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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park with a wide variety of wildlife, more than 850 miles of hiking trails, and tons of outdoor activities.

I have always wanted to visit the Smokies and decided to spend the day there with my dog, Kuma, in September. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not very dog friendly, but I still managed to find some activities I was able to do with Kuma and had a wonderful time.

Here’s the perfect itinerary you can experience with your dog for a day in the Great Smoky Mountains.

9 AM Grab Breakfast/Snacks in Gatlinburg

There are no eateries in the Smoky Mountains, so it will be a good idea to eat breakfast and buy some snacks to take with you for the day. There are a few places in Gatlinburg that are open before 9 AM and have great reviews:

10 AM Gatlinburg Trail

The Gatlinburg Trail is one of the two trails that are dog-friendly within the national park. It starts at the edge of Gatlinburg and it’s a 3.8-mile out-and-back trail. There are many entry points to access the creek so your fur baby can enjoy the clear and beautiful waters. It’s nicely shaded, so even on hot summer days, it’s a great hike to do.

Creek at Gatlinburg Trail — Gatlinburg Trail

Corgi swimming in a creek — Kuma enjoying her swim in the creek

Gatlinburg Trail forest — Easy walk through Gatlinburg Trail

1 PM Chimney Tops Picnic Area

The Chimney Tops Picnic is a dog-friendly picnic area with tables, BBQ grills, and access to the river. There are also restrooms here, so it’s a nice stop to relax.

2 PM Overlooks

There are many overlooks you can stop by as you make your way up the mountain. Some good ones to stop by are Ben Morton Overlook, Newfound Gap, and Charles A. Webb Overlook.

Newfound Gap is unique because it’s situated along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It’s also home to the Rockefeller Memorial where former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the park on September 2, 1940.

If you need to use the restroom, Newfound Gap has clean restrooms as well. Surprisingly, there was great cell phone reception here too.

Heavy fog over Smoky Mountains — Ben Morton overlook

North Carolina Tennessee State Line sign — Newfound Gap

Walking down to the overlook with dog — Charles A. Webb Overlook

4 PM Oconaluftee River Trail

The other dog-friendly trail in the national park is the Oconaluftee River Trail which is located behind the Visitors Center.

The trail is 1.5 miles one way and runs through the forest alongside the river. Your dog can enjoy the cool waters here as well.

Oconaluftee River Trail forest — Oconaluftee River Trail

Corgi enjoying her swim in the river — Kuma loved the river

Oconaluftee River Trail — More dogs on the river trail

7PM (near sunset) Cataloochee Valley Elk Watching

If you want to see some elk, Cataloochee Valley is an excellent place to see them. They usually come out in the early mornings and late in the evening, so it’s best to visit this area near sunset.

Elk with massive antlers in middle of the field — Cataloochee Valley

Cataloochee Valley elk — Cars parked on the side of the road watching the elk feed

Elk up close eating grass — You can observe the elk pretty close

TIPS

Make sure to take plenty of snacks and water with you
Carry dog waste bags with you and pick up your dog’s waste
Don’t let the rainy forecast deter you from visiting the park (in my case, the rain was forecasted all day, but it was on and off and I was still able to enjoy the park)
The drive to Cataloochee Valley can be a bit scary; be prepared for windy roads and drive slow
After you’re done at Oconaluftee River Trail, you can grab something to eat in Cherokee, Maggie Valley, or Waynesville

DOG-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATIONS

Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg (635 River Road Gatlinburg, TN): 15-minute walk to the start of the Gatlinburg Trail and walking distance to many eateries and entertainment.

Route 19 Inn (4898 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC): 20 miles to the Oconaluftee River Trail and 22 miles to Cataloochee Valley