TLDR: Disappointing Experience - Unengaged and Unhelpful Wrangler We were optimistic about our 4 PM Red Mountain ride, but unfortunately, our wrangler fell far short of expectations and made for an uncomfortable, even stressful, experience. From the start, she seemed impatient and uninterested--perhaps because we were the last group of the day. Our group of four included two children; I clarified that we were all beginners. Despite that, my nine-year-old daughter was assigned Dino, a horse someone in the previous group had asked, "Dino is not going out again today, is he?" He consistently misbehaved and was difficult to control for inexperienced riders. Rather than explaining how to handle Dino or offering coaching to my daughter, the wrangler simply took the lead rope away from her, making my daughter feel embarrassed and even more unsure of herself. The most concerning incident happened just ten minutes into the ride. The last horse broke away and bolted onto a busy road. Instead of communicating clearly and giving instructions, the wrangler immediately abandoned our group to chase the runaway horse, leaving the entire group confused and unsupervised as our horses started to follow the chaos toward the road. I had to yell instructions to my daughters myself to keep them safe, as the wrangler provided no guidance or reassurance in what could have become a dangerous situation. Throughout the ride, the wrangler maintained an unfriendly, silent demeanor. She rarely checked on us and barked unclear instructions from the front of the line, which were nearly impossible to hear. When my daughter started to slide sideways on her saddle, the wrangler never stopped to see if the stirrups needed adjusting, simply shouting at us instead. After the horse bolted, I chose to ride at the rear to ensure my daughters were okay and give them basic instructions, which the wrangler should have provided. When Dino became aggressive and tried to bite my horse, the wrangler moved my daughter to the back of the line. Because of Dino's nature, she constantly lagged far behind. Despite the risk of being separated or left unattended on rocky trails, the wrangler barely stopped or looked back to check on her. Finally, one of the main draws of a guided ride is supposed to be the scenery and the guide's insights. Our wrangler gave us no information and didn't once stop to highlight the landscape or share anything about the area. Even the other group members looked frustrated by her lack of engagement and support. I have been on numerous guided horseback rides over the years, and this was hands down the worst guiding I've ever experienced. The wrangler was inattentive, unhelpful, and uninterested, risking our safety, comfort, and enjoyment. Based on our guide, I cannot recommend this experience. . read more

My wife and I just had a great trail ride with Kareem and Elllie..They were amazing guides... I was really excited that it was more than just a trail ride in that we had water crossings and uphill and downhill with a lot of varying terrain... Also got to see deer on the way... highly recommend going and taking a ride with them read more

this place is incredible. it was only my boyfriend & I on the ride with our trail guide and it was such an experience. we did the 1.5 hour ride around the lakes- absolutely beautiful ride and such a fun activity to do on vacation. highly suggest a morning ride! our trial guide, aaliah, was awesome as well, will definitely be coming back again. read more

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Booked two 'Walk and Lead' rides for my two young kids recently and it was a great time. We paid $30 for each ride around a basic loop course. (About 20 minutes). A adult is required to help guide and pull a rope to lead each horse or mule. The midpoint being a lookout over a lake. Overall the staff were all very friendly and very helpful. I would definitely recommend them. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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We have a great time every year taking our little one on a Walk and Lead trip with Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit. The horses for the Walk and Lead are sweet and gentle, and they know the trails well to take us on a nice little walk. Charlotte, the sweet little girl that was assisting around the stables, was so informative and helpful as we were getting our little one situated on the horse. What a little ray of sunshine Charlotte is! Thank you Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit -- we'll be returning for years to come. We can't wait for our little one to be old enough for longer rides! read more

We had an AMAZING time! They were only doing one-hour rides ($80 per person) when we were there, but it was a beautiful ride up to A spectacular view from Panorama Dome! A huge thank you to our guide, Britney, for your kindness and patience during our ride! Everyone was great and it was clear our business was appreciated! We will definitely go back! read more

My kids loved it and that all that matters. Everyone is super nice and friendly! Felt more like visiting friends vs a business. Horses and mules are very well kept and in great condition. Worth every pennie. Since one of my daughters is 4 years old we were only able to the 20 mins ride but it may be like 30 mins. Great job! And an awesome family friendly team. We will see you soon! read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Shout out to Rachel for making my kids first time on horseback a fun memorable experience. We did an 1 hour session and the trail/scenery was beautiful. Perfect for beginners and kids. We felt safe the whole time. And Rachel was nice enough to take a group photo with a picturesque back drop. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

My wife and son are out right this minute on a trail ride with the nice folks at Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit. I got a call from my wife this afternoon while she was riding into Bodie. This is their 4th trip and each time they come back with all manner of great stories. Dave Stamey goes on these rides and at night they sit around a campfire while Dave plays guitars and sings his beautiful songs. The owners take very good care of their mules and horses and the joy of being out at night under the stars is thrilling for my family. Heck of a drive from Aptos to Mamoth, but well worth it to be sure. read more

Great guide, lovely horses, and spectacular scenery! The entire staff was helpful and friendly! read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Very pretty area and lovely instructors ! We loved our horses Baha, Cole, Handy , Bugs, Monty , and Kirby ! All of them worked well together and were sweet! We took the tj lake and barrate 2 hour tour which was shaded and had super fun water and road crossings! We have gone to the Outfit 4 times and recommend it to all! read more

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Had a amazing trail ride we were able to join a group at the very last minute and I'm so glad we did the views are stunning and the horses are very well behaved would absolutely do it again! read more

I'd really love to give this group 5 stars, but I can't. There was a little girl, probably 7-8 years old, that was in our group. The Guide advised that she was the owner's granddaughter. Sadly, for the ENTIRE 90 minute trip, we all had to listen to her constant babbling, which really impacted the ride in a negative way. Picture a quiet forest, with the sound of a brook in the distance ..... now add the constant chatter from a belligerent, bossy 8 year old girl. Trip ruined. And I paid $350, plus a tip to the guides, for my family of 5 to ride. The second Guide tried to quiet her several times, but was met with disrespectful back talk about how she owns the horses and can do anything she wants. When the ride was over, I spoke to talk to the lady in the office, asking that this girl be kept off of future rides to the good of the paying customers. All she had to say was that she is the owners granddaughter and everyone knows she talks a lot, but there nothing they can do. I would recommend this place for their guides and horses, but make sure that this little girl does not accompany your ride. read more

Friendly staff, and so much fun. Beautify sights you wouldn't see otherwise. We had a great time.

Brittany is the BEST! I did an hour trail ride to Red Mountain which for a novice rider like me was quite an adventure, but I felt confident in our leader Brittany. She's an excellent rider and very knowledgeable of the area. Throughout the ride she made sure everyone was comfortable on their horse and gave us riding tips. She shared history of the area etc. Views from the ridge were awesome. Overall a great experience and a nice way to see this beautiful area. Highly recommend MLPO and Wrangler Brittany! read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Horse drive - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

We had a great time with Keith on the one hour tour. It was a lot of fun getting to ride the beautiful horses. The ride was easy but still exciting for a beginner like me. We arrived 20 minutes prior to our ride and ended up with a private tour bc the other people never showed. Horses seemed happy and well taken care of. $50 per person for a one hour trip was reasonable. Weather was warm but it was windy at the top so bring a wind breaker :) read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Top of the hill view on the Lake Mamie 1 hour ride. - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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I called in about 4 days before getting to Mammoth to make a reservation for an 8am ride on Tuesday (today) and was confirmed. Upon arrival, I was immediately greeted, given the waiver and some basic explanations. They have helmets available if you want to use them. I was the only one for the 8am ride so I was happy as clams. My guide was super friendly and talkative. The ride itself went over the rocky trails with some puddles here and there and ended at one of the many lakes in the area. Beautiful! I had a great time and would definitely ride here again, preferably a day trip if I have more time ^_^ read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Beautiful view and horsey - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Went on the 1 hour tour with my family. We were all beginner riders. The tour route, our guide and all the horses were great. My entire family had a pleasant experience. read more

Some of the staff were super great. The ride was mind numbingly boring. There was 0 communication of where we were at. We were never allowed a picture opportunity. We were constantly told to keep up because the ride was taking too long, but trotting was severely frowned upon (they ended the ride 15 min early because we went too fast). So they tell us to keep up even though it's the horse that is totally defeated, bored and tired of walking the same trail over and over. Most of all, the guide was not a great "guide" she was over it, and she was not stoked to be there. For the price I paid, I hoped for more of an experience, rather than just an expensive opportunity to literally sit on a horse. read more

Our experience here was not good at all. I went on the 2 hour Mine trail ride with my boyfriend. I listed on the forms that I was an advanced rider, which I am as I ride every day and I've had my own horses for 15 years now. My boyfriend is a beginner so they put him on Kirby (chestnut gelding) who was great and he had no issues with him. I however got put on Cali (paint mare) . She was super antsy and threw her head up and down the whole entire ride because she wanted to go faster. The heading throwing was SO bad and annoying to the point where the shank of her bit got flipped upside down and I had to get off and fix it twice. Do you really think a horse that has a known habit of flipping her head should be given to someone to ride to have an enjoyable time? Not to mention she spooked at things multiple times. Instead of enjoying my ride I spent the WHOLE entire ride constantly correcting (training) her head throwing and keeping her gait at the walk. I was so focused on her the entire time that I missed what the whole tour was about. I felt because I was advanced they gave me her as an opportunity for them so she could get more experience with someone who could handle her out on the trail. I spent $70 for this. She has the potential to be a good trail horse one day once she mellows out, but I wouldn't use her for trail riding tours as people want to have a nice relaxing ride. I really wish someone would have told me about her behavior before I got on her because I would have asked for a different horse but I got no warning whatsoever. My boyfriend and I could not hear our guide because there was such a large gap in between the horses and he hardly ever waited for the riders behind him to catch up to him so we could hear him. At one point there was two riders having trouble over a rocky area behind us and I I had to yell for the guide to wait because he was a quarter of a mile up the trail from them. He then turned around but he ended up accidentally running his horse into my boyfriends horse which spooked my horse as she already is antsy to begin with. We both went on this ride to see and learn a little bit about the mines but our guide barely said anything about them. We just walked right through them. Maybe pause and tell riders brief history about all of it at least... After our ride we waited about 30 minutes out of respect until the next tour went out on their ride so we could speak with someone and not interrupt them getting the other group ready to go. We ended up speaking to someone but no one even tried to accommodate us at all. I feel we should get at least a partial if not full refund but basically all I got was a "well you put you were an advanced rider"... and I told her yes I am but I wrote that down so you know my skill level, I didn't write that down so I would end up with a horse that I had to train consistently. End of story I am extremely disappointed. read more

I love this pack station, they are the real deal! Couldn't believe they've been in business since 1915. Obviously there doing it right! I've been on several incredible rides and figured I should show my appreciation by taking the time to yelp. Make a reservation the book up fast. Bring a sweatshirt your way up in the trees looking at amazing scenery. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - On the trail to Purple Lake - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

I've come here three times and each time I have enjoyed my route. Of the three tour guides I've had, two of the three were very good. They engaged with the visitors and held an active conversation throughout the entire ride. This last tour guide I had said the rehearsed words on the spots of interest but did not try much harder to engage with the visitors. The horses I've had were all well-behaved. And a visit always makes a memorable moment to complete any Mammoth trip. I've had Oliver a few times. He's a pleasure to ride. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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Second time i have brought my girls (3 and 6yrs old). $20 each for a 20 min self guided tour. Staff is friendly. Positives: Not very strenous and kid friendly trail. Views were good not great overlooking Lake Mary. Supposed to be 20 min but i can stretch it a little longer (after all no employee or guide accompanies u) Negatives: Helmets are provided but kids are not strapped in. They have to hold on for dear life. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

We had a great time on our half-day ride today! Our guide was friendly and answered all of my questions about the trail/area. The scenery was beautiful and the ranch was easy to get to from our hotel in Mammoth. I will be visiting this ranch again next time I am in the area! read more

I took my 3 children this morning on a 2 hr ride. The guide Jenna was great. The horses were very well trained and gentle. We had a fantastic time! read more

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We arrived so excited for the ride but were made to feel so unwelcome from the way the release forms were shoved at us with no welcome greetings nor explanation. When my son asked for timing of when to be collected sarcastic answers were given. In today's time surly and sarcastic doesn't work for us, rather joy and welcome. We were so uncomfortable that we left and didn't take our ride. read more

The 2017 winter storms had many of the trails closed during our 4th of July weekend trip. We took our three children on the one hour Panorama Dome trip. The guides were very good and the horses were great. The scenery was amazing. Next time I would definitely go for a longer ride, but it was a great way to start our morning. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

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My family and I used to use this outfit regularly about six years ago. We always had great rides with them, but I recently had a very poor experience with trying to book a trail ride. When I called, the employee on the phone insisted that a woman who was below the weight limit would be unsafe to ride because she was too short for her weight, although she goes to the gym daily and had also previously done the same ride without difficulty. As some background, I am a medical professional and do frequent medical safety evaluations. I have ridden quarter horses since I was eight. My family owned two and I cared for them, trained them and rode weekly. I asked if there was a cut-off or guidelines using a weight to height ratio, such as a body mass index (or BMI). The female employee became very defensive, and said "I don't know what you're talking about", and didn't appear to know what a BMI is. She also sounded very confused. She then asked me to hold, and then a male employee came on phone (did not introduce himself). This gentleman stated that women who are "short and round" fall more than men do because women are not as physically strong as men, so they "have a harder time holding on to the horse." An employee claimed that they are "horse professionals" and are very concerned with safety. Based on my conversation with them, they do not appear to have basic knowledge concerning how to keep humans safe. Their safety guidelines are arbitrary and they could not reasonably justify them. After discussing the situation with my family, we decided that this pack outfit would be too unpleasant to do a trail ride with and canceled our reservation. From prior experiences, the trail rides are enjoyable and rewarding. Unfortunately, their customer service is abysmal. read more

Such a cool little outfit, but so overpriced. OK, I never had to pay for it myself, so I don't really know, but my parents didn't normally get sticker shock on our yearly summer vacations to Mammoth, but Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit's prices made my mom do a double take. I don't think it's a coincidence that we didn't ride horses from here until it was just my parents and I on vacation. The horses were beautiful. The mules--mulish. I always seemed to get a mule. I definitely felt special on my first horseback ride--kiddy pony rides do not count--even though it was a mule-back ride. While the MLPO person gave everyone else horseback-riding instructions, another mule rider and I got our very own instructions, because mules are hybrids, and they don't act like horses. My teenage observation of the '90s: Horses are obedient and kind of dumb. Yes, they'll take you into battle, but they're afraid of ridiculous things but unafraid of dangerous things. Want proof? While the rest of the pack's horses went right up to the edge of a cliff while their inexpert, mainly first-time riders oohed and aahed at the spectacular view of the Eastern Sierras, my mule wouldn't go near the cliff. And it was a good thing, too, because I had no idea what I was doing, and he knew that. I'm also kind of partial to the guys because stubbornness is one of my most enduring qualities. I'm sad it closed, and I hope my mule found a good home. read more

I went on a 2 hr ride to JT and Barrett Lakes this past week and had a great time! My horse Beebee was very well behaved and easy to handle and the trail was gorgeous. I will say that I'm an experienced rider and thought that there were parts of that trail that were rather steep and would have been nerve-wracking for someone who wasn't fully comfortable on their horse. But I had a great time and the horses are obviously well cared for which I always look for in businesses like this! Would definitely recommend a visit! read more

Great experience all around! Made it very special for our two boys who loved the ride! Will defiantly go again be sure to bring a jacket and if u are leading your young child make sure you wear a comfortable good shoe because it's a rocky trail with amazing views... My one son loved the kitty Gus too gave us an added bonus :) staff was nice and great with kids read more

The Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit is most definitely NOT closed for business. They ARE closed for the winter, as they do every year, because it can be a challenge to feed horses with 15 feet of snow on the ground so they move the herd to the Owen's Valley. As far as the price, I find it reasonable. Yes, it isn't cheap, but caring for horses, insurance, etc. isn't cheap either. In my experience this crew goes above and beyond to ensure the safety of the riders. They are very attentive and go out of their way to try to make everyone happy. This last point, making everyone happy, has to be next-to-impossible considering some of the folks that show up looking for a ride. It's clear some of the customers have no clue that these are large, powerful animals and not a ride at Disneyland! After listening to some of those folks for a few minutes I was ready to volunteer to take them on a one way trip to the back country.... If you are looking for a quality horse riding experience that includes gorgeous views of the Eastern Sierra's I highly recommend this place. Be aware, however, that they can get VERY busy so think ahead, get there early and be flexible with your time for the best experience. You won't forget the genuine cowboy-country experience and the professional care of their quality wranglers. One final note: don't hesitate to ask questions as they are very open with history of the region and information on the horses. Also, if you enjoy your ride, tip your host. These kids work hard and the tips matter. $10 a rider is a good start IMO. read more

Gozinda and Brook were so helpful and made sure we were having a good time the whole trip. I highly recommend this adventure. Our grandkids had the best time and none of them had ever ridden before. read more

My husband and I booked an hour and a half trail ride with our two young children and it was a wonderful experience. Our youngest is 7 so we were all able to ride our own horses. Our guide Lorenzo was very friendly, knowledgeable and caring in the sense that he was regularly asking that we were all doing all right and comfortable. It was the kids' first time riding and my husband and I had only been a few times throughout our lives. The scenery was beautiful and we even saw a deer while on the trail. This is an experience that my children are going to remember for a lifetime. Thank you Outfitters for such a wonderful experience and memory that will last forever! read more

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Been coming here since I was a kid now bringing my boys here. Great memories and good times. read more

Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit - Tours Near Me - Mammoth Lakes, California

Called to book a 90 minute ride and spoke with John. He didn't have the day we wanted available so we adjusted our schedule to book the day he offered. When we showed up that day we were told John had written our reservation on the wrong date and they had nothing available. No apology, no attempt to find a solution. read more

We did the little kids ride. It was great, but I feel like for what we pay it was very short. Extending the ride or allowing a longer ride with double riders would be appreciated for this of us that drive far for this. But overall a good experience! read more

Better read this if you are thinking of going out with them. .... I'm all about the great outdoors and a horseback ride up around Mammoth Lakes seems like a nice getaway. However, when you want safety, courtesy, and common sense....Mammoth Lakes Pack outfit is the one to AVOID. My girlfriend and I took a 2hr ride, which my girlfriend's horse "Nebraska" kept on fidgeting. On the way back her horse did a little gallop and then started wildly bucking her head back. "Nebraska's" head butted my girlfriend's nose dazing her. The horse reared back throwing her to the ground. She could not walk well with a hurt back, she had a bloody lip, and a few cuts. Now I know accidents happen and that this horse (while acting extremely weird) probably did not throw her on purpose. However, the problem I have is with the "humans" managing the outfit. OK, she gets ponied in by the guide... the guide also tells me I must still remain in the back of the caravan (so I cannot talk with my girlfriend to make sure she is ok as she is far ahead). As we arrive back at the ranch, the guide tells my girlfriend to go to the office. She is covered in dirt and hobbling. I think they will treat her and make sure she is ok as I am going to be a few minutes behind her. When someone gets HURT I figure the staff: A) asks if you're ok and takes you somewhere to clean up; B) asks what kind of injuries you have and if you need more attention; C) stop any bleeding and offer ice, water, and bandages. When I got to the office the female manger was making my girlfriend FILL OUT PAPERWORK!!! Yes she did offer a bandage and some sterile cleaner, but she was not telling her to clean up, offering no comfort for getting thrown by one of their "TRAINED" horses, and watching her fill out forms hunched over in pain covered in dirt. She was so nonchalant she said " a bee must have scared the horse." Ok whatever, I don't care....help the injured client !!! The female manager actually wanted her to fill the paperwork out before having her go clean up and relax !!! Very unprofessional and unkind to a shaken girl who is still in a daze. This kind of response tells me a few things... A) Does getting thrown off a horse happen all the time with such carefree attitude ?? B) Since we filled out the waiver, " they don't care anymore." If we did not, I'm sure the response would be much different. C) They don't think this is a big deal (I'm sure Christopher Reeve would disagree) I ask the manager if this is your policy to make a hurt person fill out paperwork, without having the courtesy to have her clean up and making sure that they are ok ??? She said yes! WTF?? Now I know they only care about the fee you give them and the waiver so they are protected. God forbid this happened on the mountain, or on a rocky area. The manager now calls her husband (owner ?) in. I tell him what was going on and his response was "she was not bleeding was she ?" WTF WTF!!!! I am livid now! So I guess his team responds only if you are thrown off a horse AND are bleeding!!?? I tell him yes she was bleeding.... ask the guide! Do guides not let everyone know when there is an accident ??? Is that too much to ask of this company?? Is it too hard to be offered ice and a simple " how hurt are you?" Better yet ... is that too much to ask for help from any human being?? I've been to sporting events when a fan gets hit by a ball or a "weekend warrior" sprains an ankle. There are always people coming in to help and making sure they are ok and providing them basic care. I am assuming being thrown off a horse does not happen too often, but the pathetic response and attitude for such a scary ordeal is unacceptable! Maybe to them having a 115 lb girl thrown off a 5 foot high 1000 lb horse is not of any concern. The horses maybe cool here.... but watch out for the Jack-asses running the place shoveling the 1000 lb horse crap !! I'm sure you would not want this for your kid, girlfriend or loved one. I would call first and make sure if they now have changed any policies when there is an injury.......actually try another company! Tell them I said so ..... read more

First of all, these are mules and not horses as advertised. We were a group of 6 that came about 3 years ago, so this review is longgg overdue... Hopefully, they've made improvements to serving their customers in that time... That day over Labor Day weekend, Pack Outfit was overbooked, but they did not inform us they were overbooked and did nothing to acknowledge the fact that they screwed up majorly. We were told to arrive 30 minutes earlier, and we arrived promptly. However, we ended up waiting in the heat for over 2 hours. We saw many groups who arrived after us get on the mules before us and we went to notify the site manager. She kept telling us we'd be the next group. I was fed up with the lies and complained to the owner who offered to give us a partial refund. I was satisfied with this solution, until what happened next just pushed me to the edge. We saw another group that arrived after us get their mules and ride off. At this point, I went to go back to the site manager and asked them why we could not ride. They told us that since we did not pay the full fare, we would have to wait until all the people who paid full fares went first. At this point, I was fuming and demanded a full refund. I was so sick of waiting and dealing with management that we just got our refunds and left. We woke up so early in the morning to get here 30 minutes before our scheduled time and wasted a half day of vacation. What really made me upset is the handling of the situation; there was no respect from management--they can learn a thing or two about quality customer service. Do yourself a favor when you're in Mammoth Lakes and do not make the same mistake as I did. There are sooo many beautiful sites and other activities, why waste your time here? read more

This pack outfit was amazing and totally professional. We went out on the first trail ride of the season- a 1 hour panoramic loop. I'm an advanced rider but my husband is a beginner and my son intermediate. The horses and guided were exceptionally well trained. It was not your typical plunk along ride for beginners. There were many things along the trail which could have been too much for inexperienced riders- steep climbs and descents, rocks, creeks, deer, roaring wind, branches slapping horses. These horses and guides were pros! They carefully and repeatedly explained what to do, how to change your position etc, etc. Guides were all knowledgeable about trail and explained lots of fun facts along the way. It's never cheap to trail ride on vacation but this place was totally worth it. read more