Article & photos by Nancy Brannon
Nestled on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Townsend, TN (the peaceful side of the Smokies), lies Orchard Cove Stables, a 160-acre farm that is a popular destination for trail riders who want to ride the Park trails. Owned and operated by the Webb family, Heather, Freda, and Ed, the stables and grounds are well-maintained with hands-on care. “We do everything,” Freda Webb said, “including our own landscaping and maintenance. We feel like we owe the horses the best that we can provide.”
Orchard Cove Stables are located on the western side of the Park near School House Gap Trail, so it’s a very short distance from the stable to the trailhead – just out the back yard! “It’s the only place on this side of the Smokies where you can ride directly into the Park without having to ride on paved roads,” said Freda. “The Schoolhouse Gap Trail from Orchard Cove also is one of the few places where you can access and ride on the Appalachian Trail. Go to Spence Field, where you can access the Appalachian Trail. You see all kinds of wildlife: bears (horses don’t mind bears), wild turkey, deer.”
Spence Field lies along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, between Blount County and Swain County. It rises 3,000 feet above Cades Cove to the north and 3,300 feet (1,000 m) above Fontana Lake to the south. The “field” spreads out atop the crest, covering approximately 200 acres. The Bote Mountain Trail, which intersects the Appalachian Trail at Spence Field, can be accessed at its trailhead along Little River Road or via several spur trails.
In addition to nearly year-round trail riding opportunities, Orchard Cove brings in clinicians about three times a year. A clinic with Wendy Murdoch was available to riders August 17-20. Other clinicians such as Bryan Neubert and Liz Graves are regulars at Orchard Cove.
Orchard Cove offers comfortable stabling for horses: a new 20-stall barn, a 90' x 200' covered arena, and a bathhouse. Stalls are roomy at 10’ X 12.’ The barn is constructed to provide the best sanitary conditions possible. The walls on two sides are solid concrete and washed thoroughly and disinfected after each horse. There are stall gates on the front and rear (not panels), and the open construction provides excellent ventilation. One-piece rubber mats cover the entire concrete stall floors, giving cushion to tired horses. Stalls are bedded with shavings upon arrival.
Additional shavings, ice, and firewood are available as needed. Horse owners are responsible for bringing their own hay and feed. Horse owners are responsible for cleaning their stalls daily and stripping them upon departure. Muck buckets are provided for “curbside service” to take the manure offsite for composting. The arena is located next to the barn and is available for riders’ use at no charge. Stock trailers are available for rent to take horses to other trailheads in the Smokies.
Camping is free at Orchard Cove, and the facility offers 30-amp service and water at each site (no sewer, but they do have a dump station). The sites have picnic tables but no grills. An attractive bathhouse is near the trailer sites.
Some folks come just for the weekend; others stay as long as ten days or two weeks. “People come from all over, even from as far away as Africa,” Freda said. “We have lots of repeat customers. The Smokies offer different riding experiences than other places. Here it’s cool in the summer since most trails are through the woods and the higher elevations of the trails bring cool temperatures.” Gregory Bald trail is one of the higher elevation trails, and goes by the Visitors Center, Cades Cove.
June through October months are their busiest time; folks come to see the flowers in late spring and early summer, them come in the fall for the colorful leaves. “A Missouri group comes at the end of March every year and they usually encounter snow in the upper elevations,” Freda said. The average length of trail ride in the Smokies is about six hours, so horses are usually ready for those comfy stalls when they return!
Access to Orchard Cove by vehicle is from Townsend, Highway 321, to 1263 School House Gap Rd. Complete directions and information are available on their website: http://www.orchardcovestables.com. The route goes by Tuckaleechee Caverns, limestone caverns estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old; this is another site to visit while in the area. Orchard Cove is located in “Dry Valley,” called such because a crystal clear stream flows through the length of the caverns, draining much of the surface water from the small Alpine cove, Dry Valley, located directly above part of the caverns. For information about Tuckaleechee Caverns, visit: http://www.tuckaleecheecaverns.com
Another stable in Dry Valley is Gilbertson’s Lazy Horse Retreat, also a family owned and operated business. The Retreat boasts of its magnificent panoramic view of the mountains: Rich and Scott Mountains towering behind and the Chilhowee Mountain Range in front. The Retreat has four rental cabins plus stabling facilities in a tranquil ranch setting. For more information, visit: http://www.lazyhorseretreat.com/
Nestled on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Townsend, TN (the peaceful side of the Smokies), lies Orchard Cove Stables, a 160-acre farm that is a popular destination for trail riders who want to ride the Park trails. Owned and operated by the Webb family, Heather, Freda, and Ed, the stables and grounds are well-maintained with hands-on care. “We do everything,” Freda Webb said, “including our own landscaping and maintenance. We feel like we owe the horses the best that we can provide.”
Orchard Cove Stables are located on the western side of the Park near School House Gap Trail, so it’s a very short distance from the stable to the trailhead – just out the back yard! “It’s the only place on this side of the Smokies where you can ride directly into the Park without having to ride on paved roads,” said Freda. “The Schoolhouse Gap Trail from Orchard Cove also is one of the few places where you can access and ride on the Appalachian Trail. Go to Spence Field, where you can access the Appalachian Trail. You see all kinds of wildlife: bears (horses don’t mind bears), wild turkey, deer.”
Spence Field lies along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, between Blount County and Swain County. It rises 3,000 feet above Cades Cove to the north and 3,300 feet (1,000 m) above Fontana Lake to the south. The “field” spreads out atop the crest, covering approximately 200 acres. The Bote Mountain Trail, which intersects the Appalachian Trail at Spence Field, can be accessed at its trailhead along Little River Road or via several spur trails.
In addition to nearly year-round trail riding opportunities, Orchard Cove brings in clinicians about three times a year. A clinic with Wendy Murdoch was available to riders August 17-20. Other clinicians such as Bryan Neubert and Liz Graves are regulars at Orchard Cove.
Orchard Cove offers comfortable stabling for horses: a new 20-stall barn, a 90' x 200' covered arena, and a bathhouse. Stalls are roomy at 10’ X 12.’ The barn is constructed to provide the best sanitary conditions possible. The walls on two sides are solid concrete and washed thoroughly and disinfected after each horse. There are stall gates on the front and rear (not panels), and the open construction provides excellent ventilation. One-piece rubber mats cover the entire concrete stall floors, giving cushion to tired horses. Stalls are bedded with shavings upon arrival.
Additional shavings, ice, and firewood are available as needed. Horse owners are responsible for bringing their own hay and feed. Horse owners are responsible for cleaning their stalls daily and stripping them upon departure. Muck buckets are provided for “curbside service” to take the manure offsite for composting. The arena is located next to the barn and is available for riders’ use at no charge. Stock trailers are available for rent to take horses to other trailheads in the Smokies.
Camping is free at Orchard Cove, and the facility offers 30-amp service and water at each site (no sewer, but they do have a dump station). The sites have picnic tables but no grills. An attractive bathhouse is near the trailer sites.
Some folks come just for the weekend; others stay as long as ten days or two weeks. “People come from all over, even from as far away as Africa,” Freda said. “We have lots of repeat customers. The Smokies offer different riding experiences than other places. Here it’s cool in the summer since most trails are through the woods and the higher elevations of the trails bring cool temperatures.” Gregory Bald trail is one of the higher elevation trails, and goes by the Visitors Center, Cades Cove.
June through October months are their busiest time; folks come to see the flowers in late spring and early summer, them come in the fall for the colorful leaves. “A Missouri group comes at the end of March every year and they usually encounter snow in the upper elevations,” Freda said. The average length of trail ride in the Smokies is about six hours, so horses are usually ready for those comfy stalls when they return!
Access to Orchard Cove by vehicle is from Townsend, Highway 321, to 1263 School House Gap Rd. Complete directions and information are available on their website: http://www.orchardcovestables.com. The route goes by Tuckaleechee Caverns, limestone caverns estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old; this is another site to visit while in the area. Orchard Cove is located in “Dry Valley,” called such because a crystal clear stream flows through the length of the caverns, draining much of the surface water from the small Alpine cove, Dry Valley, located directly above part of the caverns. For information about Tuckaleechee Caverns, visit: http://www.tuckaleecheecaverns.com
Another stable in Dry Valley is Gilbertson’s Lazy Horse Retreat, also a family owned and operated business. The Retreat boasts of its magnificent panoramic view of the mountains: Rich and Scott Mountains towering behind and the Chilhowee Mountain Range in front. The Retreat has four rental cabins plus stabling facilities in a tranquil ranch setting. For more information, visit: http://www.lazyhorseretreat.com/
