Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the more dog-friendly national parks — pet policy grade D. Leashed dogs are welcome on 2 of our hand-mapped trails; where they can't go, we map boarding and 24/7 vets nearby.
| Trail | Length | Gain | Kids | Shade | Restrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg Trail | 3.8 mi | 130 ft | 4+ | 70% | Yes |
| Oconaluftee River Trail | 3 mi | 60 ft | 3+ | 75% | Yes |
Leashed at all times (6 ft or shorter). Dogs are generally banned from ladder/rung trails, swim beaches, buildings and ranger programs. Pack out all waste.
Day-boarding and overnight sitters near the park through Rover.
Find boarding →Hot pavement and granite burn paws — test with your hand. Watch for wildlife, ticks and blue-green algae in still water. Carry extra water.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park grades D on our A–D pet-policy scale. Dogs are restricted to paved roads, campgrounds and parking areas — almost no trails. Leashes (6 ft max) are required everywhere.
2 of the trails we've hand-mapped allow leashed dogs, including Gatlinburg Trail, Oconaluftee River Trail. Length, gain and shade for each are in the table above.
Yes — Animal Emergency & Specialty Center of Knoxville — 24/7 (~40 mi), about 40 mi away. Save the number before you head in: cell coverage inside the park is patchy.
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