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!

First time coming here and we were all a little nervous, but the staff was beyond friendly and very…read morehelpful. Clint was our guide and he was absolutely amazing, he made us feel safe and comfortable and most importantly confident. I highly recommended visiting.

My daughter and I visited Big Rock Dude Ranch during our trip to the Smoky Mountains because…read morehorseback riding was one of the experiences we were most looking forward to. Unfortunately, the experience was incredibly frustrating. There was little to no clear signage explaining where to check in or how the process worked. We waited at the "Riding Stables" counter, and when we finally spoke to an employee, we were simply told to stand by the stop sign at the stable. We waited there for nearly an hour before learning we were supposed to have purchased tickets first. No one at the counter mentioned that, even though we specifically told them we were there to ride and didn't know what to do. When I went back to buy tickets, I was told both riders had to be present, so I had to run back for my daughter, only to lose our place in line (we were next up). We were then told rides were assigned based on ticket purchase time, meaning we'd have to start all over again. Since we had a flight to catch, we had no choice but to leave without riding. We could've used that lost time for a nice breakfast and one last hike. To make matters worse, when I explained what had happened, the employee dismissed our concerns and said she was "just in charge of pictures and that we would probably still make our flight" even after starting the whole wait process over. Better signage, clearer instructions, and staff who take ownership of customer issues would have prevented this entire experience. The lady at the main ticket counter wasn't helpful either. Very disappointing.

Great easy family trail ride. Took our 2 kids (10 and 6) and the 1hr ride was perfect for them…read more Every employee was incredibly nice and seemed to really enjoy their jobs. Can't say enough good things about our guide Danni- she was so nice and took great care of our group. Other reviews have mentioned the lack of views - but this spot is so easy to access and there are some nice views!

I really wish I could give this business more stars. They so deserve it. This was my first time…read moreriding a horse. And the ladies in the office explained everything in detail, the gentleman that worked to find the right horse to fit our needs. Matt was our trail guide and he was so knowledgeable and always making sure everyone on our trail ride was safe. We will definitely be returning next year when we come back!! Thank you folks a million times over.

Visiting from CA and we wanted to go horseback riding. This place was amazing. The views and…read moreterrain were absolutely beautiful. Candie was our guide and she was great. Definitely would recommend and will come back again. Thank you for a wonderful time

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.

Had such an fun time on our horse back ridding trip! Pops was amazing and kept us entertained. The…read morehorses were so sweet and very well trained. Overall 10/10 experience! Definitely coming back for horse carriage ride next time we are here.

Super friendly staff, friendly horses! My family had a blast. We will be back when we are back in…read moretown. Recommend to everyone from small kids to teens. Even a few grandparents joined the riding fun. Thank you!!

Awesome Farm! Happy horses and boarders! Beautiful well kept grounds and pastures! Wooden fences,…read morehuge riding arena, covered lunging pen, indoor stalls, horse bathing area, large tackroom and bathroom! PLUS the owners are super nice and caring! It's all here. Doesn't get any better! Betty Metz

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!

Stumbled across this experience when we visited the Harper Bros. General Store (which is also a…read moregreat shop with tons of home decor, gifts, and even fresh coffee). The skylift was $20 per person for an all-day pass. This meant we could go whenever we wanted before they closed, so we didn't have to rush or worry about a specific time. The staff was friendly yet professional, but they will talk and hangout with you as long as they aren't busy. It created a relaxed and comfortable environment. The ride was smooth and incredibly peaceful, with amazing views. Once you reach the top, there is a large place to hangout, play games, or just sit in one of the many chairs or swings and take in the view. You can spend as much or as little time as you want at the top, which was so nice! Also, the restrooms are clean and they offered us cold waters and a Moon Pie. Really just an awesome experience for a lazy afternoon!

My wife made same day paid reservation for a boat. I got up 30 minutes later and was much too sick…read moreto go. We phoned to cancel an hour after making reservation. They would not refund money. Since I canceled by phone with no documentation credit card company ruled dispute of the charge in vendor's favor. Swanns has a 2 day cancelation policy. Buyer beware

Tennessee Hospitality! Warm welcome, good service and tasty food! Off the 70 heading on HWY 363,…read morebackroad beauty!