Sunset Dinner Ride – Adirondack Mountains

I am not a trail ride snob. Over the years I have done a handful of trail rides, usually on vacations with friends and family. One included a gut-shaking shortcut down a steep hill during a thunderstorm in Tennessee and another trekking through Ireland’s fairytale countryside with moments of cantering and even a couple of jumps (still my all-time favorite). Recently, on my annual summer vacation to Schroon Lake, New York, my daughter Alaina, sister, niece, and I took the Sunset Dinner Ride at Bennett’s Stables in nearby Lake Luzerne. Every year this was on our bucket list, but for one reason or another, we skipped it. Not this year.

            Bennett’s Riding Stables is a stable family owned/operated since 1942 and is a tourist favorite in the Lake Luzerne area. The stable offers basic trail rides to the longer Sunset Dinner and Mountain Trail Rides. The Sunset Ride requires reservations which I made in advance. Two days before the ride, the weather was looking iffy. Rain and storms from Hurricane Barry were pushing into the Adirondack Region. The stable called and asked if we could change our plans to a day earlier. I appreciated their effort. Riding up and down a mountain in the rain is not fun.

            The day of the ride, the sun shone and the sky glowed the clear blue of the Northeast. We arrived at the site, which stood under immensely tall pines with several horses snoozing and at ease under a pavilion. The distinct and familiar scent of horse enveloped me and I missed my girls back home. After the obligatory signing of disclaimer forms – horseback riding can be dangerous – we met our guide Kensey, daughter of the owner and immediately drew to her relaxed and smiling demeanor. She spent a few minutes to ask about our riding skill. Sis stood back and waved her arms over us and said, “They are all experienced. Feel free to give me the most idiot-proof horse you have.” Soon we were mounted on healthy-looking, groomed horses equipped with solid western saddles. Straightaway, I missed my comfy Wintec saddle. Alaina rode Rachel, a shiny bay mare who looked just like her mare Desi, Niece was on Silver – yup a grey mare – Sis on Sweet Pea, and I on a black paint named Dillinger. Hmmm, wasn’t he, like a bad guy? I patted his neck, introduced myself, and led him to a water trough for a final sip before we headed off into the deeply shaded, wide trail.

            The trail alternated between flat stretches and mild climbs as we wound around tree-covered banks, and past their home barns and fields. Kensey pointed to a small mountain rising over the far pasture and said. “That is where we are going. Top of Beech Mountain.” It looked far away and steep.  Once we passed the barns, we walked into the forest and the gradual ascent began. The well-maintained trail bed was dry with rocky patches, but no surprise since the Adirondack soil grows rocks. The air deepened into green-grey shade. We passed over a small stream bubbling over mossy rocks. The earlier conversation slipped away. Trees grew taller and the underbrush thinned to carpets of pine needles and ferns. The scent mixed pine and earth. Birds called above us but did not see any other wildlife.

            Dillinger and I were at the end of the line and he handled the trail like a champ, slow and steady. Occasionally he stopped as we climbed a hill but always responded to my cue to walk-on. He never seemed to mind some distance between him and the other horses. The other horses managed the trail just as well with Alaina’s mount, Rachel, stealing a bite of leaf or trail-side grass every now and then, but Alaina got her back on task with ease.

            Nearly an hour into the peaceful ride, Kensey called that we were almost there and headed up the last incline. Sunshine began to saturate the tree canopy and I saw glimpses of sky. Then the grounded leveled and opened to a meadow with Kensey’s father manning a grill and greeting us. The delicious smell of grilled food wafted on the breeze.

            After dismounting and getting a cold drink we stepped down to the picnic tables on a wide rock ledge, and WOW! Curving tree-covered mountains and hills stretched on to the horizon. Below we could see two glimmers of small lakes: Fourth Lake and Lake Vanare.  To the right, the distant and faded blue silhouette of the edge of the High Peaks region reigned. A sun-warmed breeze blew around us as we munched the appetizers of yummy grilled shrimp and sausage, followed by a tossed salad and then the main course of baked potato, corn-on-the-cob, (Niece was delighted since she was only a handful of days post braces).

Mr. Bennett and Kensey sat beside us with their own dinner and we talked horses, life in Adirondacks, horses, some family history and more horses. Just as Sis and I groaned that we were stuffed, out came apple pie, warmed by the grill and topped with whipped cream. Sis wondered if the horses grumbled among themselves to quit feeding the tourists too much before the ride back down the mountain.

            After dinner, we walked a short path to the other side of the mountaintop to glimpse the hazy blue smudge of Lake George in the distance. The sun was dropping and dark comes early in the mountains so we soon remounted and headed back. I have never liked to go downhill on a horse – or any other conveyance for that matter. I feel out of balance and sometimes horses rush and trip – ugh. But Dillinger had proven to be a pro so far so I leaned back and gave him all the rein I could and trusted him. The ride down was quiet, the air dimmer than the ascent as we lost the sun behind us. About thirty minutes later we came off the trail and into the home stretch along an asphalt lane to the barn and then had the only drama of the ride. Kensey’s horse startled at something. From the back, I only heard the scramble of hooves on asphalt, wondered for a tiny second if we were cantering home before I saw Kensey’s horse wildly backing up on the road. Then it was over as fast as it happened. The horse settled, Kensey kept her seat – rodeo girl! – and we walked the last bit to the barn.

            Overall, it was an enjoyable ride. You need some skill, or confidence, (the stable states the rider must be able to guide your own horse) and be okay with two hours in the saddle. I wouldn’t have minded some trotting or even cantering, but the terrain was not ideal for that. They ask for all phones and cameras to be given to the guide for the ride, and while I completely understand they don’t want to be stopping to retrieve dropped items, I would have loved to get pics along the trail of the forest, brook and old log cabin. The owners were warm and welcoming, like cousins you only see every few years, and the scenery through the forest and from the mountaintop are spectacular. Bennett’s horses were healthy, sound and well-trained.  I’d give this adventure 5 horseshoes.