Jackson Hole Horseback Riding Vacations & Day Trips

Only a few activities remain the same as in the real days of the Old West and horseback riding is one of them.

Overview
The best way to get the “western feel” of the Jackson Hole area is on the back of a horse. Trail riding allows you to enjoy incredible views of Mount Moran, Grand Teton, the Snake River and the thousands of towering cottonwood trees

Walking or trotting on horseback through the mountain trails is a photo opportunity and an experience that you won’t soon forget. Jackson Hole offers horseback riding tours at sunset or during the day, allowing expert and novice riders alike to embrace the opportunity. In fact, several companies offer guided horseback riding tours that can go on for days at a time. Talk about becoming a cowboy!

Where to go Horseback Riding
Dude ranches were once the “bread and butter” of the Jackson Hole area. Many guest ranches still thrive in the valley. Included with these are boarding stables and indoor riding arenas where horsemen and women can learn to ride or improve their abilities. . The public arena at the Teton County Fair Grounds sees plenty of riders and events during the summer, including the hip-hollering rodeo.

For trail riding, it’s simply a matter of pulling out a map and exploring the Jackson Hole area. Trails extend through Grand Teton National Park including the Gros Ventre Range.

The Salt, Wind River, Snake River and Wyoming Ranges are just south of Jackson Hole. The Greys River region and Star Valley are popular for trail riding and equestrian real estate.

Rentals and Fees
In addition to being able to “wrangle” a ride with a guide, experienced riders are able to rent horses and even trailers without a guide from places such as Western Wyoming Horseman in Alpine.

Rental costs and fees are dependent on the length of your ride, from a couple of hours to several days. The usual minimum fee for a short 2 hours trail ride is $40/per person.

Many outfitters and guides also have age restrictions.

Hire a Guide
Several local outfitters offer a wide variety of horseback riding options from hourly, half-day or full day rides to multi-day trips that can be combined with other activities such as hunting, fishing photography and cattle drives.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Resort in Idaho and Grand Teton National Park have guided operations with half and full-day trips. Private outfitters take riders just about anywhere in their respective regions.

Experienced riders are able to rent horses and even trailers without a guide from some places around the valley including some in Alpine.

Safety Precautions
The basic safety considerations for horseback riding are

• Ride a suitable horse for your riding skill level.
• Wear an approved riding helmet.
• Wear sturdy boots with minimal tread and a 1-inch heel. Alternatively use safety stirrups. If you fall, you could be dragged if your foot slips through a stirrup.
• Always ride in complete control. As with cars or bikes, the faster you go the faster things can go wrong.
• Leave a map of your route when riding out on trail and the approximate time you will return. That way the folks back home will know when to start worrying and where to look if you are overdue.
• Always ride out with a friend. As an extra precaution, carry a cell phone or two-way radio.
• In a group ride the speed of the least experienced rider.

These are very basic rules. Additional safety considerations would apply in different situations, i.e. arena riding, safe riding during hunting season, roadside riding, safety on multi-use trails.