Tow String Horse Camp
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!
More like this: reservable in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Equestrian | 3 |
Site guide
3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 002 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 003 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
There is no street address for the horse camp. 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.
| Nearest town | Cherokee, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35.5395° N, 83.2966° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies: Fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are also popular activities.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bryson City Outdoors ↗ | 11.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | A&L RV Sales ↗ | 34.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in North Carolina.
- inNational Forests in North Carolina ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,026,237 acres
- 1.4 miCherokee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,228,298 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Oconaluftee Baptist ChurchBuilding · Cherokee · 1.2 mi
- Frye-Randolph House and Fryemont InnBuilding · Bryson City · 11.1 mi
- Swain County CourthouseBuilding · Bryson City · 11.4 mi
Natural features
Tow String Horse Camp is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges, with a moderate climate characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves a rich cultural history of Southern Appalachia. From the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early 19th century European settlers, the park strives to protect the historic structures, landscapes and artifacts that tell the stories of the people who once called these mountains home.
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. 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.
Nearby
The campsite is located just four miles (6.4 km) from Cherokee, North Carolina, which offers groceries and fuel.
Guidebooks for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Fly Fishing Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National ParkIan Rutter and Charity Rutter, 2024Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Tow String Horse Camp?
Sites at Tow String Horse Camp are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Tow String Horse Camp?
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Tow String Horse Camp?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Tow String Horse Camp have?
3 sites, including 3 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Tow String Horse Camp?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Tow String Horse Camp?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Tow String Horse Camp?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Tow String Horse Camp?
With access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, equestrians will never be bored. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Tow String Horse Camp?
Cherokee, North Carolina. The campsite is located just four miles (6.4 km) from Cherokee, North Carolina, which offers groceries and fuel.
Source: Getting there
What if Tow String Horse Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Smokemont Campground (1.4 mi), Smokemont Group Camp (1.7 mi), and Round Bottom Horse Camp (7.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Tow String Horse Camp in?
Tow String Horse Camp is a Great Smoky Mountains National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.