Here in the south we have an abundance of top destinations and vacation hot spots that are a car drive away. In the Mid-South we are hugged by two mountain ranges, the Appalachian Mountains spanning from Georgia up to Maine, and the Ozark Mountains, spanning from Arkansa, Missouri and Oklahoma.
While the white, sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast may be a favorite for mid-southerns in the summer, the mountains call to us throughout the year, and it happens that one of the best excursions to do while vacationing in a mountain town is a horseback trail ride that offers the best views. Here are the top places to go for mountain horseback guided rides.
The Great Smoky Mountains are a top favorite and the horseback trails won’t disappoint. There are several horseback riding stables in the Smoky Mountain National Park. Guided rides can last from 45 minutes up to several hours depending on the trail you desire. Stables are located in places such as Cades Cove near Townsend, Tenn., Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Smokemont near Cherokee, NC.
If you are traveling with young children who are not quite riding age there are guided hayrides and carriage and wagon trails so the entire family can partake. If you are looking to bring your own horse to trail ride, there are about 550 miles that are open to horseback riding in the Smoky Mountain National Park. There are maps located on the National Parks Service website (nps.gov) that highlight trails open to horses and rules and regulations for all hikers.
The Neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains have horseback riding trails that span from Georgia up through Maine. Depending on where you are in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will encounter similar mountain top views that the Smoky Mountain National Park has as well. Well known mountain towns like Asheville, NC have a variety of guided rides through some of their best trails. Other places throughout Chattanooga and down into North Georgia highlight the ongoing beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains while riding through streams and on to waterfalls.
On the western side of the Mid-South are the Ozark Mountains. The Ozarks boast an abundance of horse trails especially along rivers such as the White and Buffalo Rivers. According to the National Parks Service website (nps.gov) “Ozark National Scenic Riverways offers equestrians four designated horse trail loops totaling 25.5 miles of trail. The trails are marked with color coded blazes. The park provides two staging areas (Broadfoot and Shawnee), each with a restroom and hitching rails, where riders may park their trailers. Additional horseback riding opportunities exist west of the park within the Angeline Conservation Area managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). MDC maintains approximately 9 miles of horse trails and a trailhead staging area north of Eminence off County Road 205. The MDC staging area provides restrooms, hitching rails, and parking for horse trailers.”
The mountain views in both Appalachian and Ozark Mountains are what draw people to horseback riding excursions. There are options to ride in valleys, along streams and rivers, or on shaded mountain trails. Riding horseback allows people to see wildlife, such as black bears, and takes them back to how people once crossed mountains prior to modern day transportation. The shade from tree covered trails also provides protection from heat and sun during hot summer months, and it is an ideal way to cover a large amount of miles to see the most one can see on a day hike.
If the mountains are calling your name and you plan to travel March through November, then you will more than likely be able to find a guided Horseback Mountain Ride that can accommodate everyone in your party, even those who may not be experienced equestrians. Visit NPS.gov to find all horseback riding trails in our National Parks.
