1000% worth it, book the reservation and enjoy the beauty of nature with great people…read more We were running late, Davy Crocketts were amazing. We had 4 first time riders, Davy Crocketts were great! Our girls started out nervous but by the end of the ride their confidence was sky high, you could see it on their faces! The best way to celebrate or just be out in nature. We spent an hour walking through before woods and pastures with wildlife to see! The guides/owners of Davy Crocketts are truly incredible people that have both yours and the horses best interests in mind! Now quit reading this and go book your trail ride!

We enjoyed an hour long ride with our 4 and 6 year! We had a wonderful time. Horses were well…read moretrained and our ride guide was very nice.

We arrived after 3pm; beautiful drive from pigeon forge. All staff were so kind and knowledgeable…read more The chairlift ride was so fun, more exciting than I imagined and I felt safe. The ride up and down was comfortable and views are stunning! Peaceful with gorgeous Mountain views as you glide up a lush path through the trees Once at the top the views are panoramic we were given cold water bottles and moon pies! We played bean bag toss then sat on a swing that seemed on top of the world! I've been on other chair lifts in the area and like this one best Do yourself a favor and spend a couple hours experiencing this gem!

Came back today but heads up for everyone they are not doing horseback riding this year. They do…read morehave a sky-lift.

We bought a souvenir mug at the Cades Cove Campground Store for $24.99. Later we discovered that…read morethe exact same mug at all other national park stores sells for $16.99 only. A little bit too greedy.

I had such an amazing time at the Cades Cove Riding Stables. It was my first time on a horse. I was…read morea bit nervous but once we were in the trail it was so much fun. I felt like a pro! Our tour guide was Sydney (spelling??) she was amazing. She would get on and off her horse to check on everyone to the back. She was incredibly kind. Front office was nice to us when we came in to check in. There's no reservations, you just come in, sign waivers, and get set up to ride. There's plenty of parking. Please make sure you remember to bring some cash to tip your guide. They work really hard to make sure you have a great experience.

Our stay couldn't have been better. It was peaceful and serene, and exactly as described. My 7YO…read moreand I loved hiking the property and feeding the animals in the morning. The owner Janice was so kind and patient with my kiddo - we'll definitely be back! The location was close to everything, yet felt like a million miles away. Great value, and very quiet.

The horses seemed tired. I was watching the first group leave as we got there. As they were…read morewalking, I seen the horses "knees" shake and looked painful for them to walk. My horse seemed to have something wrong with its mouth. When we mounted, my horse was chewing on the bridle angrily. The guide instructed me not to pull on the reigns, but my horse kept getting to close to my daughters horse in front of me and making my daughters horse kick mine. I had no choice but to pull on the reigns a bit. The guide did say they have days off. But from what I've seen, they seemed tired and in pain. Their manes were full of tangles and burs. The trail was beautiful.

My wife and I have been together for 24 years. In that time we've gone horseback riding 3 times,…read moretwo of which have been here in Pigeon Forge. Our most recent excursion @ Goldrush Stables and the other @ Big Rock Dude Ranch. Naturally, I can't help making comparisons between the two. Simply put, after this experience we've come to the conclusion we really don't like riding horses, even though we love them! It's just not for us, but we are so glad for all the opportunities. . [ THE RIDE ] We arrived 15 minutes early as requested by the stables to sign waivers and prep for the ride. Our trail guides were saddling several horses as we watched from outside the fence. Once ready, we were summoned to the mounting platform, which makes it much easier for beginners like us. Because COVID-19 has given me a little extra girth, I was given one of the larger horses named Blondie, while my wife rode Fanny. It was Blondie's first ride in weeks (they tend to rest their horses for long periods), so she proved to be rather eager on the trail. Fanny, as my wife soon discovered, doesn't like to get her feet wet. Once all the riders were mounted & instructed, we walked across a wooden bridge to a field and began our ride. Normally the ride would begin by walking the horses through the creek, but rain from the night before had water levels up, so we bypassed it via the bridge. We also bypassed another creek walk further down the trail, which was disappointing since it was one of the main reasons we chose this stable over Big Rock. It was one of the best selling points. We then arrived at a smaller, more narrow creek crossing that both Blondie and Fanny decided to jump, startling both me & my wife. Immediately after the creek the terrain goes uphill, which my horse decided to run. She headed straight into some low-lying branches, almost knocking me off. Her eagerness caused her to not listen very well when pulling back on her reigns and my inexperience handling her didn't help. My wife's horse ran her knee into a tree just after jumping the small creek, so clearly we were having a few issues! LOL Our guides yelled out after my wife's accident "steer your horses", but even after 3-minutes of instruction it's hard to do that properly when the horse seems to have other plans. At this point the trail follows a path into the woods and up and down a fairly good-sized hill. On a dry day I think this would have been a very pleasant ride, but because the trail was muddy, my particular horse kept sliding... BADLY, like something you'd see in a cartoon! It was very nerve racking and made it difficult to relax and enjoy the experience. In truth, I felt sorry for my horse. She was seriously soaked in sweat by mid ride and seemed to walk under every low branch along the way! I believe she was intentionally trying to get me off her back, fo'realz... hahaha! Poor thing. My wife remained frazzled most of the ride as she wrestled with her own fears of not feeling in control. At midpoint the trail loops back into itself and we follow the same path back to the beginning. . [ THE VERDICT ] We learned something about ourselves that I suppose we've always known. Some of the experiences we've had were greatly enhanced because of the joy we felt showing our children how to live life. We did so many things in the name of giving them great memories and now we must reprogram to pursue our own like as a couple, not just as parents. We thought we would enjoy the more open fields & smaller slopes @ Goldrush versus the mountainous trail @ Big Rock, and probably would have if not for the muddy conditions. That being said, the ride time was far shorter and there is little else to do here. Overall we felt like Big Rock was the better value. So why 4 stars you ask? Well, for one I believe most of our dislikes for this ride were either OPERATOR ERROR or just conditions that couldn't be helped. It's just the luck of the draw when dealing with nature. Secondly, I think despite the shortness of the trail, it is perfect for beginners and families with children old enough to ride on their own. [ NOTE TO OWNERS ] I would like to suggest regularly trimming low lying branches along the trail, adding colorful signage reminding riders to watch their knees in at least TWO critical areas and/or add a guide rail to deter the horses from walking so close. Most of us city folk just don't know how to handle a horse!!! Also, since the trail is short and most people these days love photo opportunities, why not build a second mounting/dismounting platform at the top of the hill where riders can have a chance to pause & take pics on or beside their horses. I personally think this would go a long way in improving the experience. TIP WHEN PLANNING A VISIT: Currently they do not allow doubles, so smaller children or kids fearful of riding alone cannot ride (unlike Big Rock which allows small children to ride with parents). ENJOY 2020 / 71

This place was great! We wanted to do something different in this vacation and horse back riding…read morewas something we never have done before! It was cool to get to go up hills and see the beautiful views from riding the horses! I rode rebel and he was great! He wanted to lead the whole time but we stayed in the second spot. Highly recommend trying this place out!

What a wonderful experience. Everyone is so kind and helpful. We had a great guide and very relaxed…read morehorses to ride. We chose the 1 hour tour and enjoyed all the beauty around us. Will definitely do again

beautiful scenery on the ride but the ride guide was horrible, very inattentive and not at all…read morehelpful during the ride.

This place is still open!! Just under new management. We…read morehad the BEST time on our one hour ride. Our guide Jacob was super knowledgeable about the land and the horses. This is a MUST do if you are in the smoky mountains. Didn't see any bears, but bear season isn't in full swing yet! So much fun! Would come again

Extremely Frustrating Experience - Please Fix Your Address Info…read more We had a really disappointing experience with Sugarlands Riding Stables due to serious issues with their address and lack of communication. We originally mapped "Sugarlands Riding Stables" on Apple Maps -- it led us to the wrong location (see attached image). So we tried the address listed on their actual website (1409 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN -- sugarlandsstables.com), typed it into both Apple and Google Maps -- and again were taken to another incorrect location, this time to a random candle shop downtown (see image of 1409 parkway mapped). Our friends in another car finally found the correct spot only because they physically clicked the address link in Google, which took them to the right location. Turns out the stables are actually located off Newfound Gap Road, near the Two Mile Lead Concession Horse Trailhead ( see image on Google maps)-- not downtown, and nowhere near any of the addresses they list. When we arrived, we were told they couldn't take us because the second car was 20 minutes late -- even though we had booked online a month in advance and had no way of getting accurate directions. I had also tried calling multiple times over several days, and no one ever answered. When we got there, the staff even admitted that many people are getting mapped to the wrong location but offered no real solution -- just that "you have to click the link" instead of typing the address in. How are people supposed to know that? Especially when the website sugarlandsstables.com is the one giving the wrong address? The owner responded to our review saying we must have looked at the old contractor's website -- but we absolutely didn't. We looked at the correct, working website (again: sugarlandsstables.com), which clearly lists the incorrect 1409 Parkway address. The old stables aren't even in operation anymore, so not sure why that was suggested. If you know this is a repeated issue, why not: * Update the address on your actual website * Add a clear note with real directions * Mention landmarks like the cemetery or the trailhead * Add a Google Pin that clearly marks "Sugarlands Riding Stables" at the right location * Set up a working phone line or at least a live chat They claimed their phones were down from storms, but if you're running a business, there should be a backup -- like a cell phone or an auto-reply that helps people. There's clearly WiFi because they process online bookings, so the excuse doesn't cut it. They did refund us, but then said the booking company is based in Florida and they don't really have a connection with them -- and they couldn't give us a phone number or contact to follow up. Also, the confirmation email had no address at all, so there was nothing helpful to go off of if you didn't already know exactly where to go. The worst part? Their attitude. Their responses to reviews are so defensive, blaming customers rather than just being understanding or proactive. It's really unprofessional. If you know people are regularly being misdirected to downtown Gatlinburg, just fix it. Don't accuse the customer. TL;DR: We lost out on a paid booking because of mapping issues, no communication, and a lack of transparency. They gave a refund, but the way they handled it -- and how they treat customers -- left a really bad taste in our mouth. A simple website fix and better attitude could go a long way.

Visiting the Cades Cove Riding Stables was one of the highlights of our trip to the Great Smoky…read moreMountains. I'd done some research prior to our visit and knew that rides were on a first-come, first-served basis, and you are not able to reserve your spot ahead of your arrival. We arrived around 11am on a Monday in June. There was a group mounting up to head out when we arrived and after signing waivers and paying, we were told that our group (which only consisted of us at the moment) would be leaving in about 15 minutes. There were signs posted everywhere stating that no cameras, phones, etc. were allowed on the trail, for safety purposes. I was confused when our guide asked if I wanted a photo on my horse and then asked me for my phone. This was disappointing because I definitely wanted to take photos and video of the experience. She said that we could have brought them with us. I mentioned this when we went into the office following our ride. The woman working the desk said that she just does as she's told. One day a woman showed up and posted those signs, and she doesn't rock the boat. I'm not a rule-breaker, so we left our phones in the car, but just FYI, you can take your phones! The ride itself was very serene and peaceful. The forest canopy blocks out most of the sun too, which was nice. We saw deer, a snake, and bear tracks...but unfortunately, no bear. My horse, Kelly, was a very sassy/spicy girl and Copperhead, who my husband rode, was very calm and prissy...no mud on her hooves! This experience was a lovely start to our adventures of the day. The cost of this experience was $50/person for a 1 hour ride.

TLDR: It used to be they never took reservations, but now they do, and you better have one…read more We drove an hour from our location without a reservation, hoping they could get us in for a trail ride for our family of five. We arrived at 9:45AM on a Thursday in April and there was already a decent line. Some had reservations and some did not. The people with reservations were the first class citizens but even they, the vacation planning elite, had to wait a significant amount of time. They were short staffed by two guides--it sounded like one just didn't show up to work that day. One lady in line was frustrated because she made an online reservation for a hayride at 11:00AM (and paid for it) but they had no record of that (eek). Furthermore she couldn't access her phone to prove it because there is no cell service. So if you make an online reservation but it doesn't show up, that's a major management issue. Employees not showing up is also a management issue. We ended up driving the cades cove loop and only saw a couple of turkeys. So my family experienced a major disappointment instead of making memories riding horses in the Smokies which is what I was looking forward to doing the most on this trip. After waiting an hour we left. And then I left...a well-deserved bad review.

I loved this place. It was first on my list!! They explained everything and gave us amazing horses…read more The location is beautiful and the ride was fun. What made it even more special was the little greeter an absolutely beautiful little cat!

The trail ride was nice but there was room for improvement. They seem to be more in the horse…read morebusiness than the customer service business. After driving 4 miles on a windy/steep road you arrive at the barn. There is an intro with instructions before you get on the horse but it is very faced-paced and there is no chance to "meet" your horse or practice your skills before taking off. Our guide quickly introduced herself but we didn't get any interaction with her, it was all fast-paced. The guide did remind us throughout the ride of relevant instructions. I did the 2 hour trail ride, it was a good amount of time and very peaceful. My horse was Redjack and he was the last in line of a group of 7. He liked going at his own pace but would respond when I instructed him. Being last in the line made it difficult to hear everything the guide said. Before we attempted trotting she gave us quick instructions and I felt very insecure once the horses took off on a trot. Once we got back to the barn the next group was getting ready to go out, it seemed kind of like an assembly line. The check-out afterwards felt awkward where the guide took our payment, she did not act appreciative when I left a tip. They have a sign at the checkout where you can get a discount if you leave a review so I would suspect this has inflated their amount of 5-star reviews. Overall the ride was nice but I did not leave feeling like I had a good customer service experience or got any interaction/knowledge from the guide or interaction with the horse other than riding it.

Insanely beautiful venue! There are pretty horses in the distant paddock. We played corn hole and…read moreoutdoor chess while my friends serenaded each other at their wedding. I will never forget this place- it is magical.

From the owner: The Venue The Barn at Lavender Hills wedding and event venue…read moreis nestled in 58 acres in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, 5 miles south of downtown Maryville, TN. Breathtaking mountain views with a brand new horse barn tastefully clad in white with wrap around veranda porches. The venue feautures ambient fireplaces, changing areas, restrooms with abundant AC/heat for any weather. The venue is continually evolving with lavender plots, outdoor golf driving range, vineyards, outdoor chimney, gazebos, ample parking, Tennessee wildflower fields, rolling hills, creeks, ponds, holiday events and many activities.