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Mountain trail rides
A mountain trail ride takes you on horseback into the high country: forest trails, creek crossings, ridges and views you can't reach by car. Every stable here offers rides in the mountains, per a customer review or its own website.
What to expect on a mountain ride
Mountain trails climb and drop. Trail horses are used to it, and the guide will tell you how to help: lean a little forward going uphill, sit tall going down, and keep the spacing the guide asks for.
Weather in the mountains can change fast. A sunny morning can turn cold and wet, so bring layers and a rain jacket. High trails can be closed by snow for part of the year, so many stables ride the mountains in certain months only.
If you are coming up from low country, you may tire faster at altitude. Drink water and tell the guide if you feel unwell. Some outfitters also run overnight pack trips into the backcountry; ask what they offer.
A stable is listed here only when a customer review mentions mountain rides there or the stable's own website does. That review line, or a note about the website, is shown under each stable. What a stable offers can change, so check with it before you go. For 229 of them, the proof is the stable's own website.
Map of mountain trail rides
Top-rated mountain trail rides, in riders' words
Stables whose customers mention mountain rides in a review. Ranked by Google rating × number of reviews (10 reviews or more). Under each one is what a customer said. Open-now times come from Google; call the stable before you go.
We all had a blast going through the mountain riding a horse.
It was so fun riding through the woods, up the mountain and in the creek.
We had a wonderful time with Josh our guide up the mountain!
I will never forget how scared I felt going up the mountain with probably 12 inches of a path for my horse Diamond to go up.
We absolutely loved our Zuma Canyon ride.
The stable's website says so too.
Swift Creek Outfitters - Teton Horseback Adventures
The ride up the mountain was stunning and very peaceful.
The ride was gorgeous and we went up the mountain, along the river and to the waterfall where we were able to dismount and take a short walk to the falls to get pics.
The views on the trail were so beautiful, and it's quite a view being higher up the mountain.
Had the most incredible experience horseback riding in the stunning Blue Ridge mountains at Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides!
The stable's website says so too.
this is real mountain riding with good horses!
The stable's website says so too.
Beautiful views and mountain ride!
Views unmatched for ruidoso and riding up the mountain was phenomenal!
Find mountain trail rides by state
312 stables in 36 states offer mountain trail rides. States with 3 or more have their own page; the rest are listed further down.
- Alabama2
- Alaska1
- Arizona17
- Arkansas4
- California46
- Colorado27
- Florida3
- Georgia5
- Hawaii2
- Idaho10
- Illinois2
- Massachusetts2
- Michigan2
- Minnesota1
- Missouri3
- Montana11
- Nevada4
- New Hampshire1
- New Mexico12
- New York9
- North Carolina17
- Ohio4
- Oklahoma2
- Oregon10
- Pennsylvania10
- South Carolina4
- South Dakota5
- Tennessee4
- Texas7
- Utah34
- Vermont3
- Virginia9
- Washington15
- West Virginia5
- Wisconsin1
- Wyoming18
States with one or two stables
Alabama
It was our first time riding, there was a short but well executed lesson and we were off on our guided trail ride through: lush pasture, lively woods, and scenic mountain trails.
- Mountain rides: mentioned in a customer review
Alaska
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Hawaii
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Illinois
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Massachusetts
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Michigan
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Minnesota
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
New Hampshire
Great place for mountain trail, and I know they have much more available than that.
Oklahoma
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Wisconsin
- Mountain rides: per the stable's website
Mountain ride questions
- Do I need experience for a mountain trail ride?
- Many outfitters take beginners on guided rides on steady trail horses. Some routes are for experienced riders only. Tell the stable how much you have ridden.
- What should I bring on a mountain trail ride?
- Layers, a rain jacket, water, sunscreen and sunglasses. Wear long pants and boots with a small heel.
- When can you ride in the mountains?
- It depends on the place. High trails can be snowed in for part of the year, so many stables run mountain rides in certain months only. Ask the stable.
- What is a pack trip?
- A ride of a night or more into the backcountry, with pack horses or mules carrying the camp gear. Some mountain outfitters run them; ask the stable.
- Which state has the most mountain trail rides?
- California has the most, with 46 stables. In all, 312 stables in 36 states offer mountain trail rides in this directory.
- How do you decide which stables are listed here?
- A stable is listed here only when a customer review mentions mountain rides there or the stable's own website does. That review line, or a note about the website, is shown under each stable. What a stable offers can change, so check with it before you go.
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