There’s something indescribable about the experience of riding a horse over broad fields, unpacking your gear, and setting up camp. The United States is loaded with old-style dude ranches that offer overnight horseback riding packages. Most of these ranches are still self-sufficient, even without tourists.

Colorado Horseback Riding

Although there are quite a few places to ride in Colorado, Sombrero Ranches Inc. maintains the largest facility in the state with a broad range of overnight packages. If you desire a shorter camping excursion, Sombrero Ranch offers three packages to choose from: Drop Camp, Pack Trips, and the Estes Park Special Overnight Package. The drop camp package includes your horse and a guide to lead you to a camping ground. Once you’ve arrived, your gear (which you need to provide) is unloaded and the guide and horses retreat back to the ranch until the following day. After you've had an afternoon of exploration and one night of camping, your guide will return with the horses and take you back to the ranch. Pack Trips are essentially the same package as the Drop Camp, but the guide and horses accompany you overnight. Finally, the Estes Park Special Overnight Package provides you with all of the benefits of the Pack Trip with the added advantage of meals provided by the ranch.

If you are interested in a longer adventure, try the Horse Drive. You will receive training from the ranch employees on riding and driving techniques and then embark on a 60 mile horse drive!

Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Park also offers complete overnight horseback riding trips. You can join a prescheduled group trip with other campers or design a custom trip for you and your closest friends. Yellowstone Park provides you with your horse, tack, tent, three meals a day, and a guide to lead you to the best views and scenery in the park.