North Star Equestrian Center

6.0 mi

Five star horse place. Wonderful staff. Highly recommend the week horse camp. It wants me to add…read moreanother sentence but I think I already said it all.

From the owner: Lessons, boardingread more

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Appalachians Outdoor Adventures

(9 reviews)

34.6 mi

Awesome ride in the mountains. Scott and Dyan are excellent guides. You can really tell they love…read morewhat they do. We had so much fun we booked a fall ride. Can't wait to do it again!

Such a great couple, reservations are done via text and trouble free. The weekday ride allowed my…read morewife and I to take turns and the mix of side by sides (talon/zforce 800) was really neat to experience. The base of the operation allowed for a very friendly atmosphere of low pressure and lots of time to adjust as needed to the different machines. Trails were challenging but not intimidating. Provided lunch was so good and a huge surprise. Overall the experience was so good we may invest in our own side by side, highly recommended.

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Dutch Creek Trails

4.5

(32 reviews)

46.7 mi

Awesome ride and trails ! Called last minute and Keith was able to fit us in. Jessica and Jonah…read morewere our guides and they are amazing and fun. Did a boot camp workout the day before, so I was very sore. Jessica was kind to help me get on and off my horse . Definitely will be back again.

We went up in October for some leaf peeping and the views on horseback did not disappoint. This…read moregroup is so welcoming and friendly! Will be going back again!

Horseback riding 2025

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Horseback

Elk Mountain Riding Company

(14 reviews)

41.8 mi

Sam was our guide today for a 2-hour family ride. He was calm, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and…read morewe could not have asked for a better experience! The horses are obviously loved and extremely well cared for, and the views over the countryside and towards the mountains were incredible. Riding through groves of Christmas trees and over babbling streams will remain one of the highlights of our vacation!

Having an incredible time at Elk Mountain! Miss Robyn's love and care for her horses truly shines…read more-- and you can feel how much they love her back. Make sure to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains: ride scenic trails, watch the stars by a campfire ! #ElkMoutainRidingCompany

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Trail ride

Blowing Rock Trail Rides

(6 reviews)

31.8 mi

Everything was perfect. We got rained out the first day and…read moreBrad, our guide, quickly arranged to meet us the next morning. The horses were beautiful, cared for, and very mannerly! I couldn't recommend this company more!!

Had an amazing time on the trial with Blowing Rock Trail Rides. Brad was so awesome and personable…read more He was very knowledgeable and kind. Would 100% recommend experiencing this!

View from the trail ride

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Painted Sky Ranch Riding School

(12 reviews)

36.5 mi

Debra and her team couldn't have been nicer and the horses and trail are beautiful. Everything is…read morenicely kept. My daughter was with me and had some bad allergies that day, and Debra made sure to accommodate her. Those types of things go a long way in my book! I would definintely recommend Painted Sky and hope to go back sometime! Thanks Debra!

10 stars! One of the best rides I've done in many years! The horses are beautiful the trails are…read moreamazing, Debra and the staff are amazing can't wait to go back again

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Still Waters Farm

3.0

(2 reviews)

3.8 mi

My two daughters have been riding at Still Waters farm for the last 9 months. They have come along…read moreway in their skill level while riding and with their comfortability with the horses. The instructors are knowledgeable and fun and my girls love Layla their instructor and have become close to her . We chose this barn for the western riding and because it is not a show barn as my girls were just interested in riding for fun and they love it here!

The kids didnt have fun! The owner/manager doesn't act like she knows anything about horseback…read moreriding, and she has a bad attitude. Plus she doesn't give one on one attention due to her own kids getting all the attention. Yeah it's cheap but you get what you pay for, just like everything else.

Round pen

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Shade

Vx3 Trail Rides

4.5

(8 reviews)

32.5 mi

This ride was awesome and the stop at Moses Cone Estate was incredible. Our guide was great, he…read moregave us some history on the mountain and it's owners.My favorite part was stopping at the lake to give horses a drink, epic!!! Highly recommended!!!

My husband and I absolutely loved this experience. The views were beautiful, the horses were great…read moreto work with even for newbies like us ,and our guide was an absolute blast. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience that I would recommend to anyone.

Banner Elk Stables

3.3

(13 reviews)

41.8 mi

DO NOT LISTEN TO BAD REVIEWS. This was the best horseback riding experience my family and I have…read moreever done. Mike and his parents are the kindest individuals we have met on our trip and practice social distancing and wear masks when necessary. The horses were well trained and followed the horse in front while still having control to maneuver around certain areas. Best time ever!!! Best views ever too!!

Worst ride I have ever had. I rode late June 2021.. no wonder the best reviews are much older. I've…read morebeen riding English for a year and western a year before that, and have a history of riding trails such as in the Colorado mountains, at home, and the difficult trail at Dutch creek. This was a supposed easy ride, trail wasn't very long, you ride the same stretch there and back. There were a few red flags right away. The horses, although very friendly, did not look to be in very good shape. One horse had Cushing's disease, a condition where they do not shed their winter coat as they should. This poor horse had to ride in full western thick gear with a full winter coat in the middle of summer, they didn't even shave his coat. All of the other horses had long hooves, they desperately needed a farrier out there to trim their hooves. A fair few of the horses also had spots where their coat was completely rubbed off and it was just their skin. The stables and the staff are next. No greeting from the staff, I couldn't tell who was staff and who was a rider, our trail guide seemed to have no interest in talking. The woman who signed us in was polite enough- just enough, not nice enough to comment on or rude enough to be mean about. The trail guide took the first horse in line aside from his own on a lead, which is the first time I have ever seen that on a trail, and frankly was very strange. Although they did multiple check on the girth, my saddle and my mothers saddle were leaning to the side and could not be fixed easily. Half of the staff was a seven and six year old, who did a better job than the other staff. Props to them, they held back tree limbs as we passed, and walked ahead and behind us as we rode the trail. The barn and main house were in poor condition. There were flies in the main house, and you could see through the barn where ceiling insulation was coming loose and the walls were disheveled. The barn where the horses stayed seemed unorganized, as when our trail lead got off, he let his horse run right into the barn, not lead to a stall or anything, still fully tacked up. Now, onto my personal ride. I had a panic attack. Keep in mind my riding experience here, I have NEVER cried on the back of a horse. Ever. From being thrown off to multiple almost heat strokes, I have never cried. But this horse, Sugar.. she broke me. She had the strangest step pattern I have ever ridden on. She'd step to the cliffs, right at the side of the trails, and run me STRAIGHT INTO THORN BUSHES. I had to pick thorns out of my thick riding pants and legs. The saddle was crooked the entire time, and it was very concerning. The trail was fairly easy, but very rocky. The staff said there were working on it, so I don't mind as much. There was one spot that had a very steep decline that you rode down and then back up, the horses seemed confident going up but very unsure going down. My horse constantly stepped off the path, but was so stubborn I could hardly move her, she didn't listen to leg or reign. She INSISTED on going through more difficult paths with no regard that I was on her back. She would be terrifying for a smaller child to ride, and this place advertises themselves as very kid friendly. The trail was just ride up then take the same way back, fairly simple, but because of the horse it was the worst ride I have ever been on. In conclusion, I would not recommend this place. The horses haven't been kept care of in the best way, the staff is just okay, my horse didn't listen and drove us into thorns and rocks, and the trail was just basic. The best staff there were around 7 years old.

Barnyard

Horses getting ready

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Ray's Splash Planet

3.4

(56 reviews)

45.6 mi

The 3 story slide is worth the wait in line. The seating gets taken quickly but you can always find…read moresomewhere to place your stuff. Locker rooms and bathrooms are relatively clean for what it is. Lazy river is the best. You can go around as many times as you want. Whirlpool is the kids sanctuary. $15/person but discount if you're a Mecklenburg resident. Needs better parking.

I love this place. Off season is just as good as on season. Hours of operation are appreciated and…read moreappropriate!!!!! Kid enjoy the spot and had a good time!

There was a line of people entering when I took this photo as well

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Discovery Island

4.3

(4 reviews)

92.8 mi

Great spot for water fun! Parking lot is huge. It took a bit to check in but it wasn't bad. Lots of…read morethings to do to entertain the kids! The lazy river was wonderful and the large splash pad area for the kids was a hit!

Such a fun place! Lots to do for big and little kids. Two slides, one you use a raft to go down,…read moreand even a wave rider for the older kids. Very large pool deck area and lots of chairs, but not a lot of shade. I was impressed with the number of employees and life guards. It was around $14 to get in for any age. Life vests and puddle jumpers available to use. There is a snack bar with a limited selection, and we brought in our own water bottles.

Fun slides even for little ones

Ice cream bars!

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Inside the water park.

Ramsey Creek Park

3.7

(46 reviews)

31.5 mi

Got to the park today to take my grandsons fishing and it was closed for repairs. There mom has…read morebeen checking the website for a week now no mention that pier was closed.

My husband recently ran a 5K here and was excited to show me the park. It was my first time and I…read morewas impressed by the cleanliness, plentiful seating and children's playground. This is a nice park to take kids to for something to do. They had signs saying you shouldn't enter the water in certain places, but people seemed to ignore those. Lots of laughs and splashing heard as we walked around. :) They have several restrooms which were pretty clean for the most part also, which was a good thing. Parking is plentiful, but how close you can park depends on how crowded it is. We were initially directed to an overflow lot but just as we got out of the car, some spaces opened up in the main lot so we were able to move. I believe you can also get on a chartered boat here to go on Lake Norman. Nice place, we will return.

Fishing Pier Closed

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Elk River Falls

4.2

(22 reviews)

47.3 mi

The falls are closed as of late April 2026. Road is blocked about 2 miles out from town.read more

Elk River Falls is an open recreation area. As such it is not developed and the path is not…read moremaintained. Nevertheless the road into the parking lot is safe and easily passable by typical cars SUVs cans or trucks with either two or four wheel drive. There are no rest rooms or food so you must bring your own food and water. The path is firm and slopes upward gently becoming rocky with prominent tree roots. The 65 foot high big falls is spectacular. It is not a straight fall down. Many deaths have occurred as visitors attempt to dive from the top of the falls. Elk falls ranks in the top 3 waterfall related deaths. The rocks surrounding the first pool are beautiful but have a slippery surface. This park recently reopened after extensive restoration following Hurricane Helene. On the first day it opened there was a fatality of a falls jumper. Despite these challenges this park is a great example of the outdoors in nearly natural and breathtaking state.

Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

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Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO

4.4

(25 reviews)

74.0 mi

We went awhile back to see Charlotte and were sorely disappointed. Hearing of her death today…read morereminded me I had forgotten to write a review. This location is privately run and not for educational purposes. More like going to a friends house to see their pets. Please consider going to an aquarium run by scientists for educational purposes.

I want to say this has been one of the highlights of my family trip. When your 16 yo his 17 yo best…read morefriend and wife all agree on this fact it says something. As adults we have this tendency to say "if I knew then what I knew now, I'd have paid more attention in school!" Well here's your chance. This tiny aquarium will impart more knowledge in a short visit than you probably take in most months if you take advantage of it. The interns and owner (a former teacher) are committed to answering questions. The things they are studying and sharing are amazing. If you go in and you want to learn and ask questions this will be an experience you won't forget. Think of the best science teacher you ever had, having an opportunity to show the world what she loves to talk about... and that is what you have here. Do yourself a favor, go, enjoy and learn!!

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Bakers Mountain Park

4.6

(12 reviews)

12.2 mi

we had a wondrous time at Bakers Mountain (more like BAKED mountain - see photo). It was foggy but…read moreit was still a good hike. The leaves made it slick which made it more fun. Anyway we had a great time, saw a bird and a turtle!

Whoever said hiking was fun, they lied !!!…read more I would recommend this trail to everyone! Beginners trail, but might be hard because of rain. The trail was well marked so you won't get lost. Make sure you grab a map before you start. The bathroom was nice and clean! There are walking sticks available if you want to use one. At the top was a awesome view and a gazebo to rest. You could see various mountain tops from there. Through out the trail there are benches and picnic tables to rest at. So if you're in the area, stop bye and take a hike!!!!

Me in the woods

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North Star E.

6 years ago

My children have so much fun riding here and the summer camps, they would not stop talking about how much fun they had.

Kira L.

5 years ago

This place is great for lessons, I ride Ruby and she is perfect, they're well trained and easygoing

North Star Equestrian Center - horsebackriding - Updated July 2026

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