Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Find Your Adventure

Bryson City is home to six access points to the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited national park. In addition to Oconaluftee at Cherokee, Clingmans Dome, the Road to Nowhere, and Deep Creek, you can also access the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after crossing Fontana Dam, on the Appalachain Trail, or by boat on a North Shore excursion, or on a guided hike to Hazel Creek.

Here, you will find an abundance of opportunities for outdoor fun, ranging from hiking, biking, horseback riding, tubing and other adventures. When you enter Bryson City, you’ll find a place literally surrounded by nature (87% of it is federal land) with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just to the north, making it the ideal setting for a dreamy off-the-grid getaway.

Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads, but must be kept on a leash at all times. The leash must not exceed 6 feet in length. Dogs are only allowed on the Oconaluftee River Trail or in the Deep Creek Picnic area. Dogs are prohibited on National Park Trails for a few reasons. Dogs can chases and threaten wildlife, bark and disturb the quietness of the wilderness, they may become prey for larger predators and dogs can carry disease into the wildlife populations. For more pet-friendly activities, visit our Pet Friendly page, and learn about all the trails and restaurants in our area that do allow pets.