"Accommodations for horses & riders in the Great Smoky Mountains"

Turkey Creek Cabins

& Horse Camp

PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Harmon Den Area, Haywood County Trails (for maps, see the Links page)
1. Robert Gap	3.4 miles	These four trails follow mostly old roadbeds and logging roads through forests, wildlife fields and across several creeks and mountain balds. They can be combined with either State road SR-1182 and/or Forest Road FR-148 to form various combinations of loops. Robert Gap Trail and Buckeye Ridge Trail provide great views of distant mountain ridges and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
2. Cherry Ridge	1.1 miles
3. Buckeye Ridge	5.4 miles
4. Cold Springs	3.6 miles
HIGHLIGHTS: Spectacular views of distant mountains in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Tennessee from open balds, excellent system of trails, wildlife. OTHER ACTIVITIES: hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, camping LOCATION:

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Cataloochee/Big Creek Area, Haywood County Trails (for maps, see the Links page)
1. Big Creek	5 miles	Follows an old rail bed as it goes to Walnut Bottoms and an old logging camp.
2. Low Gap	2.5 miles	Junctions with Big Creek Trail near Walnut Bottoms and leads northwest up the mountain ridge to where it crosses over the Appalachian Trail.
3. Appalachian Trail	16.3 miles	Follows the crest of the Smokies and crisscrosses the NC-TN state line several times as it passes through the national park.
4. Camel Gap	5 miles	Begins beyond the junction of Big Creek Trail and Low Gap Trail; proceeds in a broad U-shape to join with the Appalachian Trail near Camel Gap and offers scenic views of the valley.
5. Swallow Fork	4 miles	Leads south from the Big Creek Trail; ascends Mount Sterling Ridge on its way to a junction with Mount Sterling Ridge Trail and Pretty Hollow Gap Trail in Pretty Hollow Gap.
6. Mount Sterling Ridge	5.4 miles	Goes west along Big Cataloochee Mountain (elev. 6,122 ft) from its junction at Pretty Hollow Gap with Swallow Fork Trail and Pretty Hollow Gap Trail.
7. Mount Sterling Trail	1.8 miles	Bears off to right in an open grassy area near the end of Mount Sterling Ridge Trail; is an old jeep road that descends Mount Sterling Ridge; ends on gravel road Old NC-284 at Mount Sterling Gap.
8. Pretty Hollow Gap	5.3 miles	Goes south from Pretty Hollow Gap as it descends Mount Sterling Ridge and follows along Pretty Hollow Creek; is a major connector trail between the Big Creek and Cataloochee areas; southern trailhead is on the Cataloochee Road.
9. Palmer Creek	3.3 miles	Branches off to the right after 4.0 miles on Pretty Hollow Gap Trail; goes west 3.3 miles to its end on Balsam Mountain Rd (also called Straight Fork Rd.)
10. Little Cataloochee	5.2 miles	Trailhead is 0.5 miles beyond Palmer Creek Trail on Pretty Hollow Gap Trail; passes through Little Cataloochee Valley where remnants of former settlements can be seen along the trail; ends at gravel road Old NC-284.
11. Long Bunk	3.7 miles	Begins on right at 0.5 miles before the end of Mount Sterling Trail; leads south paralleling Old NC-284 along the way to junction with Little Cataloochee Trail.
12. Rough Fork	6.5 miles	Begins from a gated road at the end of the gravel Cataloochee Road west of the Cataloochee Ranger Station; leads southwest into the Cataloochee Valley along Big Fork Ridge; continues to junction with Polls Gap Trail.
13. Polls Gap	5.5 miles	Goes north for 5.5 miles from junction with Rough Fork Trial on its way to the top of Spruce Mountain (elev. 5.590 ft) and the old Spruce Mountain fire tower; trail dead-ends and horseback riders must backtrack.
14. Caldwell Fork	6.5 miles	Branches off to the east after 3 miles on Rough Fork Trail; ends on the Cataloochee Road near the Cataloochee campground.
15. Big Fork Ridge	3.1 miles	Begins 150 yards after McKee Branch Trail on Caldwell Fork Trail; crosses over Big Fork Ridge as it proceeds for 3.1 miles to its end on the gravel Cataloochee Road.
16. McKee Branch	2.3 miles	Begins on right at 1.5 miles beyond junction of Hemphill Bald Trail on Caldwell Fork Trail; leads southeast for 2.3 miles to Purchase Gap and a junction with Cataloochee Divide Trail.
17. Hemphill Bald	8.5 miles	Begins on the right at 1.7 miles on Caldwell Fork Trail; goes for 3.0 miles to Double Gap and the park boundary; continues south from Double Gap for 5.5 miles.
18. Cataloochee Divide	6.4 miles	Goes north from Double Gap for 6.4 miles; Hemphill Bald Trail and Cataloochee Divide Trail follow the Cataloochee Divide and the park's southeastern boundary. Hemphill Bald (elev. 5,540 ft.) offers great views of this area.
HIGHLIGHTS: Several options for various combinations of loop trails, beautiful mountain ridges and valleys, pioneer history and old settlements, wildlife, nice forests. OTHER ACTIVITIES: hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing LOCATION: