California
Off the Map: Horseback Riding in the High Sierra Nevada Wilderness
Program No. 10322RJ
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Off the Map: Horseback Riding in the High Sierra Nevada Wilderness
Off the Map: Horseback Riding in the High Sierra Nevada Wilderness
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Participant Reviews
Based on 18 Reviews
SHOWING
What an adventure! Great horses, wranglers, cooks, campsite help and location. It was amazing!
— Review left October 29, 2025
If you enjoy the outdoors, this trip is for you. The scenery is gorgeous, and the wranglers that take care of you are absolutely terrific. However, I would strongly caution you about the riggers of this trip. The trails are very steep and very, very rocky. You are riding for up to 12 miles each day. Unless you are an experienced horse person, I would definitely not recommend this trip for you.
— Review left September 19, 2025
For the Wild Mustang Ride: A perfect ride for an outdoor enthusiast and horse lover. I highly recommend getting there at least a day early if you do not live at a higher elevation, and drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness. We had a nice dinner and orientation in Bishop – Vannetta is a great group leader and brought a small library of books about the area. Also, make sure to visit Erik Schatz bakery for some yummy snacks to take with you. We rode about 3 ½ hours the first day to get to base camp, which is a very nice location that had a full camp kitchen (KK is an awesome cook and gets up extra early to make sure coffee is ready), pit toilets, and a propane heated shower (felt so good after riding). We rode 4-5 hours each day, or you could choose to stay at camp if you needed to rest your glutes.
Ivonna, the “horse whisperer” is so knowledgeable about the Mustangs and they feel so safe around her that we were able to get very close to the herd. The packing crew (wranglers?) were all nice, helpful and had fun stories to share. Most of the group that I went with were all super friendly and extremely caring people.
Make sure to bring a good sleeping kit because the ground is NOT soft. A couple of people had sleeping cots and honestly that is probably the best way to tent sleep in the high desert IMO. In June the weather can go from the low 40’s at night to 80-90 during the day, so bring layers, a hat and sunscreen. You will not need everything that they have on the packing list. We did not need water purifiers, a fishing license or a solar shower.
— Review left June 22, 2025
If you enjoy spending the day on horseback this trip is not to be missed! Camping in a remote High Desert location, falling asleep to the sound of the creek, waking up to bird song and the smell of fresh brewed cowboy coffee! It gets even better when you are out quietly tracking the wild horses and breathing in the fresh air and scent of sage. Finally, words can not describe how it felt to be so close to the wild horses that it was as if you were part of the herd. Amazing experience with great like-minded people!!
— Review left June 16, 2025
This was a wonderful experience in a beautiful setting. The trail ride was challenging but not frightening, doable for folks with little horse experience and still enjoyable for experienced riders who have or have had their own horses. To be able to hear about wild mustangs from a local expert with decades of experience around the herds, then to be able to ride close to the mustangs and observe them was a once in a lifetime experience.
— Review left June 13, 2025
This program was phenomenal. We had the chance to trail ride through some amazing southwestern ecosystems, see wild horses just yards away, and learned something new about the ecology of the land and behaviors of wild horses. You will have to be comfortable with a lot of riding and sleeping in a tent for a few days. It is all worth it for the connection you will gain with the land and the fauna. It was an amazing program!
— Review left June 13, 2025
This program is a great chance to try a horse pack trip. Not only do the packers get the food and equipment up to the camp but they set it all up! The base camp for our trip felt far away from civilization the way we rode there. It was actually not far from the road if there had been an emergency. The cooks created delicious meals. The scenery, including a lake above timber line where we picnicked, was beautiful. Our mounts were well trained and taken care of.
— Review left October 23, 2024
This trip is an adventure well worth experiencing. The scenery was spectacular as you truly are in the wilderness! The wranglers/guides were personable and knowledgeable and our leader, Lisa, was great. The horses were amazing and well-suited to each rider's abilities. Recommend some riding experience. You will have complete confidence in your horse in some challenging rocky and steep terrain during the 5-6 hours a day ride. Absolutely awesome trip!
— Review left September 17, 2024
BEST RIDE EVER!!! Exciting and exhilarating. Our horses were in exceptional condition and climbed on trails I could never survive without them!
— Review left September 9, 2024
This was an amazing trip into a beautiful area! The riding is not difficult though the terrain is challenging (and gorgeous!). The wranglers and group leader were skilled and knowledgeable and I learned an enormous amount about the history of the area. Made some new friends, too! Does involve primitive camping and may not be ideal for people afraid of heights, but extensive riding experience is not required. I would absolutely do this program again!
— Review left July 22, 2024
I loved this trip. We saw wild mustangs on the first and last day of the ride. Same herd but just as amazing. We got very close and had lots of opportunity for pictures. All the folks helping us were fabulous. Ivana was an excellent source of knowledge about the wild mustangs and had been studying this herd of family bands for several decades. Devon our trusty wrangler was always there to help and carried our lunches and extra water on the trusty mule, Tootsie. He keep us entertained with both jokes and stories about all the cool places he has worked. Charity was our cook and the food was delicious. Vanetta was our group leader and she had such a positive outlook on life and always had a smile on her face. The other participants were awesome right from day one. You would never know we didn't know each other for years. Several people were beginner riders and a few were experienced. They did a great job matching everyone to a suitable mounts. Some people were first time campers and others had lots of experience, it didn't matter, people helped each other and were always checking in with everyone. This was a walking ride so anyone that would like more riding excitement should check out other options. Safety was always first.
— Review left June 30, 2024
Fantastic trip!
— Review left June 23, 2024
This program was spectacular in all aspects. Gorgeous country , wonderful support team. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Be sure to take seriously the suggestion of a heavy duty sleeping bag and acclimatizing to the elevation. It was very cold at night in the fall, so much so that my water bottle froze in the tent. Just saying!!
— Review left October 11, 2023
It was incredible how close we were to herds of wild horses who seemed completely cool with our presence. If you'd like to see wild horses up close, this is the trip for you! The horses on this trip were very well behaved and well trained.
— Review left June 29, 2023
Great adventure for those who love horses, riding, and being well off the grid. Very well run by knowledgeable, talented, and professional leaders. Many thanks for an outstanding trip.
— Review left June 25, 2023
I loved my trip. I heartily recommend it.
— Review left June 18, 2023
What an amazing location. The eastern sierra mountains are worth visiting. This program is for folks who are physically able to ride pack horses. They are quite large so be ready to straddle and work on stretching in advance. They have mules too which are smaller.
— Review left July 22, 2022
This is a great trip if you enjoy being outside in nature. If you know how to horseback ride that is helpful but the Pack Station staff were very willing to teach (although you shouldn’t be afraid of horses).
— Review left July 20, 2022