2013 Itinerary

Sunday

You can enter the ranch gates beginning at 4 pm. Supper is served at 6 pm so please call if you're not going to make it by 6, because you'll need to eat on the way. After supper we will have a brief introduction period and then we will meet at the Round Pen for horse orientation around 7 pm. Everyone that wants to ride has to attend this event. After the Round Pen session, we will move back to the lodge for interviews which determine which horse will be assigned to you for the time you're here.

Monday
Breakfast is at 8:00am. After breakfast, everyone is assigned a group for the morning corral orientation and rides. The first ride is the blue trail which last 45 minutes and is by the river on mostly flat terrain. After lunch, the green trail is the next ride except one group will drive the cattle up. Supper is at 6pm then we do team penning. Team penning is a rodeo game in which three guests try to pen up to 3 cows into the box. You can go from a walk or trot up to a short gallop during team penning, but it’s up to your abilities as to what speed you go. Team penning is our #1 guest favorite activity!

Tuesday
After breakfast most guests will go on the White trail which climbs about 800 feet in elevation from the lodge and lasts about 1.5 hours, while up to 10 guests help us move the cattle back the the lower end of the ranch. After lunch, everyone gets to go on the beginning whitewater raft trip, which has rapids from class I to III and is considered a family trip. The raft trip lasts from 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on water levels at the time of the trip. Supper comes at 6pm. After supper everyone can participate in pioneer games, and afterward the kids can finger paint horses. For those 18 years and older, there will be an opportunity after pioneer games to shoot black powder pistols at fixed balloons.

Wednesday
Today we have guest departures and arrivals like Sunday. If you're leaving, you’ll have breakfast and then check out time is 10am but there isn't any activities for half week stays. If you're checking in, 4 pm is earliest you can get onto the ranch and orientation will take place right after supper weather permitting. For guests staying the whole week, there is a ride in the morning. After lunch, there is tubing available for everyone or another horseback ride for those not going on the supper ride. Around 5pm we take out the Sunset Supper Ride. You will ride to a mountain summit, watch as the sun starts to go down, eat a trail meal, and then ride back to the ranch in the dusk of the day. This ride is limited to the first 20 all week guests that sign up as you make your reservations.

Thursday
New arrivals will meet at the hitching post after breakfast for corral orientation (read Sunday night and Monday morning for details) and then go on the blue trail. For our week long guests, there are rides in the morning and in the afternoon, and 1 group will drive up the cows. Supper is at 6pm. Team penning follows.

Friday
We have a cattle drive for 1 group and rides for all others. After lunch Also for our week long guests, the progression riding lessons ($25/participant) are after lunch. You will get to trot and canter in a small pasture with instruction for 45 minutes. During this time we hope we can improve your riding skills.

After lunch we have horseback rides, a cattle drive and then a kids rodeo ages 5-12 at 3:30 pm.

After supper, we will have the kids rodeo ages 5-12 and after that the square dance with live musicians for 1 hour.

Saturday
After breakfast, we have the advanced whitewater raft trip (ages 8 and up plus 60lbs) or horseback rides. After lunch and the raft trip we have horseback rides. Also for those advanced riders that have been approved to go, we have the galloping ride as the last ride of the day. After supper, the bluegrass band starts at 7pm for two hours of great Smoky Mountain Bluegrass music.

Sunday
After breakfast, we say our goodbyes until your next trip to the ranch. Check out time is 10 am. If this was your first trip to the ranch, be sure to always check out the repeat guest discount now that you've stayed here. Happy Trails!