Everything We Did With Our Dogs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Plan the perfect dog friendly trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. In this travel guide we are sharing 4 different things you can do with your furry friends in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The first national park we took our dogs, Griffin and Lucy, to was the good ole Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was also our first national park we visited since going full time in our RV and we weren’t entirely sure what the dogs would be able to do in the park. However we were pleasantly surprised that the Great Smoky Mountains actually has quite a few adventures that dogs are welcome on.
Our visit to the Smokies was in late fall and the colorful leaves and chilly weather made for beautiful days.
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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK PET POLICY
Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, along roads, and must be kept on a leash at all times no longer than 6 feet in length. Always pick up their waste.
GATLINBURG TRAIL
Distance: 4.0 Miles | Difficulty: Easy | Elevation Gain 164 Ft. | Time: 1.5 Hrs.
The Gatlinburg Trail is one of the few dog friendly trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail starts at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and takes you through a beautiful forest with views of the Little Pigeon River. Our dogs LOVED this. This trail is located on the north side of the park in Tennessee.
CADES COVE SCENIC DRIVE
One of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the scenic drive through Cades Cove. This is a great way to spend time with your dogs in the Smokies especially if they are a fan of car rides. The 11 mile loop drive takes you through a lush valley surrounded by gorgeous mountains with great opportunity to spot wildlife.
SUNSET AT CLINGMANS DOME
While dogs aren’t allowed on the path to Clingmans Dome, they are allowed in the parking lot which has AMAZING views of the Smoky Mountains. We set up our camping chairs on the side walk at the Clingmans Dome parking lot and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset. This was one of our favorite things we did on our trip to the Smokies.
OCONALUFTEE RIVER TRAIL
Distance: 3.1 Miles | Difficulty: Easy | Elevation Gain: 52 Ft. | Time: 1 Hr.
The Oconaluftee River Trail is one of the few dog friendly trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail starts at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and runs through a forest along the Oconaluftee River. This trail is located on the south side of the park in North Carolina.
Let us know what you did with your dogs in the Smoky Mountains in the comments below!
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HEY THERE!
WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Enjoy a scenic hike with this complete trail guide to LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains. Featuring everything you need to know including how to get to the trail, what to bring, when to go, and all about the trail.