Anthony Creek Horse Camp

Anthony Creek Horse Camp is located near the gently rolling waters of Anthony Creek. Whether blanketed in bright wildflowers in the spring or vivid colors in the fall, the scenery at Anthony Creek never disappoints. You MUST have a horse to camp in Anthony Creek Horse Camp. Anthony Creek offers primitive-woods camping. There are no hookups or showers. Potable water is available from the campground spigot, about 1/2 mile away, and water for horses can be collected from the nearby stream; however, visitors must bring their own drinking water. The nearby Cades Cove area offers additional amenities. With access to several of the Smokies' popular horseback riding trails, equestrians will never be bored. Anthony Creek Trail intersects the campground and takes travelers up Bote Mountain, a 3,000 foot altitude gain. Although the trek is fairly strenuous, the trail is one of the most popular in the area due to the extraordinary views. For access to the Appalachian Trail, visitors can take the Anthony Creek Trail to either the Bote Mountain Trail or the Russell Field Trail, both of which intersect with it. During spring, stopping to see the pink mountain laurel blooms on Spence Field is a must for anyone in the area. The nearby horse stable provides one-hour horseback rides as well as hay rides and carriage rides from March through October. Campers can also 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. At 1,800 feet elevation, Anthony Creek provides a moderate climate, typified by mild winters and hot, humid summers, and is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges, pristine streams and rivers and clear blue skies. The park holds one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States — over 90 historic structures, a few of which are easily accessible from Anthony Creek via the Cades Cove Loop Road. The Cades Cove Campground, Group Campground and Picnic Area are located just a short walk away, providing additional camping for larger groups without horses. The area offers a popular 11-mile loop road, where campers often bike and hike; a camp store offers basic supplies as well as bicycle rentals, and three historic churches are located along the loop. Townsend, about nine miles away, offers full service grocery stores and fuel.