Horseback Riding on the Fern Forest Trail

Horseback Riding on the Fern Forest Trail

Ride on horseback through the Fern Forest Trail, clomping into enchanting woods and lush ferns of the North Carolina mountains. Your 45- to 60-minute guided tour starts with a 1-hour safety briefing and training at the Arrowmont Stables and Cabins, located just north of Cashiers, NC. Choose from a variety of departure times. 

Meet your guide at Arrowmont Stables and Cabins in Cullowhee North Carolina, which is about a 2-hour drive from Asheville. At this 200-acre (80-hectare) working horse farm you’ll get acquainted with equine behavior and riding tips during a 50-minute safety program via training video or live demonstration.

Once you’re matched with a suitable horse, snap on your helmet then practice horseback riding in the ring before setting off on the Fern Forest Trail, a gentle path that is suitable for all skill levels. You'll pass by the cabins of an old youth camp and meander through a variety of terrain including a dense fern forest that reaches 3800 feet in elevation.

Listen to birds sing and keep a lookout for a variety of wildlife, including local wild turkeys and deer, before ending your tour back at the stables.

Some RIDING TIPS:
• Horses don't know they are big. That's why we can control them with the bit in their mouth.
• Horses think like little children. They want you to protect them.
• Horses can be very stubborn. Whoever is MOST stubborn wins. You need to be more stubborn than the horse.