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I'm a permit holder and I always take my gun when I go to a National Park, sign or no sign.

One time my husband and I took our horses to the Cherokee National Forest to ride with friends. I had a leather holster that I kept attached to the saddle beside the saddle horn and within easy reach. On this particular day, the rest of the group had been running and I chose to go at a walk so my horse and I were alone. A four-wheel drive truck load of drunks pulled up beside and attempted to harass me. I unsnapped the strap over the trigger guard and they saw the pistol. Without another word they decided to leave. Right after that a ranger pulled alongside and asked me what I was doing riding alone in the mountains. I explained and while I was explaining he saw the gun. He stared at it just a second, looked at me and said "Have a nice day and be careful". He never mentioned the gun. I guess he figured any female alone in the mountains of TN needed protection because he never said a word about the gun.

Right after that a ranger pulled alongside and asked me what I was doing riding alone in the mountains. I explained and while I was explaining he saw the gun. He stared at it just a second, looked at me and said "Have a nice day and be careful". He never mentioned the gun.

All of the dozen or so Rangers I've encountered seemed very friendly, and I doubt they've give anyone grief over carrying a gun.

The exception to this might be the Grand Canyon. A couple of the Rangers I saw there appeared to have a JBT mentality as they were stopping vehicles.

Not to worry - there is nothing preventing you from carrying in a National Forest as long as the applicable state law doesn't prevent it, IIRC. It's National Parks that have the ban. Not that the disparity ever made any sense. It highlights the power of bureaucrats in the federal government.

I believe that Nat'l parks and Nat'l Forests are governened differently, IIRC according to the Forestry info people I spoke with re carrying in Pisgah, state laws apply in the Forest. Parks are another matter.
If you look up info on line, there seems to be some room for some carry in a manner that is not immediately accessible - but it is not certain how an individual officer may interpret that.
http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/e-mail/weapons.htm

I found deep in a federal website once the idea that one could have a firearm for protection in ones camp, but no real provision for how to get it there. Can't find that tonight in the time alloted.

Does TN require a permit for open carry? Spending a lot of time there, I would like to know. Thanks

"I'm a permit holder and I always take my gun when I go to a National Park, sign or no sign.

One time my husband and I took our horses to the Cherokee National Forest to ride with friends."

My understanding is that it is legal to CCW in a National Forest, but not a National Park.

I used to go hiking in Cherokee by myself. I always carried a pistol with me. I've run into some pretty strange people up there and the place is filled up with dope growers.