Horseback Riding at Smith Fork Luxury Dude Ranch: All Day

All Day Horseback Rides

Travel back in time through our frontier of 12,000 foot peaks and azure blue sky, canyons, valleys, and crests in the West Elk Wilderness. Secluded and ultimately pristine, ride in the footsteps of Ute Indians, pioneers, trappers, and turn-of-the-century cowboys on Smith Fork Ranch’s all-day and lunch rides.

Lunch Rides •These generally last three to five hours, and cover terrain suitable for the intermediate to advanced rider. •Climb high into the backcountry for sweeping views of the Smith Fork valley, or explore old cattle trails where cowboys once pushed their herds. •Learn the local legends as you lunch with your wrangler, and laugh at the camprobber jays and golden-mantled chipmunks as they daringly chatter at your intrusion into their wilderness. •If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you might even like to try your hand at panning for some gold!

All Day Rides •These rides are more suitable for advanced riders, due to the length of six to eight hours, as well as the challenging terrain encountered. •These are true wilderness rides, circling mountains and conquering untouched areas of the forest. •Break at pristine mountain creeks, watch elk and mule deer traverse dangerous rocky slopes, track coyotes or mountain lions on their paths, and perhaps even encounter a bear! •Miles of enchanted aspen groves, stunning rock outcroppings, and peaceful grassy meadows await your gaze. •Nurture the bond between you and your horse as it trusts you to choose the path, while you trust it to carry you safely across potentially treacherous footing.•Be aware that among the 46,000 acres of wilderness we ride, there is only one National Forest employee clearing trails. Therefore, it falls to Smith Fork Ranch Wranglers to make up much of the difference. Many of the trails you will ride on these longer rides have not been completely cleared, and will require you to bend for low hanging branches, cross unmaintained creeks, and step over rocks, fallen trees, and other obstacles in the trail.•Many of these trails are not suitable for children under the age of 12.

"Thanks for everything-good fun, good food and great friends. We really had a wonderful time. Thanks for teaching Gary to ride and that absolutely gorgeous all-day trek through the mountains. Thanks for patiently teaching us to fly fish. We had great fun at the rodeo. The food is fantastic! But most of all we really love how you all made us feel right at home. Looking forward to coming back sometime!"
Gary and Jeanne, Virginia