The first time I rode with zephyr cove was probably a decade ago & i loved it so much. So i was excited 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! read more

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Loved loved loved my experience here at Zephry! Leia was an awesome and fun guide. She was also kind enough to take pictures of me on my horse with a beautiful scenic view of the lake in the background. It was about $80 for 1 hour and well worth every penny! It was so fun, calm and full of laughs the whole time. I rode big red and he was definitely a gentle giant! They provide helmets for you or your little ones up front by the check in. Definitely keep in mind that you are riding at your own risk. Don't forget to tip your guide at the end of the tour :-) read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

Leia was our guide and was so knowledgeable about the area and land. Super nice and really cared about the horses. The horses were in good shape and very well mannered. The tack was clean and comfortable. The trail and view were amazing. Did the 1 1/2 hour ride. Would come back for the sunset dinner ride. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Awesome view on the trail ride yesterday - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

Can't believe this was our first time here. Everyone here was super friendly and welcoming. The horses were beautiful and the scenery was amazing. Our guide was super cool and well experienced Cow Boy! We're definitely gonna come back and do the dinner ride cause we saw them preparing and it smelt so good. But this spot we will definitely be back. Thank you all for this experience. read more

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My grand kids decided on going horseback riding while on vacation in Tahoe. They really know how to control a horse, so had no problem riding. The staff were very friendly and this place has some beautiful horses, all very well trained. I myself am afraid of horses, due to an unfortunate incident riding horses when i was a child, so i did not want to ride, but my grand daughters had a great time riding. read more

awesome stables! they make you sign waivers, take cash or card, have restrooms onsite, and have helmets. we did the 90 hour trail ride and the views were gorgeous. our horses were johnny ringo and richard. our guide was quiet but funny. i didnt mind the quietness because the views were breathtaking and the experience itself was surreal. i would recommend! read more

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Many years have we been customers. My husband has been coming to the lake each summer for over 40 years. We often get the same horses each year, which is fine. The horses are gentle and walk slowly. They know this trail so well, they are on auto-pilot. Only deviations from plan are if the horse decides to munch on a bush or stop mid trail for their bathroom break(s). Prompted or not, they then get back to work not long after. They catch right back up to be tail to nose in their queue. The trail itself is largely shaded - that's helpful in summer months. The trail is very defined - It's like the horses know how to queue up like the British. No hoof is out of line. As such, the trail is often quite narrow. At places, the trail is so worn by horse foot traffic that the path is cut a foot or so deep. Brush, at points, is cleared exactly the width of one horse so wear pants to avoid scratches. Combine the auto-pilot horse and the deep worn path, there isn't any steering necessary. No need to drive. Autonomous horse back riding like the pony around a pole. This is good for little kiddos - the establishment will take kids 6 years or older. There is nothing tying the kiddo to the horse but there isn't any need given the languorous pace and predictable path. Low risk of falling off. For adults and older kids, I wish there was an opportunity to practice the horseback riding instructions they describe at the intro: - Spread us out more to allow for some different pacing. I'd like to give trotting a go - Provide an open field to allow us left and right turns, stop and go command practice The ride could use some commentary. Tell me about the trail, local history, topography, etc. Tell me a bit about the horses and animal husbandry. Tell me a bit about the history of your ranch. Heck, tell me you've this job because you're off school for the summer. Talk to me please. Kids are the same price as adults. $75/hr if cash and $77/hr with credit card. Wish there was a child discount or a group discount as we sometimes have 7 kids with my boys plus cousins. Disappointingly, they did not offer us a family photo at the summit of the trail this year. That was the best part of prior years' visits. We get to see how the boys have grown year over year. But no group photo this year. I asked about it as we were getting ready to return the horses and got a half ass photo of us all spread out on a weird part of a path, with half of us in the shade and half of us in the sun. And none of our faces really visible as the picture was taken from too far. So sad. We may not come back after all these years... read more

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Absolutely 5 star, best experience I've had in Tahoe! Very calm and easy to ride horses, expert and caring guide who rides with you, drop dead gorgeous trails and lake views. Connect with nature in a way that will leave you wanting to do it again. We did the 1 hour ride, more than enough for inexperienced riders. I hadn't been on a horse for 15 years since my childhood. read more

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Shout out to Samantha our tour guide for giving us a fun and welcoming experience!! Super glad we chose this spot to horse ride really relaxing and peaceful! Beautiful scenery horses did great as well! read more

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The guides were so nice and it was obvious that they take very good care of the horses and love them lots. The trail ride was incredible with majestic views and with horses for everyone in the family that made new riders feel at ease. read more

We had a great time here on our trip to Tahoe. Enjoying the views as part of a horse ride was a really nice experience. We called in for a reservation about a week in advance for an hour long ride, most people have timely made reservations but they do seem pretty accommodating. We checked in about 5-10 mins before time and signed a waiver and made our payment. The hour long slot worked out perfectly. As a first time horse rider I was nervous, but the horses were really tame and friendly. We went with a group of a few other people to talking to about 6 plus the guide. As you hop on, you'll get some simple on the reigns and posture and then you go along the trail in a single file line with the guide leading the way, the horses kinda automatically just follow each other without any prompts. You can tell the guides are experienced and you're in safe hands. Horse riding at Zephyr cove stables is just another great way to enjoy the Tahoe views, be sure to check it out and tip your guide :) read more

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Everything! Beautiful setting, great stable with well taken care of horses, nice staff. I asked for a horse with a more narrow girth and they accommodated me. My younger granddaughter's first time riding, she had a great time as did everyone!! read more

Over decades 1965- up to 2001 my experience with this horseback riding service beginning as a kid was the horses always took off back to their home without a real path ride. Only once did I have a real horseback ride. No refunds. It's potentially dangerous and we saw a trainer get kicked by a horse and injured in 1968. I wouldn't take kids here to ride, check out the other reviews. read more

My boyfriend and I came here on our last day of our weekend getaway. Our guide, Peyton was AMAZING and made our first horseback riding experience enjoyable. She was friendly, talkative and EXTREMELY helpful with how to guide our horses with turning, how to posture ourselves while going up and down the trails. Peyton also gave us a heads up when there were a few obstacles coming up; such as going in between a few boulders we would have to squeeze through, tree branches to avoid and taking a few big steps downhill. We came across a group of others that were on a guide and she assisted some of the other hosts' guests with how to steer the horse and to get them moving again. Peyton was more than willing to help others! She was also more than willing to answer any questions that we had about riding our horses. She also stopped for a bit to make sure my feet were positioned properly and adjusted my stirrups for safety. Thank you for checking on us every now and then and for taking our pictures! For that day being her second day, we're happy to have had the pleasure of meeting her. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

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We had a great time. Wonderful people. Their dinner is top notch. We would go there again!!

Everyone was super helpful and friendly getting me on and off my horse and guiding us around the woods. It was a neat perspective of seeing the lake and the woods. There was a lovely spot where our guide nicely stopped to take pictures of us. And my horse was so sweet and smart, stopping when I wanted her to (to readjust or stay a bit further back from the dust being kicked by the horse in front of me) even though she knew she was supposed to follow the line. Since it was my first time riding a horse, it was a bit painful for me. I awkwardly had to get some extra help to get off my horse at the end because my legs were like jello and my butt really hurt lol. Shout out to the nice man that helped me down. I pretty much just went limp noodle and he had to set me down...so sorry, dude! Fair warning, the inside of your nose will have black boogers coming out all day because of all the dust that the horses kick up lol. Def recommend heading back to your hotel for a shower afterwards! read more

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We decided to end our week in Lake Tahoe by treating our family to a horseback ride on the 4th of July. A quick scan of Yelp revealed that Zephyr Cove Stables offered a good experience at a reasonable price, so we made a 4 pm appointment. As we pulled up, they made sure we had signed up, and after paying ($55 per person) and signing the usual waivers, we were led to our horses. Cat was our guide, and she explained the basics and helped us climb on. I was the least experienced in our party, so they gave me a smart, gentle black horse named Smokey, and allowed me to bring up the rear. After a quick check of our saddles, we were off into the pine forest above Zephyr Cove. I was quite nervous at first, but Smokey was very easygoing and responsive. In turn, I made sure to keep his reins loose and stay balanced in the stirrups. I also leaned forward when we were climbing up, and backward when the trail sloped down, so my center of gravity shifted to help him. Before I realized it, I was feeling relaxed enough to enjoy the beautiful scenery and listen to the birds and squirrels around us. The ride lasted an hour, with one stop to re-adjust our saddles and another at a scenic overlook to take some pictures of our group. The time went by quickly - we got back to the stables dusty and happy! Thank you, Cat and Zephyr Cove Stables, for a memorable experience we will cherish forever. read more

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Great experience from start to finish. We arrived 10 minutes before the appointed time, signed waivers, and were on our horses within minutes. Our guide, Troy, was a delight - friendly and fun. But he also kept a constant watchful eye on our horses, vigilant to any behaviors that could have signaled trouble. We could tell that he cared very much about two things: that we had a fun ride, and the health and well-being of the animals. Gorgeous mountain trail with beautiful views of the lake from the upper ridges. Definitely recommend. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

Really fun ride through the area. The guide wasn't very talkative but the scenery more than made up for it. The horses were great as well. Really nice views of the water. The staff was friendly as well. read more

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Easy peasy, enjoyable afternoon ride into the woods w/ amazing views. Horses were well-behaved and needed minimal guidance while the staff was really helpful. Beautiful hour spent exploring the woods without having to clock in those steps in the heat. It was my boyfriend's first time horseback riding and he had a good time - priceless. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

I loved this experience! My boyfriend and I did the 1 hour horse back riding and wow it was so fun and nothing like ive ever experienced, the views were incredible! This was my first time on a horse so I was a little nervous but I got the hang of it quickly! I highly recommend this place! Also please wear jeans or thick pants, was my mistake haha. read more

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Had a great trail ride at Zephyr Cove stables. I took my 8 yr old granddaughter for her 1st real horseback ride. The guide was amazing answering her questions and giving her tips along the ride. The views of the lake were amazing and we even saw a doe and fawn on the trail. I would highly recommend this stables. read more

Super nice staff! And very easy to reserve too. We just called a day before for a group of 6. I think they have a 60 minute option and a 90 minute option. They pick the horse for you and lead the group. Spectacular view. My only wish is that we could go faster but I understand why they didn't let us read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

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Yippee-ki-yay, mothertruckers! Be you a mother, a trucker or anyone in between, you can find much needed peace and tranquility along with a hefty side of Mama Nature's goodness to rejuvenate the senses and leave with a deep admiration and respect for a truly beautiful and majestic creature. After all, a horse is a horse, of course, of course! Covid times have been a dang trip, I think we all can agree. So when my honey and I were debating on what to safely do to celebrate our together-versary, South Lake Tahoe immediately came to mind. With some Yelp-researching and a few phone calls, I was able to gather some useful tips and info on what we could do, both to enjoy the great outdoors away from crowds as much as possible and recharge the proverbial batteries. Zephyr Cove Stables is a venue I had been to many years ago and since the experience was so beautiful and positive then, I didn't second-guess paying them another visit, this time with my love. He and I had never been horse-back riding together before, so I figured this would leave us with a positive and beautiful experience to share together and keep in the memory bank as something new and fun. I called ahead and was able to get the 'Rona deets and spoke with Louise, who was super helpful, answered all my questions and addressed my worries and concerns (this was also our very first trip away anywhere since before March of 2020, and as a hospital employee, I was not taking any chances), so I was grateful Louise was understanding, and had a patient and positive attitude during the call. I learned that in order to keep things as safe as possible, their tour groups were a max of 6 people, so this was reassuring for me. I was able to reserve an early morning 1.5hr slot for my dude and I and we were definitely looking forward to our day! We arrived about 15min early to the venue in order to fill out the waivers, as instructed and were greeted by a gentleman (didn't catch his name) who didn't introduce himself and to be honest, seemed a bit put about by having to leave the horses he was attending to at the moment to come provide our waivers. He was decent, but still, not the greatest first impression to have. Bygones. All was signed and paid for and we were ushered over to a great, bubbly gal named Karlie who was able to assist us with getting situated on our horses for the day. She was very kind and made us feel very welcomed and after some short conversation on what to expect for the day as well as basic horseback riding instruction and commands, we met our guide for the day, Jeff! Guess what - it turned out that we were the only folks who signed up for that particular time slot - so, we had ourselves a PRIVATE tour for the day! I tried to pop my collar a bit and make it look as if I planned for this, specifically, to try to impress my honey, but it just so happened we lucked the heck out. I cannot speak highly enough about Jeff! He was pretty quiet when we first started out, but he made sure before anything that we were seated correctly and comfortably in order to best enjoy the trek ahead. I was paired with a lovely, experienced mare named "Becky", who I was forewarned, could tend to act "mare-ish", which according to Jeff could consist of being stubborn at times and also, could potentially include a nip or two if she got too close to another horse. Girl got 'tude! Love it! She was actually the sweetest girl ever. My honey's match for the tour was Montana, a gorgeous boy who was originally a wild horse once upon a time, such a lovely beast he was. Jeff immediately felt no hesitation in opening up as I talked his ear off just a bit to break the ice and get to know him by asking him about his background and how long he'd been riding. Turns out this guy was a real-bonafide cowboy who grew up on the ranches owned by his grandfather, who was featured once upon a time in Guinness Book of World Records as owning the most acreage as well as horses! Jeff literally grew up on horses, even performed at many rodeos. His stories were so lively and exciting to listen to and the deeply-rooted sense of love and admiration for horses was felt instantly. He was so kind-hearted, humble and fun and the passion he felt for these beautiful animals was clearly apparent in his demeanor and mannerisms. He even took us past a spot where he told us a story about how he found 3 bears just around a bend some time back and what a scary and caught-off-guard moment it was! Luckily, the bears had zero interest in him and went scampering away off into the heavily wooded area. Crazy, right?! It was truly a joy to have lucked out with such a caring and knowledgeable guide. The scenery absolutely, positively cannot be beat. Our horses' had skillful footing, the crystal clear blue Lake Tahoe in the background was magical, the mountains and trees food for the soul. The crisp morning air awakened the senses and we had a PERFECT DAY! Check them out! read more

We did an hour tour with Cali and had a great time. The ride was serene and beautiful, especially the lake view. We liked that our group was small ( 2 of us and 2 other people from a different party), as we were able to connect with our guide better. We had Silver and Bandit and both were pretty chill. Silver was having a bit of a slow morning but Bandit was ready to go! Staff seem very nice, especially the lady at the front. Make sure to give P-dog (one of the office dogs) pets as well when you get a chance and if permitted. read more

My friend found Zephyr Cove Stables for our girls trip to Tahoe. We love horses and this was a perfect fit for us. We left our hotel early enough to find parking, use the restrooms, check in, pay for our reservation, pick out a helmet, and ride on. Our tour group was a small size of 3 people and the tour guide. What I loved about our ride, was how relaxing and quiet it was exploring the forest. Lots to take in and smell. Our guide was not talkative at first, he later warmed up to us. Great for beginner riders and I'm sure people that are experienced. Enjoy your time. read more

I can not say enough great things about this trip!!! On a trip to Big Bear we did a one hour horseback riding session which consisted of 70% of it being residential area. We did the 90 minute ride. It was so relaxing, the guide allowed us just to take in the scenery. This was shaded at least 50 if not 75% of the time. I was worried about overheating since our ride was at 1pm, but it was just fine! Definitely a place to visit while you're in Tahoe read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

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My friend and I grew up riding horses, so we were more than excited to go on a trail ride. We opted for the one hour guided ride and had a very nice group. Our guide was quiet but funny when he did chime in. We were not huge fans of the helpers, one guy said a very snide comment to me and one of the helpers did not adjust my friend's stirrups correctly. The trail was scenic and peaceful and all of the horses chosen for us were fantastic. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

We were looking for a good horseback riding tour and there were many to chose from. This one seemed like the prettiest and I'm glad I stuck with it! The stables are clean for stables and all the horses were saddled up a ready to go. Check in was really quick and easy. We were a few minutes late but no problems. We did call and asked if we were still ok and luckily it was just us on the tour. The bathrooms were also very clean. We did the 1.5 hour tour and our tour guide was Chelsea. If I have her name wrong, she's the one that rides a horse named Richard aka (Dick!) . But she handled him like a champ! She was awesome and very informative. She was very patient with us and would check to make sure we were comfortable. If not, she would stop and help adjust our saddles and gave us OJT suggestions on how to ride. I had a very good sturdy horse named Goldfish. Goldfish doesn't like to be left behind so he will trot uphill at times so hold on! My son rode an always hungry horse named Larry and my hubby rode Jo Jo and he at times wanted to do his own thing! It was so funny to see Jo Jo walking sideways down a hill at one point. But all the horses were very well behaved and sure-footed. We had a great time and highly recommend! Will definitely look them up again on our next trip back. Oh and DO NOT keep anything in your back pockets! You will lose it!! read more

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Perfect one hour ride. Very well behaved horses. Great guide. Would highly recommend!

The second time we have gone here. The staff are friendly and experienced. The horses are beautiful, well trained, and well cared for. It's fun to experience their individual personalities. The trails are so beautiful, and we definitely enjoyed our rides both times. read more

We had the 95 minute trail ride through Lake Tahoe and it was the most peaceful ride I had in a long time. The area has wonderful vistas of the lake and the woodlands. My horse Big Red was attentive and responsive to my movements. Although at the end my steed has decided that he needed a lot of yummy shrubbery to keep him going . Check in was quick and easy. No backpacks for the rides but yes to Fanny packs. No shorts or sandals lol but wear footwear with low heels is encouraged. Parking is on site and free. Phone reservations are required. read more

My family of 4 went riding today at Zephyr stables. We had a reservation which is highly recommended. They selected 4 horses for us and our trail guide was a young man named Reno. My 2 daughters had no riding experience at all and they found that this is a very safe ride. Reno did a great job of leading us up and down the trail. Reno also offered to take pictures of us at a scenic spot. I would recommend Zephyr Cove stables in South Lake Tahoe for your horseback riding experience having been to the other horseback riding place by Richardson campground a few times before. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

Gorgeous setting! Horses are well taken care of and staff friendly! Highly recommend taking your family- Dinner ride is well worth it

our first horse ride and it was amazing our guide "carly" is the best We will definitely go back. The horses are very beautiful and very well trained. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Trail - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

I love horse back riding I've been another time before this one, on the beach and it was great. My fiancé and I did a one hour ride I'll start with the pros: Beautiful ride They were understanding when we were late because we ended up on their campsite instead Took lovely pictures Cons: -My horse used to be a lead horse and was constantly trying to pass the other horse - My horse liked to bite other horses butts which seemed dangerous and I don't think he should of been on the trail -My horse didn't know personal boundaries and didn't listen and would get really close to the horse in front so when the horse in front would pee or shit we would be all up in the mix -My saddle wasn't put on right because it kept tilting to the side So I'm unsure if I'd return again read more

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Amazing group of people. Destiny was our guide what an amazing young lady. The views were amazing. Definitely worth a go back read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

As someone who grew up owning horses I try to be selective when choosing a trail ride company so I can ride with family or friends. This place hit almost all of my boxes. The scenery was beautiful, the ride very serene. The horses are very well taken care of-my most important factor. They were pretty well groomed and extremely well trained. My horse, Becky, was a blast. I would give them 5*, but if I'm being extremely picky I was surprised they didn't pick horses for riders based on horse personality and human experience. They also did not give any instruction but luckily only one person in my group had no experience and I was able to give him pointers along the way. Overall though I'm very happy with our experience and would pick them again in a heartbeat. read more

Costs is reasonable for a one hour ride up into the mountain on gentle horses. Our guide was helpful and experienced. The manager is super friendly and likable. The route is scenic and some nice views of the lake higher up. Anybody can ride these horses and trails as it's not hard. read more

Zephyr Cove Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Zephyr Cove, Nevada

Seemed rather unprofessional. Didn't even catch that we had not signed the waivers; we had to tell them. My kids liked Richardson resort stables near fallen leaf lake much better. The views are nicer at Richardson's. read more