Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa

Activity Overview

The Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa is an outdoor attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. While the most popular activity they offer is horseback riding along a 3.5-mile mountain trail, they also provide ATV rides, catch-and-release fishing, a petting zoo, gem mining, a heritage museum, and a picnic area by a beautiful creek that you can wade in. It's a great place to spend the day exploring the Great Smoky Mountains with your family and enjoy its natural beauty.

Things to Do

• Go horseback riding! Just hop onto one of their well-behaved horses and enjoy the views during the 3.5-mile ride.
• Take your little one to the free petting zoo, where they can feed animals like goats, ponies, llamas, chickens, ducks, rabbits, peacocks, and emus.
• Purchase a bag of ore and try gem mining - as you sift through it you're sure to find beautiful gems like amethyst, pyrite, quartz, jade, and turquoise.
• Enjoy a quiet afternoon fishing at their fishing pond, which is stocked with bluegill, catfish, and bass. They'll provide everything you need, and no fishing license is necessary.

Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa Insider Tips

• Bring along a picnic lunch and enjoy a picnic by Little Cove Creek. The picnic area has horseshoe pits and access to an area of the creek where kids can safely wade on a hot summer day.
• Check out their rates page to learn about special deals, and visit the main page to print out a coupon worth $5 off per person.
• If you're on a tight budget, just visit the ranch - the picnic area, playground, and petting zoo are free!
• If you have a teen over 16, go on the exhilarating hour-long ATV ride through the mountains.