Posted 2008-07-22 8:31 PM (#87966 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
I have not had a chance to ride there but I have heard that the trails in the Cades Cove park are great. My usual camping buddies went and loved it. I have driven a vehicle through Cades Cove and it is pretty..but I have not had a chance to horseback ride there.
Posted 2008-07-23 6:19 PM (#88114 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
If you are looking to stay in the Cades Cove/Townsend area check out Orchard Cove Stables. They have a good website with their info.
We stayed there in October 06 I believe when they first had opened. Already had a really nice bathhourse and was adding more campsites; more stalls; and laundry. This is the only place (in the research I did at the time) that would allow trail access directly from her property. She is located on Schoolhouse Gap Rd and you can access the Schoolhouse Gap trail from her place. The only thing we didn't love was riding for 10-15 min up the gravel road to get the the trailhead sign, but besides that it was great to ride from her place. It's way back off of the road and kind of in the valley. Great mtn views surround you. I think you can access 2 or 3 different trails from the Schoolhouse Gap also. Real nice people. At the time we went we we bringing 7-8 horses in our group. The barn back then was small and already rented out so they broke up the panels off their arena to make pens just for our visit. She also had a trailer that you could use if you wanted to trailer to other trailheads. We rode part of Cades Cove and it was probably the most beautiful scenery I have seen. Lost of wildlife too with wild turkeys and deer. Good Luck!
Posted 2008-07-23 10:07 PM (#88141 - in reply to #88114) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Expert
Posts: 2614
If I recall right,in all the trips we made every summer to Gatlinburg/Cades Cove,there is a double loop on the highway that wouldnt' accomodate a large trailer.Maybe I'm thinking of on the way to Clingman's Dome instead?
Posted 2008-07-23 10:29 PM (#88150 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
We came into Townsend without any problems. Ms. Freda even offered to meet us to get us in if needed. We had no prolems and we were in a 40ft trailer. The road going into the camp we stayed at was narrow, but not bad at well. Well paved and most folks would pull off to let you past. There was also several other large LQ trailers that had no complaints with the roads.
Posted 2008-07-23 10:43 PM (#88153 - in reply to #88150) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Expert
Posts: 2614
Did you come in through Gatlinburg? Or from another way? The easiest for us would be to take I-40 all the way then head south toward Gatlinburg,but,I'm not at all sure about that route with a LQ trailer.
Posted 2008-07-24 1:40 PM (#88185 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Veteran
Posts: 195 Location: Atlanta, GA
We ride every year up there in the fall. Trails are great... Some are very narrow with steep drop offs but most have plenty of room for one horse. There is a lot of rock so No bare feet! We love it! You can stay in the Cove if you want to. The Camp is called Anthony Creek. It is primitive and you have to stock your horses. We stay at Pack's Stables in Townsend TN and trailer into the Cove to ride. Mrs Pack has an old stock trailer that we use sometimes. They have power and water hook up and you can stall your horse. They also have a bunk house that you can stay in if you don't have an LQ to stay in. It sleeps several so a group can go and stay. Very nice folks and they are very reasonable priced. Their contact number is 845-448-6318. We also go to Cataloochee. It is nice also. Getting in there can be a bear if you meet another trailer (one lane road). It is also primitive and you have to stock your horse there as well. We were there a couple of weeks ago and it was cool enough that we didn't use the AC at all. You can make reservations for Cataloochee and Anthony Creek on recreation.gov. Have Fun camping and riding... It is definitely God's Country up there...
Posted 2008-07-24 2:14 PM (#88188 - in reply to #88150) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Veteran
Posts: 102 Location: Cartersvillle, Georgia
TOM-TOM, did you stay at Oechard Cove? we are thinking about going and had reserves due to the fact that we also have a 40ft rig. So the roads to the place are good and into the campground are alittle narrow? Any info would be appreciated.
Posted 2008-07-24 2:42 PM (#88191 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Veteran
Posts: 168 Location: Stem NC
I have been to anthony creek, cades cove, cataloochee. My group is interested in Cherokee. Has anyone been there? All of the Smokies are gorgeous. My favorite is Cataloochee.
Posted 2008-07-24 3:51 PM (#88198 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Veteran
Posts: 195 Location: Atlanta, GA
Well, I'm sure we all thought we were helping... I'm sorry that we didn't... As far as I know there is no where to camp with horses in Cherokee. Tow String is the closes place I know of it is close to Smokemont camping area by Cherokee and there are only 2 camp sites there. There maybe a privitely owned place there. We go to Cherokee all the time just to camp without horses. It's OK to visit but a little run down and out dated.
Posted 2008-07-24 5:47 PM (#88206 - in reply to #88188) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
Yes, we did stay at Orchard Cove in 2006. This was prior to all of the new additions like the new stalls and the arena. The road going in past the Tuckaleechee Caverns is narrow, but not too bad. They consider it 2-lane I think, but we took up most of the room with our 40ft 8ft wide LQ. Most people were more than happy to pull off to let you pass and the road in is a good smooth paved road. Only tricky part is watch the house numbers; you don't want to miss her drive. I don't think there is anywhere to turn a big rig around if you miss the drive except to back it out. We had no problem finding her and she even offered to meet us at the end of the road to let us follow her in. You can not see the camp from the road and the drive is a long dirt & gravel road. We didn't think it was hard to get into at all and once at the camp she had plenty of room to maneuver your rig. We are usually pretty careful about where we pull to and this was only out 2nd mountain trip in this trailer so if we can do it I think you're pretty safe. As far as the route we took I am unsure of the road but we got Google map directions and it was mostly 4-lane going to Townsend. We are about one hour south of Atlanta. We did not go thru Gatlinburg. It's beautiful there and Ms. Freda and Heather were most helpful and getting us settled and helping us decide where to ride. Good Luck with your trip. Hope this helps.
Posted 2008-07-24 6:00 PM (#88209 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
Sorry can't be of more help but we didn't actually ride that part of the Smokies. We rode the Anthony Creek (at Cades Cove), Schoolhouse Gap and Turkeypen Ridge. We stayed more around the cove and didn't go over into Cherokee. Sorry if I misunderstood where you were wanting to be. Guess I should have pulled out the map earlier. Good Luck.
Posted 2008-07-24 7:42 PM (#88214 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: Ozark, MO
Round bottom is not to far from the town of Cherokee,you can ride over the mountian from cataloochee to round bottom. Primative and hard to get a big rig into.
Posted 2008-07-24 7:54 PM (#88216 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
I ordered a Great Smoky Mountain Trail Map & Guide from the Forestry website. According to the map Round is near Balsam Mountain. If you can access the map on the web it is close to Backcountry Camp #42 on the map. Maybe this well help you better determine your distance from Cherokee and other trails near this area.
Posted 2008-07-24 8:32 PM (#88220 - in reply to #88206) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Veteran
Posts: 102 Location: Cartersvillle, Georgia
Tom-Tom, Thanks for the info. We have been to the smokeys but had to stay where we left our horses at a private barn and had to haul to all the trail heads. We are really looking forwrd to going to Orchard Cove. We are in Cartersville, Georgia. How long was your pull? Again thanks for the info. Happy Trails
Posted 2008-07-24 9:22 PM (#88224 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
Been a couple of years, but I think that it took us about 6 to 6 1/2 hours with a lunch break & fuel stops. I don't know if you have stayed in that area before, but when we were there in 2006 there was only one grocery store, a dollar store and a few gas stations. It's a nice small town feel, but if you need a Wal-Mart you have to go back to Merryville about 30 minutes away. Have a great trip - the scenery and trails are awesome!
Posted 2008-08-18 12:19 PM (#89905 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Thomaston, GA
Hey - I was just at Cherokee 2 weeks ago. Love it. Stayed at a privately owned campground called Deep Creek Stables. It's less than a mile to the deep creek horse trail. I HATE, HATE those standing stalls that the national park campgrounds make us use. Here is the website. Mr James Clark is the owner and his right hand man Frank was an excellent trail guide. james28713@aol.com is the email and http://www.greatsmokies.com/horsecamp/ is the website. Cherokee is 14 miles away to TowString trail head. We went thru Cherokee at 4:30 on the way home and it was only 73 degrees. That was so awesome. Anyway, Mr Clarke has stock trailers that you can borrow to trailer around to different trail heads so you dont have to ride deep creek the whole time. it's an awesome place and really cheap too. there is a bath house and electric/water hookups and nice 10x10 stalls that are covered. much better than those standing stalls in the park. $10/campsite and $10/stall that includes shavings. Go. you will love it!
Posted 2008-09-07 8:36 AM (#91093 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Fayetteville
We are planning a trip to Deep Creek this fall, which trails would you suggest? Did you do anything else in the area? We are going to be there almost a week, thought we would do a little site seeing
Posted 2008-09-10 2:23 PM (#91247 - in reply to #87960) Subject: RE: Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
Regular
Posts: 85 Location: Foothills of the Smokeys
One suggestion, stay off the Nolan's Divide trail. It has beautiful views, but is extremely narrow in places and is very hair-raising. I have been riding in the Smokeys for 25 years and this is the scariest trail I have ever been on. In one spot, you are crossin shear rock with 500 ft. drop-offs on both sides. Everyone else that I have talked to that has ridden it agrees with me, so take my word for it. I will get back with some good trails to ride in the Deep Creek area.
Cherokee Smokey Mountains trails
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