Unearth The Voyage
Somewhere in the forested hills of southeastern Ohio, a trail ride does something most horseback outings never attempt: it carries you through a genuine piece of American industrial history. Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable and Dance Barn, tucked into the rolling terrain near New Marshfield, offers guided rides that wind through Zaleski State Forest and end at the legendary Moonville Tunnel, a relic of the old Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad that once served the region’s coal industry.
The tunnel is haunting, atmospheric, and completely real, and getting there on horseback makes the whole experience feel like stepping into another era. Few places in Ohio deliver this kind of layered adventure, and the fact that it exists less than a day’s drive from most of the state makes it all the more worth knowing about.
Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable and Dance Barn: Where the Ride Begins
A gravel lane off Buck Lane in New Marshfield, Ohio leads to one of the most quietly impressive trail riding operations in the state. Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable and Dance Barn sits at 73930 Buck Ln, New Marshfield, OH 45766, right on the edge of Zaleski State Forest in Athens County.
The property has a small-town, family-run feel the moment you arrive, with clean facilities, friendly staff, and horses that are clearly well cared for.
The stable holds a 4.7-star rating across more than 600 reviews, which is the kind of number that builds up through years of consistent, genuinely good experiences rather than a single lucky weekend. Riders of all backgrounds make the trip out here, from complete beginners to people who have spent years around horses.
The staff reads the group quickly and matches each person to a horse that suits their comfort level and experience.
Getting there requires a bit of a scenic drive through southeastern Ohio’s hill country, but the landscape starts earning its keep long before you ever saddle up. The property feels like a destination in itself, not just a starting point.
The Moonville Tunnel Ride: Coal Country on Horseback
The centerpiece of the Uncle Buck’s experience is the Moonville Tunnel ride, a 2.5-hour guided journey that follows old railroad corridors and forest trails deep into Zaleski State Forest before arriving at one of Ohio’s most atmospheric landmarks. Moonville was a small coal mining community that once relied on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad to move goods and people through this rugged terrain.
The community itself is long gone, but the tunnel it left behind remains, a brick-lined railroad bore cut through a wooded hillside that now stands as a monument to the region’s industrial past.
Reaching the tunnel on horseback rather than on foot changes the experience considerably. The pace is slow enough to absorb the forest around you, and the trail passes through creek crossings, over wooden bridges, and along sections of the old rail grade before the tunnel comes into view.
Guides share the local history and legends tied to Moonville as the group approaches, which adds a layer of storytelling that makes the destination feel earned.
The tunnel itself is the kind of place that holds its atmosphere regardless of the season. Riders pull up to it, take it in, and carry that image home with them long after the ride is over.
The Horses: Personalities That Make the Trail Come Alive
A trail ride is only as good as the horses carrying you, and Uncle Buck’s has built a herd with real personality. Names like Navajo, Stryder, Freyja, Pepper, Cimarron, Blue, and Shimeron come up again and again from riders who clearly formed a bond with their mount over the course of a single afternoon.
That kind of connection does not happen with a disengaged or poorly matched horse.
The guides do the matchmaking thoughtfully. First-time riders get horses known for their easygoing temperaments, while more experienced riders may find themselves on something with a bit more spirit.
One horse named Navajo earned a reputation for being free-spirited in the best way, making the ride lively without ever feeling unsafe. A palomino Tennessee Walking Horse named Stryder drew particular praise for patience and smooth movement on the trail.
The horses are well trained and healthy, and the guides clearly know each animal’s quirks, preferred pace, and social dynamics within the herd. That knowledge shows up on the trail in small but important ways, like knowing which horses to keep separated and which pairs move best together.
It is the kind of institutional knowledge that only comes from spending real time with animals every single day.
Trail Guides Who Know Every Bend and Story
The guides at Uncle Buck’s are one of the operation’s strongest assets. Names like Mac, Olivia, Conner, and Jen appear repeatedly in rider accounts, each described with genuine warmth and a clear command of both horsemanship and local history.
Mac in particular has a reputation for keeping groups entertained and informed throughout the ride, sharing details about the horses’ individual personalities and the landscape passing by on either side of the trail.
Before any ride departs, guides walk through clear instructions on how to handle the horse, what to expect on the trail, and how to navigate trickier sections. That preparation matters, especially for groups mixing experienced riders with people who have never been on a horse.
Guides also stay attentive throughout the ride, keeping an eye on the whole group and adjusting the pace or route based on conditions and rider comfort.
On rainy days, guides have been known to reroute along roads to avoid slippery sections, check in with riders about heights and steep drop-offs, and even offer their own hats to glasses-wearing riders caught in a downpour. That level of genuine attentiveness is not something that gets trained into a staff overnight.
It reflects a culture of care that runs through the whole operation.
Zaleski State Forest: The Scenery Doing Its Own Heavy Lifting
The forest surrounding the Moonville ride is not just a backdrop. Zaleski State Forest covers more than 26,000 acres of southeastern Ohio’s hill country, and the terrain it offers is genuinely varied.
The trail passes through sections of dense hardwood canopy, crosses wooden bridges over creeks, and runs along portions of the old rail grade that once connected coal country to the wider world.
Riders frequently mention the beauty of the forest as a highlight equal to the tunnel itself. The tree cover creates a cathedral-like quality on clear days, with light filtering down through the canopy in ways that shift constantly as the group moves along the trail.
In autumn, the color is exceptional. In spring and summer, the green is so thick it feels almost immersive.
The trail also has enough topographic variety to keep things interesting without becoming intimidating. There are sections described as appropriately challenging, with gentle elevation changes and creek crossings that add texture to the ride.
The pacing of a guided horseback trip through this landscape is close to ideal, slow enough to actually absorb what is around you, but purposeful enough that the 2.5-hour ride never drags.
Ride Options for Every Level of Experience
Not everyone who shows up at Uncle Buck’s is ready for a two-and-a-half-hour ride through the woods, and the stable accounts for that. The one-hour ride is a popular option for families, first-timers, or anyone who wants a genuine trail experience without committing to a longer outing.
It covers the Zaleski Forest terrain and gives riders a real feel for the landscape without the extended commitment of the Moonville run.
Children have done well here, with riders as young as eight participating successfully in trail rides. Guides keep a close watch on younger or less experienced riders, positioning nervous kids near the front where they can provide extra reassurance.
One family has returned four years running to celebrate a birthday, starting when the daughter was eight and continuing as she grew more confident in the saddle each year.
Groups also tend to work well here. Mixed-experience groups, including those blending seasoned riders with complete beginners, are handled smoothly by guides who adjust their approach based on who is in the saddle.
Bachelorette weekends, family outings, solo rides, and grandparent-grandchild trips all show up in the stable’s history, suggesting the operation is genuinely flexible rather than narrowly focused on one type of visitor.
The Lady Buck Saloon and Dance Barn: After the Ride
Riding back into the stable after two and a half hours on the trail, the Lady Buck Saloon makes a strong case for extending the visit. The on-site saloon offers a food menu that has drawn genuine praise from visitors, with the atmosphere described as warm and welcoming in the way that only a well-run small-town spot can manage.
The building shares space with the dance barn, which on most weekends hosts live music that turns the evening into something well beyond a standard trail ride outing.
The dance barn itself is a point of pride for the property. The owners have put real effort into making it cozy and inviting, and the result is a space that works for everything from casual post-ride meals to full weekend events.
Live music nights bring a different energy to the property, one that complements the daytime riding experience rather than competing with it.
Visitors who have timed their trip to include an evening at the saloon tend to describe it as the kind of bonus that makes a good day into a great one. The food arrives fresh, the atmosphere is easy and relaxed, and the whole scene fits the character of the place without feeling forced or touristy.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Location, and What to Know Before You Go
Uncle Buck’s Riding Stable and Dance Barn operates seven days a week, opening at 9 AM and closing at 6 PM every day. The phone number is 740-677-9032, and the website at unclebucksstable.com is the best place to book in advance and check on availability, especially for the Moonville Tunnel ride, which fills up on busy weekends.
The stable’s booking contact, Cassidy, has been praised specifically for responsive and helpful communication ahead of arrival.
The address is 73930 Buck Ln, New Marshfield, OH 45766. Getting there requires navigating some of southeastern Ohio’s back roads, and riders coming from the Columbus area or beyond should plan for the route to take longer than a GPS estimate might suggest, particularly if US 33 is congested.
That said, the drive itself passes through attractive hill country that sets the mood for the ride ahead.
Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes. The trail conditions vary by season and recent rainfall, and guides adjust accordingly.
Tipping the guides is common and appreciated, and the horses apparently enjoy treats as well. The overall pricing has been described as affordable, which is worth noting for a guided trail ride of this quality and length.
A visit here rewards a little advance planning, but even a spontaneous stop during a Hocking Hills trip tends to work out well for those who call ahead.
