Guided horseback trail rides

Explore nature with horseback riding near Gatlinburg, TN.

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A fun activity on your next vacation

Enjoy guided horseback trail rides through a portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Man and woman horseback riding
Fun activity

Horseback riding is an excellent choice for a fun activity on your next vacation, even if you’ve never been on a horse before!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park sign
Conveniently located

Sugarlands Riding Stables is conveniently located minutes from Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the beautiful Sugarlands Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Two children wearing black helmets for horseback riding
Excellent for beginners

Our trail rides are excellent for beginners and experienced riders alike. We have handpicked our horses for their calm temperament, athletic ability, and willingness to please.

Two riders on brown horses in a forest setting
Matched according to experience

We match our horses with each rider to suit your experience and skill level, and we provide an orientation, so you feel comfortable with your horse before we leave.

A group of friends enjoying a horseback riding activity in a park
What to expect

Expect to be with us for a little over an hour to 2 hours, depending on the length of your ride, for signing in, orientation, familiarizing yourself with the horses, mounting up and the trail ride.

Guided horse tours

Our guided trail rides are a wonderful way to explore and enjoy a part of your national park, which most visitors to the park do not see. For a more personal touch, we like to keep our groups as small as possible with a limit of 9 riders per guide.

Meet the local guides

You will be greeted by our local trail guides, who are committed to providing you with a safe and memorable excursion while you explore, from horseback, a portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as it appeared to some of America’s first settlers. Just minutes from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you’ll see what’s under the forest canopy and maybe some woodland critters!

Safety first

Guided Horseback rides depart continually throughout the day for the 1 hour and 1 ½ hours rides. We suggest that all riders wear a safety helmet, which we provide free of charge for all.

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Top questions and answers

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I’ve never ridden a horse; can you accommodate beginners?

Sure. Our guides are professional and safety is our first and foremost priority in everything we do. All rides include a brief riding orientation, and your guides are readily available should you need assistance during the ride. If you meet the necessary age, height and weight requirements, all we ask is that you are in good physical condition to be able to mount and dismount your horse and to ride for five miles at a walk/trot.

However, being a little nervous is one matter, if you are terrified because of a previous bad experience or if you are being overly coerced by a friend or family member, maybe horseback riding is not for you.

How many people go out on each ride?

We never have more than 9 people per guide.

Can we go out on our own, without a guide?

For safety reasons, all our rides are guided.

Can my experienced 5-year-old ride?

Regardless of experience, children must beat least 6 years or older and able to physically control a large horse without assistance. Please understand that although our horses are extremely gentle and well-trained, they are full-size horses, weighing a thousand pounds and more. Each horse is equipped with an adult-size saddle, and the equipment adjusts only so far!

However, there is no age limit for the guided carriage or hayrides at our sister National Park stables located in Cades Cove at CadesCoveRidingStables.com

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Come join us!

Feel like you’re well prepared for a horseback ride while experiencing the beauty of the Smoky Mountains with its sun-dappled trails, mountain streams, and the sounds of nature around you? Come join us at Sugarlands Riding Stables where we have something for everyone.

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No reservations

Unfortunately, we do not accept reservations due to unforeseen vehicle traffic difficulties outside and within the Park. All rides are subject to weather and trail conditions.

Restrictions for guided horseback rides

For safety reasons, we do have some rules and restrictions for the guided horseback rides.

  • Minimum age – 6 years
  • Minimum height – 4 feet
  • Maximum weight – 250 pounds

All riders 15 years of age and younger must wear a helmet. No cameras or phones allowed on horseback rides.

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