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    Springmaid Mountain Resort

    4.2 (18 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Springmaid Mountain Resort Photos

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    The creek/ river

    We went horseback riding while on vacation here in Asheville, NC. We absolutely loved it. Our instructor James was phenomenal and truly cared about our horseback riding experience. We not only went up and down the mountain, but went through a river. It was incredible. I truly recommend this horseback riding barn and especially having James as your instructor.

    Whispering Pines Cabin (2 BR + loft, 1 Bath)
    Amanda W.

    I rented one of the Whispering Pines cabins to stay and cook in while attending 3 separate family reunions over the weekend August 8-12, 2013. My husband and I shared the 2 bedroom + loft cabin with 3 other couples. The privacy of the two bedrooms was great. The couples who slept in the loft as well as in the living room did not have great privacy, but they didn't chip in for the cost so who cares. I called ahead on the day of check in to see if we could check in any earlier than the allotted 4 pm check in time, because we had been driving in from FL and on the road all night. They did let us check in early and were able to get into our cabin before noon. The cabin itself had a musty smell. We attributed it to it's rustic location as well as the massive amounts of rain the area had recently received. A few candles from the grocery store helped. The kitchen was spacious compared to a lot of other cabin rentals. I was able to cook for the 10+ people we had constantly in and out, plus room for my 2 large crock pots I used to cook for our reunions. The kitchen was decently equipped, but I was glad that I brought plastic utensils. The cabin and amenities were definitely on the "rustic" side, but they suited our needs just fine. The beds were adequate. Not insanely comfortable, but not uncomfortable either. The vanities in the two bedrooms also helped a great deal with keeping the traffic in the only bathroom bearable when it came to the 4 ladies in the cabin getting ready each morning. The couches in the living room were pretty dingy, though. When we booked the cabin I specifically asked an employee over the phone if the cabin would have AC, knowing I would be doing so much cooking I knew it would get hot even if the weather outside was cool. I was told yes, they have both central AC and heat. Turns out it didn't. Only heat. Luckily it was cool enough at night to open the windows, but cooking during the day with no AC was not fun. Maintenance collected our trash on a daily basis. They also brought additional towels half way through our 4 night stay. We decided to go tubing, they advertised $6 for a tube rental for the entire day. The other outfitters in town charge upwards of $20 for 1 run so this seemed like a great deal.The tubes they provided were, let's just say, lacking. As an experienced tuber, these tubes were about 1/3 the size of a normal tube. The five adults that were tubing ranged in weight from 140 - 260 pounds, and the tubes they gave us were appropriate for someone no larger than 90 pounds. We had to take them back to the office to have them blown up some more, and even then they were less than adequate. The trail hike to the river drop off was a little challenging as well. There are not any signs indicating distance or how far to the drop. The paths were shaded in the woods and very pretty, especially the two waterfalls along the way. Needless to say, because of the inadequate tubes it was a rough ride. We all got out of the river with various bruises, scrapes and bumps. The water levels were very high due to recent rain, but the stretch of river was so rocky and the tubes being too small was a bad combo on the rocks. I couldn't imagine tubing when the waters were low. Those tubes were completely unsafe, and I feel the staff should not have allowed anyone to rent them. We were worried for the group of smaller kids who had the same size tubes behind us. When I complained to the front desk I was told the larger tubes went missing, and they guess they should get some more larger tubes. You think? All in all the grounds are very beautiful. They have a lot of amenities to keep you busy and help you relax. The staff is overall very friendly and eager to help you have a great stay. For the area you do get a good value for what you pay. We will most likely rent here again next summer for our family reunions.

    Cadlynne D.

    The drive up was a little steep and very twisty but was greeted with a beautiful property. Our cabin was dirty and mold was growing in and on the coffee pot which was disappointing because we were looking forward to having coffee on our balcony in the morning. We were provided basic utensils and some grill tongs for the grill out front but when I picked them up they were dirty and full of grease. This made me uneasy about how"clean"the room really was. I loved the flexibility of being able to check in early and the area we stayed in. There was a beautiful pond just a few steps away and the weather was nice for staying outside. The grounds could've been cleaner outside. I went to take my son for a walk and he kept picking up trash and cigarette butts.. the rooms floor was dirty/sandy and by the time I called they were gone for the day. The heater in the bathroom did not work and the heater in the cabin did not turn on for close to 4 hours after check in. The staff member that checked me out was notified of all of this and all she had to say was, "oh". Despite our troubles, the room was fairly priced had it been cleaned and there was no mold. It was able to hold 4 guests plus ample room for pack and play.

    On the Toe River with Springmaid Mountain resort horses.

    My husband and I went horseback riding at Springmaid mountain today. This trail was better than others I've ridden in North Carolina, Colorado and Jamaica! The horses were healthy and a pleasure to ride. The trail was spectacular because we went through some heavily wooded areas, a pasture of clover, a hay field, steep inclines and along the river. We even crossed the Toe river twice and the horses got a good drink of that cold mountain stream water. Teresa, our guide, was friendly and good natured, but she said we couldn't trot the horses; otherwise it was a fantastic trail ride.

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    11 years ago

    Perfect spot just out of the way off the Blue Ridge Parkway! And Joe there went WAY out of his way to make sure we were taken care of!!!

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    Ask the Community - Springmaid Mountain Resort

    How much is your rate?

    $70 hr per person per hour. Rode recently in a group of 8. Ride actually ended up 2 hrs. 2 very knowledgeable team members took our group thru the forest, hills, trails, and river. Our granddaughters loved it.

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    Review Highlights - Springmaid Mountain Resort

    Tubing on the river and there are several outfitters nearby if you want to go kayaking or canoeing.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Blowing Rock Trail Rides

    Blowing Rock Trail Rides

    4.6(8 reviews)
    24.0 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!!

    I am giving this guided horseback ride a poor rating because of what happened during the ride and,…read morejust as importantly, how the situation was handled afterward. At the beginning of the ride, my horse got too close to my son's horse, and his horse tried to nip at mine. I made sure to stay back and mentioned to Brad that his horse seemed territorial. Brad agreed and said that the horse could be territorial. As the ride continued, Brad fell back, leaving me in front and my son behind me. We rode that way for approximately 20-30 minutes. Later, Brad moved back to the front and held onto my son's horse so I could get in front of my son, with my son following behind me. We rode in that formation for at least another 30-45 minutes without any problems. My son's horse was approximately 5-6 feet behind me, and I was riding on the opposite side of the trail. Then, without warning, my son's horse took off, charged toward me, and bit my leg. The bite tore my jeans all the way down to my ankle. Brad asked if I was okay, and I told him I was, but that it hurt very badly. My biggest concern is this: if you know a horse can be territorial and aggressive toward another horse, why would you put an inexperienced rider on that horse? I am extremely thankful that it was me who was bitten and not my son. What has upset me just as much as the incident itself is what happened afterward. Brad never called to check on me, never followed up to see how I was doing, and never offered any type of refund or compensation. I would have expected at the very least a phone call to check on my condition and acknowledge what happened. This incident ruined the rest of my vacation that week. The lack of concern afterward made the situation even worse. His actions after the incident are a major reason for my poor rating. It left me feeling that the money was more important than the safety and well-being of his customers. I hope this review helps other riders understand what happened so they can make an informed decision about whether this is the right horseback riding experience for them.

    Photos
    Blowing Rock Trail Rides - View from the trail ride

    View from the trail ride

    Blowing Rock Trail Rides
    Blowing Rock Trail Rides

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    Riverside Riding Stables - Great team of horses

    Riverside Riding Stables

    4.4(27 reviews)
    32.5 mi

    Well organized ride, two couples + two guides did the 2-hr Ride for $110/pp. Trail horses are dead…read morebroke and very careful where they walk. The first hour was on forest trails with slight inclines & declines. Anyone can do it even if you've never ridden before. Second half of ride was mostly walking upstream then downstream in a slow flowing river. Horses seemed to really enjoy this as it zigzagged up about 1/4 mile. You will really enjoy this relaxing ride & recommend you spend the extra $$ for the 2hr. You won't be disappointed, here's some pics, cheers and thanks. BTW, I never give (5) stars so don't feel offended.

    We recently visited this area and went horse riding. We did the 1 hour mountain trail. it was okay…read more, lots of up and down . The horses were great and the people were nice but it was strange that there was no proper business area where you pay and sign the paperwork like we have been used to with other stables we have visited in the past. It was just a picnic table. Also during the ride our guide was watching her phone the whole time . And when the time came that we stopped in the trail and she was offering the horses a treat, she offered them peppermint candy she hand in her purse. Then she for warned us that this would make the horses gassy. I don't understand why she would give them this! Then when our ride was over our horses went straight to look for water from their buckets and they were completely empty. I don't understand how on our whole hour ride no one could have water ready for them for when we got back.

    Photos
    Riverside Riding Stables - Trail ride break, check girths, saddle pads, pics, etc..

    Trail ride break, check girths, saddle pads, pics, etc..

    Riverside Riding Stables - Happy horse AND rider

    Happy horse AND rider

    Riverside Riding Stables - Staying cool

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    Staying cool

    Banner Elk Stables

    Banner Elk Stables

    3.3(13 reviews)
    20.0 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.

    Photos
    Banner Elk Stables - Barnyard

    Barnyard

    Banner Elk Stables - Horses getting ready

    Horses getting ready

    Banner Elk Stables

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    Springmaid Mountain Resort - horsebackriding - Updated August 2026

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