Best place to ride ... scenery is amazing .. horses are well behaved.. employees love what they do!…read moreI wrote an article about my experience.. Returning to Heaven by Sierra Rec Magazine

Great ride with Pat. I highly recommend Gold Lake Stables to anyone that likes to ride horses. A…read morehuge plus is the ride takes place in the mountains with lakes and pine trees all around you. Pat is a great teacher when it comes to riding and will answer any questions you might have.

I booked my trip to Greenhorn Ranch over six months ago. My daughter wanted to visit a dude ranch…read morefor her graduation trip. I started out a bit cynical about the high pricing per day per person of all the dude ranches I investigated and drove to Greenhorn probably in more of a negative skeptical headspace than I should have. If you read any of my reviews you will see that I'm also a tough customer and critical but fair reviewer. So when I say that if I could I would give this place TEN STARS, take that to heart. It's in an absolutely dreamlike location, a 60 acre ranch dropped in the middle of a 500,000 acre idyllic forest with over 60000 acres of accessible trails. The place is laid out like a small western town with saloon and chuck house to eat. The rooms were surprisingly stylish comfortable and well appointed. The shower had great pressure and hot water and our creekside cabins sat on the stream with a view. The food is basic, ribs and chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch but that what I like and I will say everything including the steaks were well flavored and cooked perfectly. Is the place overpriced. Yes but I would gladly and happily return so I guess it's worth it. I've been to many horse riding places including Arizona and Wyoming and I have never seen healthier or more beautiful well cared for horses anywhere. There were over 60 horses and literally every single one was magnificent and well trained. They also carefully review your preference and skill sheets and make sure to find you the perfect horse both to match your skill level and desire. I always wanted to ride a paint like Little Joe from Bonanza and when I got to the corral for my first ride there was a stunning paint with blonde mane and blue eyes waiting for me. The rides are indescribable with valleys and vistas and mountains and it's more like exploring the frontier than a typical nose to tail operation. THE STAFF: I don't know where to begin. The office staff including and especially Stella and the kitchen folks and every single person we met was welcoming warm kind friendly and charming . And genuine. They made us feel like family and we made fast friends some my daughter may have made for life . I have never been anywhere including luxury 5 star resorts with a better staff or better service . The wranglers including Kadence, Katie, Avery, Jim (Sebastian) and Adrian were actual genuine cowboys, incredible skilled riders and wranglers, consummate professionals who put safety first while making every ride more enjoyable and memorable than the last. Troy the bartender was fun and funny smart and entertaining and a hell of a mixologist. He made me custom creations better than any I've had in upscale clubs and restaurants in NYC. One day I was out by the pond and as I drained my water glass he appeared with a water pitcher and a towel over his arm like a sommelier pouring me wine . He said "more water sir?" The whole thing was a joke and we shared a laugh. My 22 old daughter was heartbroken when we left and we have been all over the world and I've never seen her feel that way about anywhere including Maui or Paris. We are planning on going back in October and probably the rest of our lives . Run don't walk to Greenhorn with your whole extended family. Ten Stars!

This was the best place for a family vacation! We stayed for a week and made the best memories!read more

Our hiking group of eleven stayed here in late June 2024 and had a great time. The hiking in the…read morearea is the draw with many lakes and the PCT nearby too. The cabins are basic and just fine; the lodge is comfortable and the included breakfasts and dinners were WONDERFUL. Lunch snacks were there to take with us hiking each day. Rob and his staff were gracious and made us feel at home. Ask Rob about cycling in the area!

I highly recommend the Gold Lake Lodge! Rob the owner- runs it and is head chef…read more We had the shrimp in butter and lemon as well as the smoked salmon with lemon and capers. We guessed it was liquid smoke- and poached- melted in my mouth. Amazing flavors! Veges were great- and had Brewers LAIR IPA on tap! We will definitely go back with friends. Can only make a rese- so make it in advance. Very reasonable and the flavors were top shelf.

I always wanted to do horseback riding in Tahoe! Finally, was able to today. I called ahead the day…read morebefore and was booked for the next day. There's plenty of parking available and in the office is where you'll sign some paperwork and pay. It was $60 for an hour ride. You're allowed to bring your phone and a Fanny pack. I was placed with a group, so we were a total of 5, including the guide. I know for next time to book for the two hour session. There's a bit of uphill and downhill on the trail. The trail is pretty worn in and I felt so comfortable on the horse I was on. I got placed with the horse named Blue. Genuinely loved the experience and found it so calming. I'd love to do it again whenever I'm in Tahoe again.

The whole experience was wonderful! Emily was our guide and she was so nice and engaged with us…read morethroughout the ride. We went with out two young kids who have never ridden before, but that was not an issue at all. They intentionally picked horses for each of us and we all felt very comfortable the whole ride with our horses. The trail was peaceful and such a beautiful ride. Definitely recommend this location for others.

We had an absolutely wonderful experience at Piping Rock Horses! My sister and I both agreed it was…read morethe best horseback ride we've ever done. Our guide, Kiera, was fantastic -- knowledgeable, relaxed, encouraging, and clearly wonderful with both people and horses. The scenery was breathtaking, and the ride felt like a real adventure rather than just following a trail in a line. We crossed a beautiful river twice, rode through gorgeous mountain terrain, and truly got to experience the landscape. My horse, Buckwheat, was such a character and made the ride even more fun. We especially appreciated that the ride felt personal, peaceful, and authentic. You can tell the horses are well cared for and that the guides genuinely love what they do. Highly, highly recommend this experience if you're looking for a scenic and memorable ride in the Truckee/Tahoe area!

My husband and I went on a trail ride with Stephanie as our guide and it was AMAZING!! It was a…read moregorgeous day and Stephanie was very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun! The horses are happy and well cared for. Absolutely will come back again.

Kid approved (7yo)…read more Heavenly Hooves is incredible, and Diana is absolutely amazing. She has so much patience, genuine kindness, and a real love for what she does. You can feel how much she cares from the moment you arrive. Her calm approach and deep understanding made the entire experience enjoyable and unforgettable. I can't recommend her enough -- truly a wonderful place and an even more wonderful person.

Diana is the best and her horses are well cared for and sweet. Apache was a perfect ambassador for…read morehorses everywhere. Along with Diana, Apache created a great introduction, to hopefully a lifetime of loving horses. The grandkids loved every minute of their Horse 101 time at Heavenly Hoofprints!

The first time I rode with zephyr cove was probably a decade ago & i loved it so much. So i was…read moreexcited to share this experience with my husband. I surprised him with a hour long trail ride (something he's never gotten to do in Tahoe). We had a 12 ride & arrived about 15 min before, the woman in the office was so kind & welcoming. I believe her name is Louise (hope i got that right), our trail guide shared that her and her husband started Zephyr Cove Stables 40 years ago and her & her sons still run the operation. I thought that was so cool. We were promptly brought our horses to ride, i got Rocky & my husband rode Clyde :) Laya (hope I'm spelling that right) was our guide and she was so awesome, she was attentive to us and the other couple riding. Pointed out plants and shared information about their medicinal benefits. I love having good conversations with strangers, she really was a delight. The ride itself was seriously perfect. All of the horses were calm and well trained. The view throughout the whole ride was captivating. The hour passed so fast, when the ride was done the same man that made sure i mounted rocky safely was there to help me off. I can't say enough great things about Zephyr Cove Stables. It's a must experience while in Tahoe!

DO NOT BOOK UNLESS YOURE LOOKING TO GET YELLED AND CUSSED AT WHILE RIDING…read more On Sunday 06/14/26, I booked a beginner ride at 2:30 pm for 50 minutes. There was a young girl (wearing a red "I heart coke" top and jeans) that was loading me up and only gave me a thirty second instruction on how to use the horses reigns, "left is left, right is right, and pull to stop." My horse and I were at the end of the line. We started our trail ride and my horse began to eat a plant along the way. Our wrangler (a woman with a purple-ish plaid western shirt, silver reflective sunglasses, and a beige cow boy hat with jeans named Leia) began to shout at me to pull the reigns when that happens, "great, now the horse is going to keep doing that because you let her" she shouted in an aggressive tone. I didn't pay much mind to it. Shortly after, my horse got too close to the one behind it and both horses briefly became uneasy and then relaxed. Leia charged at me with her horse towards the end of the line and began throwing "f" bombs, cursing at me, exclaiming I was not mindful of keeping a distance between the two horses. The one in front of me could have kicked and injured my horse as well as myself. I reminded her that this was a beginner trail and I was not aware that the horses needed to have space between, NO ONE had informed me that I needed to be mindful of this detail, we should've had this conversation BEFORE we got on the horses. Additionally, I reminded her that there is absolutely no reason to speak to me so condescendingly, and it's NEVER justifiable to cuss at a customer. She kept saying it's a safety issue, the person who loaded me should've told me, horses are like traffic and their need their space. All of this happened five minutes into the fifty minute trail ride and I was extremely uncomfortable, disrespected, and tense for the rest of the ride. It is also important to note that throughout the trail, Leia was constantly stopping and going, putting all the riders in a difficult position to maintain a distance and not agitate the horses. It was difficult to enjoy the ride or take photos/videos of the scenery. When we finally returned to the stables, Leia approached me and began to apologize for her behavior (all while I was still on the horse and all other riders were off). I asked her repeatedly, over and over, "I want to talk to your boss" and she replied EACH time "that's not necessary". I told her it was imperative that her boss's were made aware of her extremely inappropriate, beyond disrespectful, and appalling behavior but instead, began to say that her boss's wouldn't care to hear my grievances, she had a difficult day with other riders, has to work regardless of rain or shine, that I don't understand what it is like to work difficult hours, and continued to victimize herself and further justify her behavior. I told her I did not accept her apology and I still wanted to see her manager. Finally, I got off the horse. I was inclined to handle this directly with her management on property but as I was walking away, she commented, "I should've let you break your fucking leg". I spoke to an older woman at the front where we paid and signed our waivers. Here, I informed her of Leia's extreme behavior and suddenly Leia ran up to the window claiming that I was not following directions and put everyone's safety at risk. After she left, I reminded the woman at the front that I had already communicated to Leia that there were no specific instructions about maintaining a distance between horses nor what to do if they begin to eat the plants along the trail. Leia was upset I "didn't follow directions" but there were no directions given on what to do if and when those scenarios were to happen? This experience was extremely heartbreaking, it gutted my entire vacation, an unbelievable amount disrespect experienced from beginning to end. I think everyone who is considering riding with Zephyr Cove Stables should HIGHLY reconsider. I look forward to speaking with management about her disgusting comments and behavior.

I have ridden at the Graeagle stable AND the Gold Lake stable and both were a wonderful experience…read more Also last year my 9 yr old granddaughter I enrolled for 2 weeks in the day camp in Graeagle. She loved it and learned all the fundamentals of horseback riding. The staff were exceptionally helpful and patient. The Gold Mountain trails are not for the skiddish riders tho! But soooo beautiful. I recommend the Graeagle rides for any newbies...you won't regret it! And the prices are very reasonable compared to the Bay Area.

Made a reservation and they overbooked and told us we couldn't ride. So our time got taken by a…read morelesson reservation and we're kicked to the curb. Only here for a few days and huge disappointment in Graeagle Stables.

We had a fantastic ride with Skip on the ranch! The horses are well maintained along with the tack…read more Super friendly and fun adventure all around! I highly recommend! We will both come back.

I worked with Skip in Sedona when he started Red Moon Ranch. He sent me a former jumper for a tune…read moreup and said he would split the proceeds on the sale of the horse. I have trained all my life and said I would be happy to help. The horse was recovering from laminitis. I did all the basic ground work and liberty work with the gelding. The horse seemed shut down but performed well for me. I then did four trail rides on the horse and he was quiet and docile. On the fifth ride, while I had the gelding in a soft jog, he threw me harder than any horse I have ever ridden. ( I've only been thrown twice) There was no warning. I broke my neck and had numerous other injuries. Many weeks later a friend of Skips asked me why I took in such a problem horse that had violently thrown 7 other people. I was aghast, as Skip had never told me this was a dangerous horse that waited to get its rider. He never said the horse had even bucked. Not too long before I took the gelding in for training (WHY DIDNT SKIP DO IT?) Skip asked me to do liberty work with a woman and her horse. I agreed. The session went superbly well and I was pleased with the result as I had never met the horse. He later told me I made him look bad. I should have taken that as a warning on any future business dealings with him. I am lucky as I am not paralyzed. I had to quit training for a living though. This man is a con artist and a former Hells Angel. Go to someone who has wonderful credentials and a record of safety.