you to walk you horse to the trailheads. It wasn't bad though, and the views were definately worth it. There a tons of trails so get the map; it is very informative and really helps to plan your rides. We took a 39 ft trailer into Orchard Cove and didn't have any issues. Just don't miss the drive as there is no where to turn around. Mrs. Webb stayed on the phone with us until we got turned into her place. Have a great trip!!
Posted 2008-11-06 1:46 AM (#94365 - in reply to #93274) Subject: RE: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
If you like the Big South Fork area, about an hour and half north of Knoxville you got to check out Loree Guest Ranch. We stayed there over the weekend (didn't have my horse) and the place is wonderful. You can ride right into the park from her place, or trailer about 15 mins to Bandy Creek. She has a great barn,and guest house is gorgeous.
Posted 2008-11-19 7:54 AM (#95100 - in reply to #93274) Subject: RE: Great Smokey Mountain Trails
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Madison, NC
Thanks to everyone for your reply. It sounds like Orchard Cove is the place to go...Hopefully the economy will be good and all of us will be able to go ride places we have never been before!
Happy Trails to all of you.
Great Smokey Mountain Trails
