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April 23, 2025
If you’re planning a family reunion, church retreat, or any other group stay at our large cabins in the Smokies, you’ll find plenty of wonderful activities to enjoy together in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! There are gorgeous hikes for all skill levels, as well as scenic drives for those who are not into hiking! You’ll also find horseback riding opportunities, excellent visitor centers to explore, and much more! Here are 4 fun group activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
There are 150 official trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, providing endless hiking adventures for your group! The park features everything from gentle hikes for beginners to strenuous day hikes that take you to stunning mountain peaks! While entrance into the park is free, keep in mind that parking tags are required when parking anywhere for more than 15 minutes. When traveling with a group, consider a convenient shuttle ride from local communities to park destinations! Some of the local companies offering shuttle service include AAA Hiker Shuttle, A Walk in the Woods, Great Smoky Mountain Eco Tours, and RockyTop Tours.
Read More: “The Top 5 Hikes in the Smokies for Groups”
Another one of the fun group activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a group hayride through Cades Cove Loop Road! Cades Cove Riding Stables offers this nostalgic hayride through the picturesque Cades Cove, which is surrounded by preserved 19th and early 20th-century farming communities. This is one of the most popular destinations in the park, as it features several important historic structures and some of the park’s best wildlife viewing opportunities! Note that hayride reservations are accepted for groups of 15 or more with a signed tour contract and a 50 percent deposit.
While Cades Cove Riding Stables offers horseback riding in addition to the hayrides, they don’t take horseback riding reservations, which can make it difficult to arrange a group ride. As an alternative, consider the guided horseback trail rides with Sugarlands Riding Stables! These rides offer a fun and unique way to explore part of the national park that most visitors do not see. You can choose between a 1-hour trip that covers 4 miles of wooded trails and mountain streams, or a 90-minute trip that adds two miles to the tour. Reservations can be made in advance, and groups are capped at 9 people per guide.
If your group is not into hiking but still wants to experience the beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are several scenic drives that you can enjoy! Start your day at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, where you can pick up a map of the park, and a park ranger can help plan the perfect itinerary. Some of the best scenic drives in the park include the Foothills Parkway, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Cades Cove Loop Road, and Newfound Gap Road!
Ready to plan your big adventure? Check out all of our large cabins in the Smokies today to stay just minutes away from a Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance!
