|
 Experience one of the most majestic and photographed places in the world with views that can only be seen from the back of a horse. From hour to hour the angle of the sun accents pillars of rock ranging from 400 to 1000 feet that have been carved out over the ages by Mother Nature’s forces. Each Monument ride is limited to a maximum of fourteen guests, which ensures individual enjoyment of the terrain and beauty without disturbing its natural elements. The cost of this trip is $1650 US Dollars per person.
The following pages are a description of the trip which we hope will answer most of your general questions. Please feel free to contact us with any further questions you might have. We love this trip, love to talk about it, and would also love the opportunity to get to know you better, so don’t hesitate to be in touch.
 Click here or call us for this year’s dates.
Click here to view pictures.
We look forward to seeing you on the trail!
Riding a horse through Monument Valley, Utah will be one of the most memorable journeys you ever make. This four night, three days of riding trip traverses some of the most spectacular backcountry nestled in Utah.
The horseback trip is suitable for riders of any level. Gentle horses and easily navigable terrain make the trip possible for beginners, while the stunning scenery and backcountry nature of the trip make it an adventure for even the most experienced of horse people. Certainly the amount of time to be spent in the saddle must be taken into account, especially for those unaccustomed to riding on a regular basis. We highly recommend that you ride before you come, if only to prepare the old seat bones for the journey.
We usually offer our Monument rides during late May and early June when we have found the weather along the trail to be most favorable. Days are usually sunny and warm; around 75-85 degrees with little or no humidity (remember to bring sunscreen). Evenings will be cool and crisp, with skies full of countless stars. Being Mother Nature, there is always the chance of some variation here, usually in the form of brief afternoon rain showers. If you have rain gear you’d like to bring, feel free, otherwise we’ll provide it for you. We find that the better everyone is prepared for inclement weather, the less likely we’ll have it.
Each guest is provided a “Tipi” tent with a mattress pad and a pillow. Couples and groups will be paired together. Each guest will need to bring his or her own sleeping bag and pillow case. A flashlight is also recommended. A portable shower is set up at camp for each guest to use at their leisure, as well as restroom facilities.
All meals while on the ride will be provided for you. This means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided during the whole trip once you arrive at base camp. Trail snacks (i.e. candy, granola bars, and fruit) and drinks will be made available for you to have on your horse with you during the day. We will do our best to accommodate any special requests you might have, as long as you tell us about them well in advance of the trip (it’s a bit hard to find a Piggly Wiggly in the middle of the desert if you get a sudden urge for tapioca pudding). Breakfasts and dinners are always hot meals, freshly prepared. Lunch will be eaten on the trail each day and usually consists of sandwiches or wraps, chips, fruits, cookies, and drinks. We are very proud of the menus we have put together, as we feel they are delicious, healthy and fun. Each trip’s menu is different depending on guest’s requests so let us know if there’s something you’d particularly like. It is imperative that you inform us of any (even mild) food allergies well before the start of the trip so that we can plan around them and prevent an emergency in the backcountry!!!
Please also note that the Monument ride is a BYOB affair…Please bring along any adult beverages you may like to have at the end of each day (not on the trail please!), as well as mixers for said libations. We will provide plenty of coolers and ice to transport everything for you.
All horse care will be handled by the wranglers throughout the trip. You are required only to take any personal items with you when you get off of your horse at the end of day, pet and talk to your horse as you ride down the trail, and feed your horse part of your apple at lunch. If you would like to help with the care of the horses, we always welcome volunteers! Simply let one of the wranglers know and they’ll let you know what you can do, and how to do it.
If guests are driving in they are asked to arrive at the town of Gouldings, Utah, by 4:00pm. Gouldings is located off of Monument Valley Rd. There is a large Conoco gas station with a deli in the town where guests will be greeted and led into base camp which is located inside the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
If guests are flying in, they will need to use Cortez Airport, in Colorado. Bearcat Stables will provide transportation from this airport to base camp. Shuttle time is approximately 2 hours. You will need to arrive by 3:30 pm to catch the shuttle so we can be in base camp no later than 6:30pm.
Other options exist. Ask us if you need us to help make different arrangements.
Each guest upon arrival at base camp will be given a tour of the facility and issued a tent. We will all enjoy a nice chuck wagon dinner while getting to know each other around a camp fire in preparations for the next days ride.
Each morning before the horseback ride, guests will enjoy a hot chuck wagon breakfast in preparation for the day’s events. A four hour horseback ride awaits you through the abandon terrain once occupied by the Anasazi Native Americans. Your guides will point out the rich history of the land while your eyes enjoy the spectacular views. We will then return to camp for a leisurely lunch. We will then head back out on a different trail to enjoy an afternoon/ evening ride before returning to camp for a chuck wagon dinner. On one of the days we will head out on an all day ride that will last the better part of our day so we can experience the “true” essence of the land. A lunch will be provided for you on the trail.
Keeping in mind you will be traveling on private land that only a horse will be able to traverse. On these rides guests can expect to see free standing sandstone rock forms that rise from the desert floor to 1000 feet, red mesas and buttes surrounded by sandy deserts surprisingly lush with flower and fauna, and 1000 year old petroglyphs, cliff dwelling sites, as well as a surprisingly unexpected desert spring.
Guests depart in the morning after breakfast. A shuttle will return those who came in from Cortez Airport.
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive, but instead is a general outline of what to think about when packing for your Monument horseback ride. In terms of luggage, soft side duffle bags work best. We have included a specific list of some items, especially those that are most often forgotten by guests.
Riding Clothes – comfortable long pants and sturdy shoes are a must here! On top, we highly recommend layers to shed and add to as temperatures change through the day. Include for good measure a warm jacket, gloves and a warm hat. Rain gear (slickers) will be provided for anyone who does not bring their own.
Evening Clothes – again, comfort is key here. Many people look forward to shedding their riding clothes
Please remember to bring everything you will need to perform your personal toilet rituals each day, including any medications you may be taking. The most often forgotten toiletry item on a trip like this is a towel and/or washcloth – so go pack one right now!
• Sleeping bag
• Pillow case (pillows are provided for you, but a familiar pillowcase can be very comforting)
• Book, game, etc (maybe something to share for evening entertainment)
• Flashlight (our number two most forgotten item, which makes the outhouse hard to find at night)
• Some cash - tipping your wranglers and guides is appreciated.
• Cell Phone – if you must. Most don't work at the camps, but don’t even think about letting it ring!
These are items we recommend you not only bring, but have handy while on the trail each day.
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Handkerchief
• Water Bottle (we’ll provide water, juice, Gatorade, lemonade etc to refill it)
• Saddle horn bags will be provided for you to hold all of this stuff right on your horse.
|
