Take a Colorado Horseback Trail Ride

Colorado Horseback Trail Ride Adventures

A Horseback trail ride in Colorado is an exceptional way to connect with our state’s western roots and travel lesser-trodden backcountry trails. Enjoy spectacular scenery, fields of wildflowers, and cross mountain streams like our early forefathers traveled through this county. These outfits offer experiences to suit your style and match you with a trusted stead. Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl and call on these stables and ranches for only-in-Colorado experiences. There are even more horseback trail riding outfits in Colorado, but below are some standouts.

* If you’re a fan of hunting big game in Colorado, many of these
outfits provide guide services during hunting season (fall).

Rocky Mountain National Park Area Stables

National Park Gateway Stables

For the Rocky Mountain National Park fan who wants to sit back and enjoy the spectacular views via horse, National Park Gateway Stables has a trail ride for all types. Rides can be as short as 1-2 hours, or you can take a full-day guided tour and really get into the more remote areas of RMNP.

The YMCA of the Rockies Jackson Stables, Inc., Livery

Jackson Stables Livery is a full-service horseback trail riding stables associated with the YMCA of the Rockies. They offer an hour and up to all-day destination trail rides. Kids 5 years and younger can sign up for pony rides. Private parties can sign up for hayrides (aka wagon rides), including a campfire and marshmallow roast.

Winding River Resort in Grand Lake

Grand Lake’s Winding River Resort prides itself on making family memories since 1972. Once an 1800s logging camp, this secluded Colorado vacation destination has comfortable amenities, authentic mountain activities, fully loaded cabins, lodges, and RV and tent sites. Sign on for trail rides, pony rides, hay rides, and sleigh rides, which are flanked by the pristine Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapahoe National Forest. Old-fashioned trail rides take groups past wildflowers, streams, along the Colorado River, and the occasional deer and elk sighting.

The Royal Gorge Region Horseback Trail Ride

The Royal Gorge Stables in Cañon City offers one and two-hour trail rides. The one-hour loop is a mosey-along ride that’s perfect for beginners and small children and features photo-worthy views of the Royal Gorge, while the two-hour trail ride travels up into pine forests and along the base of South Twin Mountain, dishing out views of the Royal Gorge Bridge, Bighorn Sheep Canyon, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You can also sign up for a combo package with choices of rafting, off-road tours, and ziplining combined experiences available.

Central Colorado Horseback Ride

Vail Stables

Get out there with Vail Stables, who is happy to introduce the never-evers to the fun and rewarding horseback trail riding experience. Vail Stables offers a variety of destination mountain trail rides. They even have goat petting zoos, pony rides, and grooming experiences for the little ones.

American Adventure Expeditions

Departing from Mt. Princeton Stables in Nathrop, CO., American Adventure Expeditions invites riders of all ability levels to soak in that Wild West cowboy-on-the-range vibe. Experienced Colorado wranglers guide group trail rides along the scenic Chalk Cliffs near Mt. Princeton Whitewater. rafting and horseback riding combo trips are on tap for those seeking a double-adventure day.

Northwest Colorado Horseback Trail Riding

The Steamboat Springs area has several horseback trail riding outfits. All of which have nice mountain trails and beautiful scenery, and some offer meals and wagon rides.

• Dels Triangle 3 in Clark, CO.
• Saddleback Ranch in Steamboat, CO.
• The OutPost in Hahns Peak, CO.

Southwest Colorado Horseback Riding

On a backcountry horseback ride, Canyon Trails Ranch near Mesa Verde will deliver you to ancient ruins and the secluded McElmo Canyon. The Southwest Colorado outfitter specializes in half and full-day guided rides through the Canyons of the Ancients, revealing the history of early Puebloan people among spectacular red rock gorges. Young cowpokes enjoy the option for pony rides or family-friendly open-drawn hayrides capped with a campfire marshmallow roast.

Visit Rimrock Outfitters in Mancos (nearby Mancos State Park and on your way to Durango) to explore Colorado’s southwest corner by horseback. Trail rides in the San Juan Mountains open up to awe-inspiring peaks, bluebird skies, and expansive views of Mesa Verde National Park and Sleeping Ute Mountain. Trot along the La Plata Mountains past high alpine wildflowers and wildlife. Make it a full day and sign on for a breakfast or dinner ride. Consider a Ute Tribal Park trip or a mountain camp trip.

Montrose Area has a selection of horseback trail riding outfits.

• Action Adventure Trail Rides
• Deb’s Livery
• Gold Mountain Horseback Adventures

Telluride for the scenery of the Uncompahgre and the San Juan National Forests.

• Baker Ranch
• Telluride Horseback Adventures
• Telluride Wranglers

Durango has several horseback riding outfits nearby. Once again, it’s hard to go wrong with any of them.

• Bears Ranch
• Over the Hill Outfitters
• Buck’s Livery
• Weminuche Wilderness Outfitters

By Lisa Blake