Cataloochee Ranch

Justin Braun

Had a fantastic experience with the 2.5 hour horseback ride, from booking through the day of our ride. Ashli was super helpful when I first inquired about booking and honest about our options for riding in the Maggie Valley area. Decided to book based on that and am so glad I did! My 8 year old daughter and I had an amazing time. The staff was super friendly, and made sure we were both comfortable with our horses. Melinda is a friendly, experienced guide who knows the area in and out, and gave us a ton of insight into the ranch and surrounding area as we rode. The horses were incredibly well cared for, calm and easy to ride. They know their job well, and it made for a very smooth and enjoyable experience for us as novice riders. One thing we really enjoyed was the terrain we covered on the ranch. From hills, to forest trails, to stunning views at the top of a bald, we got to experience a variety of scenery on our ride, which helped keep it all interesting. I highly recommend Cataloochee Ranch stables for families looking to try horseback riding in the Maggie Valley area - I know we'll be back!

lisa m

We found this on the way looking for something else. It's very beautiful with cabins in a valley but it says private & horse back riding by reservation only. Not really sure if you can rent the small cabins or not, it's a very pretty setting. It's a crazy drive up & down the mountain though, super steep & definitely wouldn't want to do it with snow & ice. Skiing is another mile further up.

Infrequent Local Guide

What a wonderful lodge. The views are unbelievable, the staff can't be beat, and the breakfast is incredible. We stayed in one of the cabins and loved it. This place is like stepping back in time and provides a great escape from the day to day grind. The property adjoins the ski area so just minutes from the cabin to the slopes. Look for "Ms. Sandie" at breakfast, she is awesome.

C S

The horses were amazing and when I did a private ride (being an experienced rider) we did lots of fun things with the lovely horses. The grounds are beautiful, the hotels themselves are very comfortable and the home cooked food is better than any I have had. A great place to be.