Central Colorado
Horseback Riding

Sponsored by

Overnight Horse Stabling at very Reasonable Rates

Whether riding for a few hours or on a multi-day pack trip,  visitors to Central Colorado will find exceptionally scenic trails to ride. The national forests of Central Colorado have over 1,000 miles of trails in the majestic Colorado Rockies to ride. Many people consider this region to be the most scenic area in the nation. In addition to the national forest trail system, there are many miles of trails in other areas to ride. Wildlife in the forests are abundant; while riding you may see black bear, mountain lion, mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk, and deer. The mountain wilderness also includes abandoned mountain homesteads and ghost towns, remnants of the original Colorado settlers, who came to the region to mine gold and silver. 

There is no substitute for experience, all beginning riders should receive some instruction before attempting their first trip into Colorado's backcountry. Most Central Colorado towns have local guides that will take you into the backcountry for a day-ride or multi-day pack tip. Some of these guide services include equipment or it can be rented.

General Backcountry Safety--This training program was prepared by Charley Shimanski of the Mountain Rescue Association Education Committee. It is an introductory course in backcountry safety for those with little or no experience in mountainous and backcountry terrain. This file is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, click the image below to download it now.

(All backcountry recreationist should read this. It could save your life in an emergency.)

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Beddin' Down B&B and Horse Hotel 10401 CR 160 Salida, CO 81201 1-(800) 470-1888 Adventure Specialists Bear Basin Ranch Westcliffe, CO 81252 (719) 783-2519 American Safari Ranch Hwy 285 & County Road 7 Fairplay, CO 80440 (719) 836-2431 Bear Basin Ranch 473 CR 271 Westcliffe, CO 81252 (719) 783-2519 Mt. Princeton Riding Stables 13999 CR 162 Nathrop, CO 81236 (719) 395-6498 C & M Outfitters P. O. Box 277 Fairplay, CO 80440 (719) 836-3388 Chinook Lodge & Smokehouse Hwy 160; P.O. Box 1214 South Fork, CO 81154 1-(888) 890-9110 Cottonwood Cove Lodge 13046 Hwy 149 South Fork, CO 81154 (719) 658-2242 Crazy Horse Camping Resort 33975 Hwy 24 North Buena Vista, CO 81211 1-(800) 888-7320 Cripple Creek Gold Campground & Horse Company 12654 Hwy 67 Cripple Creek, CO 80813 (719) 689-2342 Four Winds Farm 1164 County Road 30 Del Norte, CO 81132 (719) 657-3640

Harvard City Stables 2030 CR 306 Buena Vista, CO 81211 (719) 395-4000 High Country Trail Rides 22763 West Hwy 50 Salida, CO 81201 (719) 539-9819 Leadville Stables 131 Hwy 91 Leadville, CO 80461 (719) 486-1497 Lost Trail Ranch CR 6W Del Norte, CO  81132 (719) 852-2525 Moon Valley Ranch Resort Campground Hwy 160; P.O. Box 265 South Fork, CO 81154 (719) 873-5216 RC Ranch P.O. Box 186 Creede, CO  81130 (719) 658-2253 Red Mountain Outfitters & Guides 13379 Hwy 160 Alamosa, CO 81101 (719) 589-4186 The Historic Pines Ranch P.O. Box 311 Westcliffe, CO 81252 1-(800) 446-9462 Tom Payne Outfitting P.O. Box 366 Creede, CO  81130 (719) 658-2386 Trail Skill, Inc. 6638 West CR 7N Del Norte, CO 81132 (719) 852-3543 V Bar Ranch 1429 CR 130 Westcliffe, CO 81252 (719) 783-2461