Visiting the Cades Cove Riding Stables was one of the highlights of our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. 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. read more