We made a reservation for a Sunday at 10am (when they open) in late October. They said the 12'oclock shift was full, so make sure to call ahead and make reservations. You can't call too far ahead though, because the riding is dependent on the weather. The trails that you ride through are muddy and can get flooded as well. Also, you are in the woods for 1-2hrs so dress for the weather. That includes bug spray or sunscreen if needed. I'd recommend going in the fall to avoid those things! Beautiful scenery, no bugs, and no overheating! They also mention to wear pants and closed toed shoes. There were a total of four of us and then the guide for the two hour trail ride. Keep in mind, there is no way to hear the guide up front unless you are right behind them but that was no big deal. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the river. They asked level of experience and picked the horses for us. If you aren't flexible, you'll have a hard time mounting the horse. I'm surprised they don't provide a stool for this.I watched this poor lady struggle to get on the horse and the worker had to help her up. Our legs were sore afterwards so I could see an hour being enough for young kiddos. Our horses were well behaved. Mine was sassy and I liked seeing that personality. Overall, a great experience! read more

My daughter and I took a beautiful ride here! The staff was friendly and the views were gorgeous! We really felt that their horses were well mannered and good horses. Just make sure you call ahead and make a reservation because they don't always have spots if you just show up. Highly recommend this ranch. read more

Found this awesome place through word of mouth. I grew up riding horses but my husband and step-son haven't ever ridden a horse before and wanted too. River Valley Ranch supports those who simply want to ride a horse and experience what that is like. I called and reserved a time to ride about 5 days in advance and they were pretty flexible with time, which was nice. Their website states everything that's needed to ride (i.e. clothing to wear and what to bring). They have trail ride options that fit a wide range of riders, novice to advanced, and also offer different ride lengths. We did an hour ride and that was the perfect length for my husband and step-son as their butt started to hurt a bit from the saddle. My horse was Mocha, she was an absolute sweetheart. My husband had Bam Bam and she was a farter lol. My step-son has Casey, and he was a good boy. They were all such sweet and well behaved horses. I appreciated the guidance of River Valley Ranch guides throughout the ride and the pre/post education they gave. I also really liked how they didn't waste time in getting us on our horses and out onto the trail. Seemed like they were steadily busy throughout the day we visited (Sunday). I'm glad we made reservations and would definitely recommend this business to anyone who hasn't ridden before or advanced riders. Thank you for a great experience, we had a blast!! read more

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I went to River Galley Ranch for my birthday on Monday and they did nothing but be amazing and it was such a wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend others to come here I ended up leaving my sunglasses behind a worker named Jo was kind enough to mail it out to me. Thank you so much for doing that very thoughtful, amazing staff! 10s across the board! read more

On their website, nowhere does it state that you need a reservation everyday. Yes it states that you do, but it doesn't mention when. I had went twice within two weeks without a reservation and they didn't say anything about one till this recent time. They accommodated us, but it's extremely frustrating when we had went and nothing was said about reservations needed. read more

My mom and I visited the ranch as a birthday present and we went at about 1pm on a Saturday. It was busy but not crowded and we were riding in a group of about 8 (there were three or so other groups that went out at the same time). The ride was an hour long and I loved it. My mare was in heat and was a little snappy at the horse behind her but it all worked out. Our guide, Jo, also let us trot on the horses for a little bit which I loved, it's been a long time since I've been able to. All of the staff here were extremely kind and they even had a small little shop with cookies and water if you wanted a snack! I will absolutely be returning, and can't wait to visit again. read more

River Valley Ranch - My mom & I - Horseback Riding Near Me - Carver, Minnesota

Love this place! We go once a year. They are friendly and the horses matched to your experience. I always push the easy button on that one. For COVID - wear masks when mounting and dismounting. Easy to distance on a horse. I recommend this ranch. read more

River Valley Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Carver, Minnesota

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I had such a wonderful time here, I went for a 12-1 pm trail ride and it was a muggy august day but it was still so beautiful, the horses were very nice and my 9 year old niece loved going on the trail as well the instructions were also so helpful I would definitely recommend to anyone thinking about going!! read more

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We were a group of 7 and had fun. Some of the horses would stop to eat all the time. They would get back on track. The first time my horse stopped and I tried to get him going, all I was thinking is I hope the others don't leave me and go. After the second or third stop, I realized, he had decided to do it and was good about chewing and keeping in line. No judging, I have kids and things don't go my way, so why judge a horse. Some kids were not happy with the bugs there, so spray the kids well. My 13 yr old wasn't eager and we had to drag her there. She loved the ride. Has memorized her horses name, cause he was so good looking and well behaved. I will definitely go back. It's $50 a person for an hour. If it was cheaper, my frequency to go back would have been higher. read more

River Valley Ranch - My 13 year old wasn't excited about horse riding but she loved it!!!! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Carver, Minnesota

Bad customer service drove one hour earlier and they gave us bad customer service bad attitude yelling at us not recommended this place.

Beautiful area but the there was this one girl keep on looking back at us and was just keep on screaming on us multiple times which I didn't do anything wrong I know how to ride a horse. But I will never comeback here again I drive one hr to get here but with no respect!! read more

Great place for a family ride. Beautiful grounds and amazing guides. Huge recommend. The horses are super sweet and we had a smooth ride. Even with a little trot. read more

River Valley Ranch - We had a blast! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Carver, Minnesota

Went last year with my daughter. Really enjoyed the experience! Recommend for anyone looking for trail riding.

It was nice, the staff was nice. They give you the option to ride faster. It didn't seem like it was an hour ride but I didn't check the time we started. It is good for a beginner. They will help you get on the horses. I would go back for sure. The cost was $50hr per person. read more

Loved my experience! Kim was amazing. Scenery was beautiful and the horses were great read more

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I've been here a couple time before this time and it was fine. Recently I came back and was only 10 mins late. The lady that was working was rude. I told her why I was late and she replied with "we don't really care". Than she proceeds to take her trump mask out of her pocket and put it on. Than she said "either wait til the next hour or you can leave if you want". Hands down most rudest encounter I've ever had. If my friend didn't want to ride I would've just left. read more

River Valley Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Carver, Minnesota

I didn't fall off my horse. Next time I will bring an apple to thank my horse. My small group had reservations that had maybe been lost which was no big deal in late April, but the staff said they can get busy in the warmer months and in early fall. I had been optimistic about the weather and put on my sunscreen, but it was really quite cold. Things to know: We started 45 minutes late. Which was a little bit of a bummer, and we ended up 15 minutes late to our dinner reservation. There's not much of an orientation, or much guidance on the trail bc the guide is in the front and only the first and second riders can probably hear anything. There's no stool to get on the horses. The staff will help you, but if you're short or heavy or not particularly flexible, this might be stressful. My friend (who is tall and sporty) fumbled her mount and the horse was spooked and she ended up taking a tumble. At the beginning of the ride, you need to trust the horses won't fall down several steep hills (the mining project has a pit of doom feel to it) Luckily we got past this area before one horse and rider had an incident that left the rider on the ground. I didn't see how it happened, and she got right back up on the horse...and the horse TOOK OFF. He wanted to go back to the start. The staff really didn't want to let the horse off the hook bc it would teach a bad lesson, and the rider was a bit shaken. Eventually her horse had to be tethered to the guide's horse...and although the guide's horse was ok with this for most of the ride, when they had to unconnect at the end near the pit of doom, the guide ended up on the ground and his horse took off. And yet would I go again? Yes. read more

Amazing experience! This is my seventh time going to River Valley Ranch, and if I lived closer I'd go every week. The workers are gem and the horses and so well behaved. Beautiful scenic tour. I read some of the other reviews and those seem inaccurate to me. If you're late they don't allow you to join late because it slows everyone else's riding experience down. Be on time (15 minutes early recommended) so that you can pet horses too. Bring carrots and apples as treats for the horses, they'll love it! read more

I went on a ride here with my boyfriend today and it was phenomenal! The trails are well-kept, the people are friendly, and the horses are well taken care of! I already want to go back. read more

Took my grandson for a ride as he had really enjoyed the one we did in Moab, Utah in early July. Very casual atmosphere with little instruction, even for the never before ridden riders, including an 8 yr old girl in our group. I requested a mounting block and said there wasn't one. I have several bulging disks in my back and have very limited flexibility. Needless to say, it was a painful experience but after driving almost an hour to get there, we were 'doing this'. My horse was easily spooked and bolted twice during the ride, once from noise of clanking truck gates in the gravel pit that we passed. Fortunately I'm an experienced riding and wasn't unseated as some previously had experienced. The ride was through a lot of bog areas, with the horses sinking deep in mud very often. I'd suggest a liberal dousing of mosquito repellent as they are awful! Pretty scenery along the Minnesota river. Doubt we would return. read more

I took my husband horseback riding for his birthday last weekend. We had a really great experience. We ended up arriving at a time when we were the only people ready for a trail ride, so it was just the two of us and a guide. She was able to customize our ride by staying close to the river and going to this high look-out point, which they don't typically do for larger groups or groups with children. River Valley takes reservations and walk-ins which is great for the flexibility. Saturdays are usually busy. It is $25 per person per hour. They do take private two-hour reservations at $50 per person... but I tried to inquire about this on the phone and the woman who spoke to me wasn't very helpful. I didn't find this out until we were already back from out ride. While we were on our ride, our guide went down a path to avoid a group coming towards us, the other guide, an older woman, yelled at her in front of both groups of guests. It was very awkward for all looking on. The guide who took us out, boards her horse at the ranch was just helping out as they were short staffed that day. The same woman brought it up again when we returned from our ride. It was very unprofessional and quite rude towards someone who was helping them out when they needed it. She should have addressed her when we were back from our ride and not in front of paying customers. Also - they board and rent horses for pretty minimal. They seem quite dedicated to their animals and treat them well, which is a great reason to give them business. read more

I have been three times to this ranch. Once with my daughter and twice with groups. We always have a nice time and hope to do it again next year. Fall is a great time to go to avoid tons of mosquitos! When we went this weekend we had a large group and after one of the staff offered to take pictures of all of us in front of the horses. Nice experience! read more

It was 90 degrees out, our horses were a little lazy, but who can blame them! My husband and I took an hour ride. It was a lot of fun and they have wonderful scenery. It was a little confusing at first when we showed up. I was unsure which building to go to. So we just walked up to the girls by the horses and were greeted. They get right to the point here. The owner gave us a sheet to sign, we paid her right there and we were on our way to our horses they had waiting for us. Although it was hotter then hell it was a pleasant ride once we got into the shade. Overall it was a very nice time and for 25 bucks a person it was totally worth it! read more

Wonderful experience here for my first horse back ride! It was just my wife and I although a gaggle of Girl Scouts went out before us, and the place was very kid friendly. At the same time we got to have a great romantic one hour tour of rolling hills, forrest and riverbanks (or areas that looked like riverbanks due to recent flooding). Guide was very knowledgeable for two beginners like us. The horses were gorgeous and so easy to ride. I recommend this as a fun date, a great mental health break, outdoorsy time or all of the above! And don't let the woman who takes reservations scare you. She may be brusque on the phone but all staff there are friendly and fabulous. I forgot gloves and our guide was kind enough to lend me an extra pair of hers! And you can't beat the price at $25 a head for a private guided ride for an hour, which to me was the perfect amount of time. My legs were just beginning to tell me how out of shape I am when we were suddenly back to the ranch. A perfect afternoon all around so much that we're talking about when we can next go back. read more

Very nice people who operate the ranch. They worked with my son when he was scared of the horse. Very nice property!

We gave a one hour ride to our grand nieces and so glad we did,hey are 9 and 6 Years old. The staff asked each of us a few questions to get a feel for our experience level and the girls comfort level. They picked out great horses for the four of us and then proceeded to take us on a very nice trail ride that lasted just over a hour. We all had a blast!!! read more

Had a great relaxing ride on beautiful trails. Our guide was really friendly and the horses seemed well cared for.

I love River Valley Ranch and have been visiting them for a number of years now. They are well priced and I always have a great time.

Very nice people! The ride was awesome! I would suggest this place to people who like more experienced rides. They keep their horses in great shape and have a beautiful ranch! read more

I know it's a bit harsh, but I really didn't like this ranch. My older sister and I took a ride last summer for my July birthday, and we got there about five minutes late. A probably newly-wed couple was there waiting for us along with the staff. The facilities were no doubt lovely and pristine, but I didn't really like the experience. First of all, they just had some horses tied to the fence rail in the paddock and then simply unhooked them and had us mount. I was greatly disappointed by this. They simply gave us a random horse, without testing our experience or anything. Most of the staff seemed incredibly frazzled as well, but our trail guide was excellent and nice. Once we had to mount, I mounted easily and so did my sister (we both ride, we were just visiting some relatives in MN and decided to take a quick trail ride), but the couple were a bit heavier and had some trouble getting on. After a few minutes, they both realized that they needed help and a staff member had to turn a bucket over to help them mount, and not use an official mounting block. I was pleased by the rest of the ride, though. There was a lovely amount of trotting and the scenery and weather was absolutely gorgeous. That was pretty much the only part I liked, because the atmosphere was awkward after the husband began to lose control of his horse. It began to start walking all over the place, and my sister had to help him out, rather than the trail guide, who was pretty oblivious. I'd give it two **s. It wasn't as fun as I thought it would be and it was a bit far away from Minneapolis. read more

I was really disappointed with the whole experience. I was not advised about the conditions of trail itself, that we should come dressed with long pants and most importantly to bring bug spray! My kids were being eaten alive and we could not wait for the ride to end. They cried all the way back home and begged me never to bring them again :( read more

Great ride, great guide, well trained horse. This isn't for small children that have never riden. The scenery was beautiful. There was mud on the trail and one horse was a bit skittish but even the inexperienced rider on that horse had no problems. No mounting block but guides did help mount. Bring mosquito repellant. I would go again!! read more

My Girl Scout troop worked hard to sell cookies so that we could go horseback riding. We came to River Valley Ranch and were very impressed! The trails were beautiful, the staff was helpful, and the horses were great! We will definitely be back! Very pleased! read more

SO AWESOME I can't remember the name of the lady who helped us (Lisa?) but seriously guys she was amazing. I have very little horse experience and I was very nervous. The horses are gentle and respond well, the guide was very knowledgeable and talked us through the entire experience. Highly highly highly recommend these guys read more

My daughter and I had a great ride! The horses were well trained, our guide friendly and the trail ride beautiful. We will be going back again soon! read more

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This was an awesome experience! Went on a Sunday in the fall and the property was really beautiful, aside from a mining project when you first start. My horse was well behaved and the staff was really nice. We had 3oclock reservations and didn't realize how far away it was from the cities so ended up getting there a little late. No problem, they had split the group in two so we went with the second group. Our guide was a little young so she didn't have much to say on the trail but we talked amongst ourselves and got to trot quite a bit. Definitely worth way worth the money!!!! read more

I do not recommend this place at all.. I actually live pretty close to the place and have gone here a few times. Every time I have gone the people have been rude and wouldn't take the time to help others who didn't know what they were doing. The horses are unreliable, and it's been noted that people have fallen off their horses on the trails... you wouldn't want that being your son or daughter!! Save your money and don't go, they are rude and don't take care of their horses and it shows in their attitudes and how they act on the trail. read more

My family went there over father's day, absolutely loved it! Most of us were first time horse riders and still had a blast. Our guide was very friendly and willing to help and answer any questions we had. The horses and the trail was gorgeous. We definitely plan on being back and already have started telling our friends about it! read more

First off I would like to say, please don't read the negative reviews thru the years on here. If you don't like the outdoors then don't go! This takes you thru the 400 acres of trails, woods, river banks etc. Yes the website warns you of sunscreen and bug spray, so take if, wear it! It is horseback riding, wear pants and proper shoes! Again it is woods and trails so if there is some water/MUD then so be it, my horse did just fine going thru it just like everyone else's. We didn't have any trouble with bugs, maybe the time of year. My kids have never been on a horse, they absolutely loved it and we ended up going for another hour ride. And yes they told them how to use reins to turn the horse and to start/stop etc. My 14 year old took the directions just fine. Our guide Kim was fantastic! I love horses and I enjoy the ride, just walking or even trotting over some areas. Yes if there is a big group the back is hard to hear the guide, so we were just passing it along to each other down the line. If your not experienced ask to be at the front maybe to hear, there really isn't need for much direction as they are trail horses they follow each other :):) The lady that checked us in wasn't real friendly, but I don't take that stuff to heart, she is not why I am there, I am there to enjoy a beautiful trail ride on a beautiful animal and enjoy my family time. Once we are back in Minnesota we will be back again! read more