Smokemont Riding Stables

We had a great time, horseback riding with the family and we are definitely going back. Our guide he was very nice and making sure everyone was OK especially the little ones. Mr. Buck thank you for guiding us on the ride! We will definitely go back soon!!

Such a great experience! We called first to make reservations with Elizabeth, she was very sweet and informative. It was my first time riding and we chose the 2.5 hour waterfall ride. Our tour guide Jason “Jaybo” was very informative and reassuring! He knows the trail like the back of his hand and he gave us a lot of details about sites along the trail which was amazing! The stars of the show were of course the horses, they are mesmerizing and each have a personality of their own. We will absolutely be back and highly recommend Smokemont Riding Stables for their amazing staff and beautiful horses!

I have been here a couple times over the years. The first trail ride was the hour ride. My second ride was the 2.5 hour waterfall tour. It was amazing. All horses were happy and healthy. The staff is friendly and very helpful with questions or tips. I will definitely be a repeat rider. My horse from the 5/24/2025 waterfall ride was chief. He was such good boy. 10/10 recommend.

10/10 recommend! The guide was so friendly and kind. Also had a great sense of humor! Thank you for a fun way to celebrate the 4th.

It was a great ride. We did the 1 hour ride. We had a great guide. I can't remember his name. He was 18 yrs old. Everyone was nice. The horses were great. It was a great experience.

The best horseback riding I’ve done! Trails are in/on the actual mountain on narrow paths that people hike on. The horses are well trained (though they purposefully gave me the ornery one since I have riding experience). I paid for the 2.5hr to the waterfall and I highly recommend that to you!

The most amazing experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. This was my first time riding and I loved it!

Our family of 5 rode yesterday in the rain, it was a fantastic experience. We are novices but our guide, Buck, was really thorough, and the horses did great on the muddy trail and through the rushing stream (though my horse, "Pete," was DETERMINED he was going to eat the foliage every time we stopped for a moment). Well worth the drive from Gatlinburg, would do it again.

My husband and I took our daughter on the 2.5 hr long waterfall trail ride for her 18th birthday and had a blast. Our horses Molly, Casey, and Rio were all amazing, gentle, and easy to ride. Our guide was very sweet and knowledgeable. She told us all about horses and the area. The area that we rode through was gorgeous with a beautiful waterfall and river views. 10 out of 10 recommend this stable!

The horses are larger and appear to be well care for. The waterfall ride is very enjoyable with great scenery I have now been in two waterfall outings and enjoyed both overall. The only piece of feedback is the horse Molly Mae is not responsive to commands and rides extremely close to the edge of the trail which is concerning when there is a steep drop. Because of the horse Molly Mae I honestly would be hesitate ride again at Smokemont but still enjoy my time with 2 rides there. I did bring this concern up both on ride and at dismount and was kind of laughed off with my concern. I have tried to reach out to let the business know of my safety concern for this horse and they simply do not care-hopefully no one is ever injured because of riding on Molly but if they are you have proof the owners were made aware of Molly and do not care

So helpful and friendly! I took my two granddaughters and they had a great time. The trail goes through a stream and is real neat

0:21 0:11 View all Smokemont Riding Stables 4.9 (585) Horse riding in Swain County, North CarolinaOpen OVERVIEW REVIEWS PHOTOS BY OWNER ABOUT Google review summary 54321 4.9 (585) Reviews All guide101 waterfall79 trip36 trail ride35 +6 Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest Tracy Sankbeil Local Guide·78 reviews·8 photos just now NEW My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting the stables on September 23rd. We were one of three couples embarking on the 9am ride (it became notably busier upon our return). The decision to rise early and undertake the 90-minute drive was ... More Lara Atherton 2 reviews·4 photos a month ago These were the best cared for, healthiest horses that I have ever seen on a trail ride. Absolutely gorgeous! Our guides Heather & Asiah were awesome. It was really nice that they had plenty of staff to help people mount & dismount both at ... More suzanne ridenour 3 reviews·8 photos 3 months ago Excellent trail ride our guide Bubba was great. Small group which helped us get to know each other which made for a great time. Went to a beautiful little waterfall which added to the overall experience. I highly recommend Smokemont ... More Savannah L 3 reviews·4 photos 5 days ago NEW Beautiful scenery, horses were exceptional, and I really enjoyed our guide because he was very respectful and nice. I think his name was Buck. Tracy Sankbeil Local Guide·78 reviews·8 photos just now NEW My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting the stables on September 23rd. We were one of three couples embarking on the 9am ride (it became notably busier upon our return). The decision to rise early and undertake the 90-minute drive was certainly worth it! This tranquil morning ride leading to the waterfall provided a breathtaking introduction to the Smoky Mountains. This adventure was my first horseback riding experience (my husband's second), and the staff handled our initiation well. They provided sturdy stands for us to mount our horses, conveniently positioned both at the outset and within the woods. The staff took care to pair each rider with a suitable horse. Although I had reservations about venturing out, our knowledgeable guide, Holly (my apologies if I've momentarily forgotten your name), possessed a deep understanding of the horses' personalities and area. She offered valuable insights, such as highlighting Walkers' preferred snack stops and Appache's spots for quick gallops. These insights greatly enhanced our journey (and soothed my nerves). The 2.5-hour ride felt perfectly timed, and the group efficiently assisted us in dismounting at the conclusion. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to everyone. Thank you for the memorable adventure.

Incredible experience today riding a gentle horse in the Smoky Mountains for 2 and 1/2 hours. Along mountain streams, beautiful butterflies EVERYWHERE, the sound of the river, and a beautiful waterfall brought tears of joy to my eyes. Worth every penny. They have shorter less expensive rides, but for me I'll eat a lot of beans and rice to afford a chance to do it again! If you can, do it! For experienced and newbies, young and old. Very impressed that they had places at the stable AND the waterfall for easy mount. No need to climb or pull myself up. The staff were friendly and I loved Buck, our guide. He was friendly, patient, and quietly let us enjoy our experience occasionally pointing out a landmark here and there. Can't wait to go back!

If you are looking for a unique trail ride with beautiful scenery, this is the place! We chose the 1 hour River Ride, and it was absolutely perfect. We loved crossing the river and enjoyed the peaceful, shady, wooded trail. Our group of 6 was led by Alyssa, who was friendly and knowledgeable and made sure we had a great time. She even stopped to take photos of us on our horses, which was so thoughtful and helped us capture the adventure and the memories. We always enjoy horseback riding on vacations, but this was extra special. The horses are well cared for and were chosen for us based on each rider's needs/experience level. I also loved that we were in our own private group. Pricing was very reasonable, also. It was well worth the drive from Pigeon Forge for this amazing experience, which became the highlight of our trip! Highly recommend (and would happily return)!

My horse Polly fought me to eat anything. Had to continuously pull up head and kick. Trail ride 1 hr beautiful. Good thing I am a strong rider. Should have told owner not guides.

Had such a great time here with my family. We rented horse for an hour ride. Be sure to give yourself time to get there, we were held up by elk.

This was an awesome experience! My husband and I took the 2 1/2 hour waterfall ride. Darius was our guide and he was awesome! Very knowledgeable of the park and very attentive to us as well as the horses. Strongly recommend this adventure for anyone staying close to Smokemont Riding Stables.

We had an amazing time today on our ride! We decided to take the 4 hour ride, and it was well worth it. Our guide Buck was super friendly and had a ton of knowledge on the area..My 83 year old employer/friend and I have been checking things off his bucket list! This ride was on his list. Thank you Smokemont for making our trip enjoyable, and for taking special care and consideration with George. Bella (my horse) was super sweet! I will request to ride her again if we make another visit.. I would highly recommend Smokemont riding stables for your next trail ride! See you guys soon!

If you want to go horseback riding in the smokies, look no further. I could not have asked for a better experience than the one I received at Smokemont Riding Stables. The horses were very well mannered and groomed beautifully. The staff was incredibly polite and take pride in caring for the horses. My guide was a young man named Alex, who went above and beyond to give my mother and I a great ride. He is well versed in plant and animal life around the park. We rode the 2.5 hour trail to the waterfall. The trails were breathtaking. Views of lush shades green, rolling waters over river rocks, and the scent of mountain streams in the air. I was so satisfied with my experience that I went back the next day, and rode the 1 hour trail ride. Going to Smokemont Riding Stables was the pinnacle of my road trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Huge thank you to Alex and the rest of the staff! I can't wait to come back.

I am sure that the folks who run this stable mean to protect their horses by putting on weight limits. However, (ask any woman) you do not take a woman and weigh her in front of everyone waiting to ride a horse. Do you not have a tack room or other room where you can discreetly have a scale? You caused a lot of distress that could have been avoided

My husband and I went to the stables as an anniversary treat while we were staying in the area. My husband had never rode and was a little nervous. The guide made him feel like he was in good hands. We had Dale as a guide. He was wonderful informing us about the beautiful scenery. We did the 2 hour waterfall ride. The views were breath taking. It was so peaceful to hear the stream and waterfall the entire trip. We will definitely be back.

We were in GSMNP for spring break and decided on a whim that we wanted to go horseback riding. We stopped in and made a reservation (in the summer I would definitely call ahead) and were assigned a spot relatively quickly. We did the 1-hour trail ride and everyone from the desk attendant to the stable hand to the guides were so kind and helpful. The horses definitely know the route so you don't have to be experienced to ride them, but if you run into trouble the guides are right there with instruction. It was a wonderful experience.

We took the 1 hour trail ride with Buck as our guide. We rode Apache and Casey. Apache was a great beginners horse but he did love to graze! Casey listened well to all commands on the trail. Buck was very informative about hikes and backpacking and camping. They have a 2,000 pound horse that they use for the wagon rides too! He's massive but very gentle and friendly. We had a wonderful time!

Took the 2.5 ride. From the beginning everyone was knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Guide (Alex) was great and took good care of us, always looking back to see if we were having any difficulties and taking time to circle back to us if we looked like we might be needing some help. I'm not super experienced with horseback riding, but he made it feel safe and a lot of fun. The trail we took was muddy in parts because of the weather, but the horses were solid and knew just what to do. I'd highly recommend Smokemont Stables and hope to be able to ride again when I'm in town.

We had the absolute most amazing time! We took the 2 1/2 hour ride to the waterfall. It was beautiful. The horses knew where to go and each had their own personality. Our guide was perfect! Didn't talk too much or stay silent. He kept an eye on everyone and was very friendly as well. We cannot wait until next year to return for the half day ride. Thank you very much for adding so much to our vacation!

Ok here goes. I am so glad our group took this journey. For me I was a big chicken, scared to death. Dawson was our guide. This young man was perfect. He talked me through the whole ride down to convincing me not to walk my horse. My horses name was Rambo, so sweet. Dawson made us laugh and very informative regarding the area and our surroundings. I can't say enough about Dawson and I highly recommend him and Smokemout. Everyone at the stables were so nice and seemed like they loved there job. So I thank you and maybe I will do it again. Vicki S. Dunnellon, Fl Big Chicken

From start to finish, I could not have asked for a better Fall activity for my daughter and I. Brad was such a personable and reassuring guide. My horse wanted to tailgate and trot at points, but Brad helped instruct me on how to keep her in line. The river crossing and Fall scenery made for a perfect, gorgeous Fall ride. My 8 year old daughter had a blast. So did I. It's a quality operation with safe horses, amiable and fun guides. Highly recommend. We have done other horse rides around the area, but Smokemont was worth the extra drive into the Park.

We enjoyed our one hour ride with Smokemont today. The folks are friendly and know their horses well. We too our seven year old and our five year old, neither of which had ever been around horses before and both did really well. The trail is beautiful and the guides are professional and friendly. We will be back again!

My wife and I took our kids here for our first horse riding experience. We have never been to the Smoky Mountains and thought this would be a great experience. We were wrong! We took the one hour ride on Monday and had such a bad time that we decided to go back on Thursday for the two hour ride. Jamie was our guide on the first trip. Because we were so unhappy with her, we personally requested her for the second trip. She was engaging and made our kids feel comfortable and safe the entire time. She was very knowledgeable about the area and answered all of our questions. Her kindness and enthusiasm was equal to her passion and professionalism...how dare her. The one hour trip blew us away but don't get me started on the two hour trip. Someone obviously didn't plan the route very well. The ride took us along rivers and creeks through the mountain. It sounded like the noise machine I use at home to help me sleep. There's nothing worse than being surrounded by the warm colors of the autumn foliage and breathing in crisp, refreshing mountain air to ruin your day. How is anyone supposed to focus on the stress of life when they're mentally and physically at peace? Then to top it all off, half way through the ride, I had to sit on the bank of a cascading waterfall and try to figure out how to never leave. By far the most frustrating part of the experience is how our kids won't stop talking about it and how we can't stop thinking about our third trip.

The staff was so informative and super friendly. We had a large group, including a 5 year old and were easily accommodated. Everyone had a great time! We took the 1 hour trail ride and that was more than long enough for novice riders. The scenery was beautiful, especially crossing the river!

Really great place to take family or friends riding. The employees are fun and very knowledgeable with instruction. Went for my birthday and had a really memorable experience.

One of the best riding places ever very explanatory and very experienced horses and awesome guides

I live in the area but took my mom riding when she came to town. We did the 2.5 hour ride, which is very cool and worth the cost! The guide (Alex was ours) did great at checking in on us, keeping us posted on upcoming changes in terrain, or letting us ride peacefully through the beautiful woods. The horses are well trained, and didn't even flinch when we saw a young bear! We got off the horses to take a quick walk to the waterfall, and back on for the ride back (used a platform, very helpful!). I'd recommend Smokemont Riding Stables to anyone visiting or local looking for something fun to do, solo or with friends and family!

Took the family on a 1 hour ride and had a great time! Their staff was knowledgeable and professional. Their location was easily accessed. The safety brief was complete and the horses were beautiful and ready. They did all the work for us and let us enjoy ourselves. The trail and the views were wonderful. If you're near the Smokies and are looking to spend a fun afternoon riding, call them. You won't be disappointed.

We did a group 1 hour ride yesterday and it was wonderful! The horses are well cared for and the guides were professional and very informative. I had not been on a horse in 20 years but felt safe and comfortable.

I highly recommend. We had a great time and the guide (Nolan) was very knowledgeable. The horses were very gentle. It was also great to see the polite manners used here also. Just an awesome experience on the trail ride overall!!! We would definitely go again.

This was so much fun! We did the 2.5 waterfall ride and 1 hour trail ride. It was absolutely the most fun I have had in a long time. Beautiful scenery Horses were great. Guide was very friendly and sweet. She did a fantastic job with us.

Beautiful and well kept barn, healthy horses, awesome staff. I went for the one hour ride, only for lack of time, but I will be back for the four hour ride. Beautiful ride in the Smokey Mountains

This place was relaxing and friendly. My family had a wonderful hour long trip going through the river a tunnel and a loop through the mountains. Each of my kids had their own horses 5, 7, and 9. The two younger kids had guides leading them with a rope.

Owner is very friendly! We were unable to do horseback riding because it started pouring down rain. But the owner patiently explained other alternatives in Cherokee that we can do! Very nice! Would return next time when we visit Cherokee again!

Great experience and nice guides. I did the one hour tour with my girlfriend and her mom and we had a great time. River crossing was especially cool. The horses were well trained. My gf's mom is 65 and this was her first horseback riding experience ever. At first she was hesitant but was reassured by the staff that it was safe. Turned out to be great!

Had the 2.5 hr waterfall ride. So much fun! The horses were well trained. Love my horse Black Jack. Staff was nice and helpful. Our guide Nolan was very friendly and knowledgable. The scenery was beautiful. I will be back!

Went on the 2.5 hour waterfall ride and had a wonderful time. Called ahead and signed up a few hours before we planned on getting there. When we got there, we waited maybe 10-15 minutes and we were on a horse and off to the waterfall. It was the perfect way to end our anniversary trip! Ray was our guide and he was great! It was just the three of us so it ended up being more of a private ride which was awesome! Beautiful scenery and well trained horses. Would definitely go back again on our next vacation in the Smokies!

We had a group of six (two adults and four children ages 10-15) that did the one-hour trip on 6/16. Alex was our guide and really kept the kids interested by asking them questions and providing fun facts while on the trail. He even pointed out a rattle snake and a bear print which the kids thought was very cool. Highly recommend this as the trail goes through the Great Smoky Mountains which includes crossing a stream.

Elizabeth and the team at Smokemont were great! The staff is knowledgable and kind to the horses! I enjoyed my ride with Roach, he was a sweet horse and I would request him the next time I go. The only thing that I would change is the opportunity to do more than a slow walk. Otherwise we had a wonderful trip with beautiful scenery! Tucked in the national forest, it doesn't get any better than the trees, river, and waterfalls on this ride!

We paid for the 1 hour ride, ended up going for an hour and a half. one of the coolest experiences ever for me! I believe our guide was Chris, and he was sooooo knowledgeable. We went thru the stream and creeks and all throughout the mountains and trails. It was so beautiful and tranquil. Perfect shade throughout, even though it was a hot and sunny day. The trees provided the perfect weather to block the sun!