Whether you’re an experienced rider or you’ve never been on a horse in your life, you’ll find plenty of welcoming stables in Pigeon Forge ready to take you out on a ride. Why is horseback riding so much fun?

1. Get Up Close with the Horses

Whether you were a horse-crazy kid, or just have a horse-crazy kid yourself, spending time with these smart, lovely animals makes your Smoky Mountain vacation much more special. Unless you’ve got your own horse back home, you might never have the chance to spend time with horses. Find out why horseback riding is one of the most popular activities in Pigeon Forge.

2. Experience the Great Outdoors

The Smoky Mountains create a serene backdrop for riding. Watch for wildlife like white-tailed deer, Eastern bluebirds, and red-tailed hawks as you ride. After all, when you ride a horse, you’ve got a great, quiet vantage point for seeing the trees and their residents up close. Horseback trekking also takes you along trails you otherwise wouldn’t see where you ride through cooling woods, rolling pastures, and across a shallow creek.

3. Try Something You've Never Done

“No experience necessary.” Those are three magical words! Your vacation is a wonderful time to get outside your comfort zone. If you’ve never tried riding, why not try here? You’ll get patient, expert help. Some stables even provide a “loading dock” so you can hop onto your horse easily! Once you’re on horseback, you’ll find out how simple and soothing it feels. Not sure it’s your thing? Some rides can be less than an hour-long, so try a short one to sample what it’s like.

4. Explore the Area with a Local Guide

As you bob along on the back of your friendly steed, your guide does more than just supervise your riding. Riding guides are experts on local trails, the outdoors, and history.

You can take in the stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on horseback, too. Experienced guides run riding tours inside the park, and offer rides as short as 45 minutes and as long as several hours, so you’re sure to find the right trek for you.

5. Family Bonding

Horseback riding creates memories your family will share for years. All ages can get in on the fun, too: Most local stables, , let kids as young as five ride alone, while kids under five can “double-up” with an adult. Riding is also a great bonding activity for the grown-ups: Bring your family reunion, crew of best buddies, bachelor or bachelorette group for a relaxing ride. Couples are welcome, too--a quiet trek is a great honeymoon outing!

After your ride, share memories over dinner at your private vacation cabin. Reserve your rental cabin today.