Utah Horseback Riding Vacations
Multi-day horseback riding trips in Utah, either camping or staying in Inns each night.
Horseback Camping Vacations
Camping with the horses allows a deeper interaction among humans, horses and the backcountry we are passionate to share with riders. With the camp pre-set, not only are we able to spend more time handling the horses, but also provide more opportunities for more in depth exploration of the surroundings and ourselves.
Horseback Inn to Inn Vacations
Inn trail rides offer a broad array of riding conditions, top notch lodges and restaurants. Each day can be easily tailored to optimize the groups’ wishes, weather conditions and local attractions.
Horseback Camping Trips
“The civilized way to rough it” Hands on riding experience in a pre-set up site.
Trip locations include:
Capitol Reef | San Rafael Swell |
Escalante Canyons | High Plateaus |
Each camping ride is unique and we seldom cover the same backcountry trail or use the same camp site more than once or twice a season. These are base-camp rides supplied by 4X4 vehicles. The backcountry featured on our Utah horseback camping rides access areas too remote for inn lodging. Camp location is generally situated at a higher elevation in mid-summer and a lower elevation in spring and fall seasons. Areas explored: Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, San Rafael Swell Wilderness, or Utah’s High Plateaus.
Trip Duration: 5 Nights
Time in Saddle: 4-6 Hours
Maximum People: 10
| Dates & (Availability) | Country | Highlights | Price / Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 15-20 & April 22-27 | San Rafael Swell Wilderness | Wild Horses at Muddy River Gorge & Red Canyon | $1,600 |
| May 6-11 & May 13-18 | Capitol Reef National Park | Spring wildflowers in Slickrock Canyons | $1,600 |
| May 27-June 1 & June 3-8 | Escalante Canyons National Monument | Spring Wildflowers in Slickrock Canyons of Escalante Watershed | $1,600 |
| June 17-22 & June 24-29 | High Plateaus & Capitol Reef National Park | Spring Wildflowers in Slickrock Canyons | $1,600 |
| July 1-6, July 15-20 & July 22-27 | Ride along America’s “Great Western Trail”, alpine lakes and wildlife | $1,600 | |
| Aug. 5-10 & Aug. 12-17 | High Plateaus & Boulder Mountain | Views of the Canyon Lands, 4 Corners, the Grand Staircase | $1,600 |
| **Aug. 26-31 & Sept. 2-7 | High Plateaus & Boulder Mountain | Views of the Canyon Lands, 4 Corners area, aspens, alpine lakes, wildlife | $1,600 |
| Sept. 16-21 & Sept. 23-28 | Escalante Canyons National Monument | Fall foliage: Circle Cliffs | $1,600 |
| Oct. 7-12 & Oct. 14-19 | San Rafael Swell Wilderness | Ride along America’s “Great Western Trail”, alpine lakes and wildlife | $1,600 |
Inn to Inn Horseback Trips
A “sampler of the area’s best”: horses, riding locations, lodges, meals and attractions.
Trip locations include both:
Escalante Canyons NM | Capitol Reef NP |
On our inn-to-inn trail rides, we select daily destinations from several dozen available. Our lodging location changes mid-week from Torrey, UT to Boulder, UT as our ride meanders down the Waterpocket Fold towards Lake Powell. Our horseback ride destinations move us from the Capitol Reef National Park area into the Grand Staircase/Escalante Canyons National Monument. During warm weather or fall foliage, excursions to the lakes and alpine meadows of Fishlake or Dixie National Forest become part of our itinerary.
Trails on all of our Utah horseback rides are mostly un-groomed and pioneered by wildlife, Indians, outlaws or herdsmen. Areas explored are selected for their scenic quality, pristine natural condition and remote location. As a general rule, the rides explore higher environs (to 11,500 ft.) during mid-summer and lower elevations (to 3,900 ft.) earlier or later in the season. Life zones visited may range from Alpine to upper-Sonoran depending on ride and time of year.
Trip Duration: 6 Nights
Time in Saddle: 4-6 Hours
Maximum People: 10
| Dates & (Availability) | Country | Highlights | Price / Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 29-May 4, May 20-26 & June 10-16 | Capitol Reef NP & Escalante Canyons NM | Wildflowers; Springtime in Red Rocks | $2,400 |
| July 8-14 & July 29-Aug. 4 | Capitol Reef NP & Escalante Canyons NM | Explore Capitol Reef NP & the Escalante Canyons NM headwaters including alpine settings | $2,400 |
| Aug.19-25 & Sept. 9-15 | Capitol Reef NP, Boulder Mountain & Escalante Canyons | Views of the Canyonlands, Four Corner area, alpine lakes, and aspens | $2,400 |
| Sept. 30-Oct. 6 & October 21-27 | Capitol Reef NP, Boulder Mountain & Escalante Canyons NM | Fall colors in the aspens and cottonwoods | $2,400 |
Utah Horseback Riding Trip Details & Info
Location Information:
GATEWAY CITY: Torrey, UT. Your travel options include drive, fly/drive (or with transfer, fly only). If you live outside the area, the most economical way to reach Torrey is to fly into Salt Lake City, UT, Las Vegas, Nevada, or Grand Junction, Colorado then rent a car and drive. Hondoo will help you share driving expenses and coordinate logistics with other participants. Our rides explore perhaps the most remote and rugged area in the continental United States–mythologized as the “Great Back-of-Beyond” and “The Place Nobody Knew”. We’ll make every effort to help you experience it. See our Map and Travel Planner page for more information.
Meeting & Ending Point :
Camping Trail Rides: Day 1, meet for orientation at 8:00 PM in the lounge of your motel at Torrey, UT. Trip ends late afternoon of day six at our headquarters in Torrey.
Inn-to-Inn Trail Rides: Day 1, meet for orientation at 8:00 PM in the communal room of one of our finest inns at Torrey, UT. Trip ends the morning (7th day) after your last night in Boulder, UT.
Trip Details and Information:
Trip Size: Limited to 10 riders plus guides.
Trip Length: Base Camping–6 days and 5 nights (1 night inn lodging & 4 camping). Inn Lodging–6 days and 6 nights (3 nights at 2 different resorts). Camping rides feature 5 days of riding and inn rides feature 5 days of riding. Shorter options may be arranged as a custom trip.
Saddle Time (Actual hours in the saddle): Usually about 6 hours per day; more or less time if desired or circumstances require. On camping trail rides you’ll ride to and from basecamp on first and last day of riding, otherwise, you have the option to ride or rest as you please. On inn-to-inn trips, you may ride or rest as you please.
Suitability/Experience: Our Utah horseback riding vacations are open to all horse enthusiasts and nature lovers. Although heart and athleticism are often more important than experience when judging horses or riders, riders should be in control at walk, trot and short canter–don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
We strive to give experienced riders all the pace and challenge they desire, and to give inexperienced riders all the instruction and patience they need. Time and logistics permitting, we may divide into two groups riding to separate destinations or scenic features.
What we guarantee, with the help of seasoned guides, wranglers, cooks and horses, is access to a rugged and scenic landscape of immense scale. We couple this–access to the backcountry–with an unencumbered and comfortable ambiance at the end of each day where you can relax, refresh and rejuvenate prior our next day adventure. (Non-riding companions are welcome on all trips.)
Horses: Our remuda consists of ranch raised Quarter Horses with a few Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Mustangs. Most of the horses we’ve bred and raised ourselves.
Trip Inclusions
All horseback riding vacations include everything you’ll need, except personal clothing and accoutrements.
Rates: View a complete list of our rates here.
CAMPING Horseback Trail Rides Include:
- Federal land-use fees.
- All ground transportation from Torrey, UT & return.
- First night motel lodging in Torrey.
- Four nights at a deluxe basecamp deep in the backcountry.
- All meals from lunch on day two through lunch on the last day, including grass fed, hormone free locally raised beef along with fresh produce, hot and iced drinks.
- Canvas tents for cooking, dining, showering and sleeping (single, double or family occupancy).
- Freshly laundered sleeping bag, cot and foam pad.
- Camp chairs, coolers and other camp amenities.
- Waterproof gear bags, water bottles, saddle bags and tack.
- Seasoned mountain horses.
- Guides/wranglers, cook, camp-jack and interpretative specialist.
INN-to-INN Horseback Trail Rides Include:
- All State and Federal land-use fees.
- All ground transportation from Torrey and return.
- All meals, including gratuities, in the area’s finest restaurants from breakfast on day two thru dinner on the last day.
- Three nights lodging at the best available resort in Torrey, UT.
- Three nights lodging at the best available inn in Boulder, UT.
- Evening activities may include vehicle tours, sunset wine party, museum visit, local events and entertainment.
- Seasoned mountain horses.
- Water bottles, saddle bags and tack.
- Guides/wranglers and interpretative specialist.
Optional Inclusions: Single supplement for lodging on inn-to-inn or camping trips. Transfer Package- arrange with Hondoo.