Visit Pinedale WY Summer Horseback Riding 2 -

Horse­back Riding

In Pinedale, WY

IF YOU’RE A FAN OF HORS­ES, PINEDALE IS NOT A BAD PLACE TO BE. MOUNT A STEADY STEED AND GAL­LOP THROUGH SCENIC TRAILS OR WATCH LOCALS MAS­TER A MAJES­TIC HORSE AT THE RODEO.

SAD­DLE UP

Whether you like rid­ing hors­es or watch­ing locals com­pete at the rodeo, the Cow­boy State is filled with hors­es and the peo­ple who love them.

Sad­dle up and ride a beau­ti­ful, pow­er­ful horse through mag­nif­i­cent land­scapes of the Bridger-Teton Nation­al For­est for an unfor­get­table adven­ture. The best time to ride in the Pinedale area is between June and Octo­ber. You can either rent a horse and head out for a solo trot in the wilder­ness or join up with a guide that can show you the most incred­i­ble views you’ve seen atop your gen­tle new friend. Keep in mind that if you plan on an overnight trip, you’ll need to grab a per­mit in town before rid­ing off in the sun­set.

If you love hors­es but aren’t ready to climb aboard, there are enter­tain­ment oppor­tu­ni­ties at the Pinedale Rodeo Grounds. With mul­ti­ple com­pe­ti­tions a year from region­al and pro­fes­sion­al rodeos to rid­ing clin­ics and oth­er horse-fea­tured events, you won’t run out of equine activ­i­ties any time soon.

POP­U­LAR LOCATIONS

Visit Pinedale WY Summer Paddling Green River Lakes 2020 07 07 222810

Green Riv­er Lakes

Start your gor­geous horse­back ride 52 miles from Pinedale and take the high road (High­line Trail) or the low road (Lake­side Trail) for views that will be etched into your mem­o­ry. You’ll see glo­ri­ous clear water reflect­ing tall moun­tains and a vari­ety of wildlife from fun specks of flow­ers to frol­ick­ing fawns. 

Watch for hik­ers, as it’s a pop­u­lar trail for those on only two legs. Expect fair to rough roads on this trail, so if you’re unfa­mil­iar with the area or horse­back rid­ing, bring­ing a guide along will ulti­mate­ly pro­vide you with the least stress and the most fun.

There are short half-days, full days, overnights and longer trips avail­able. Be sure to get a per­mit if you’re plan­ning an overnight trip.

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Half Moon Lake

Half Moon Lake

A short 9.5 miles out from Pinedale lies the ever-pop­u­lar Half Moon Lake Lodge, a start­ing point for many trails pop­u­lar for horse lovers. Spend a half or full day (or more) admir­ing the Real Wyoming on horse­back and either ven­ture out on your own or join in with a friend­ly group of oth­er explor­ers for a day in exquis­ite Pinedale backcountry.

As if spend­ing time with your steed isn’t enough, you’re almost guar­an­teed to run across oth­er crit­ters from the impres­sive moose to the elu­sive gray wolf. Trot along from lake to lake (over 1,300 of them) and admire views of shady forests, tow­er­ing moun­tains, and glassy water. Bring your cam­era, as you will want to relive this expe­ri­ence over and over.

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Visit Pinedale WY Fall Fly Fishing New Fork River

New Fork Lakes

About 24 miles north of Pinedale lies a scenic group of lakes sur­round­ed by shady forests, open dirt trails, and unbe­liev­able views that are even more stun­ning on your trusty steed. This area allows you to explore the back­coun­try for a quick day trip or longer horsep­a­ck­ing trips.

This trail is a great option for fam­i­lies that love horse rid­ing, with options for stops along the trail for fish­ing, camp­ing, or rid­ing up a ridge to take in the views from a dif­fer­ent per­spec­tive. Grab your horse, your per­mit (if you’re spend­ing the night), and your sup­plies and get ready to ride the ridges in awe of the Cow­boy State’s back­coun­try beau­ty. The Real Wyoming is wait­ing for you and your four-legged friend!

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Horseback Riding Big Sandy Visit Pinedale

BIG SANDY

With access to the Bridger Wilderness, Continental Divide Trail, and Cirque of the Towers, the Big Sandy Trailhead is a local favorite. On horseback, you can cover a lot more ground than hiking to see everything this gorgeous area has to offer. A convenient parking area just for equestrians has vault toilets and corrals for keeping your four-legged friend safe. About 54 miles from Pinedale, the epic views are worth the drive.

Horseback Riding Soda Lakes Visit Pinedale

SODA LAKES

This open area offers beautiful, simple, open trails for a quiet (no motorized vehicles allowed) jaunt through sage brush, waving willows, and forest landscapes. A scenic ridge trail brings you through the forest up to majestic views of the mountain range. The bonus tip for this area is that if you get warm, you and your horse can take a dip in this idyllic spot. Bring your fishing poles, as Soda Lake is known for catching delicious (and large) trout!

Horseback Riding Sublette County Fair Visit Pinedale

SUBLETTE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

The fairgrounds are just 30 minutes from Pinedale and the fair is an ideal place to bring kids for a few days of fun!

For equine enthusiasts that prefer watching to riding, the Sublette County Fair has a huge amount of events that are fun for the whole family from mid to late July. Horse-filled events include youth competitions, barrel riding, open horse shows, and team roping. Other events range from daring motorcycle stunts to greased pig wrestling!

Visit Pinedale WY Summer Horseback Riding

BEFORE YOU GO

  • Overnight horse trips in Wilderness Areas require a permit
  • Permit fees are minimal and can be obtained at the Pinedale Ranger District office
  • If carrying equine feed within the Bridger-Teton National Forest, it must be certified weed-free
  • Wear hunter orange if you're riding during the fall hunting season
  • Know before you go—check in with the Pinedale, Big Piney Ranger District, or the BLM Pinedale Field offices for up-to-date information on trail conditions, facilities, fire danger, and regulations
  • Carry a compact first-aid kit in case of emergencies
  • Bring your compass and a map, as cell phone reception can be unreliable
  • Groups are limited to 15 people