Introduction

Picture yourself riding the Peekaboo Loop Trail through Bryce Canyon National Park on a clear October morning — the extraordinary amphitheater of crimson and orange and cream hoodoo spires rising in every direction from the canyon floor, the Ponderosa pine and white fir forest of the canyon rim framing the most dramatic single erosional landscape in the American Southwest in the extraordinary clarity of the Utah October sky. Or imagine a June morning ride in the High Uinta Mountains, the only east-west trending major mountain range in the continental United States, the Kings Peak corridor’s extraordinary granite and quartzite ridgeline visible above the subalpine meadow in the most remote and most specifically high alpine wilderness accessible in Utah.

Utah’s riding landscape rewards every rider who discovers what the Beehive State preserves in its extraordinary public land canvas. No state in the continental United States offers the convergence of the most visually extraordinary national park equestrian trail system in the American Southwest, the most extensively developed high alpine wilderness pack trip terrain in the Great Basin mountain system, the most vast and most geologically spectacular single BLM public land canvas in the Colorado Plateau, and the most living pioneer and Ute Nation horse culture heritage within a single equestrian system of genuinely world-class natural beauty.

Where to Ride: Regions and Terrain

Southern Utah — Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Staircase

Bryce Canyon National Park (approximately 35,835 acres) in Garfield County is the most nationally celebrated and most specifically Utah-identified single national park equestrian trail destination in the Beehive State. The Peekaboo Loop Trail (approximately 5.5 miles) provides the most specifically hoodoo-immersive and most visually extraordinary single national park equestrian trail in the Utah public land system — descending into the hoodoo canyon through polychrome crimson, orange, and cream Claron Formation limestone. A concessioner-operated guided ride program also operates on the Peekaboo Loop; contact the park for current availability and reservation procedures.

Zion National Park (approximately 147,000 acres) provides equestrian trail access on the Sand Bench Trail and other designated sections through the accessible lower canyon and sand bench terrain. The Sand Bench Trail (approximately 4 miles) traverses the lower Zion Canyon’s cottonwood and Gambel oak riparian corridor below the towering Navajo Sandstone walls. A concessioner-operated guided ride program also operates here; contact the park directly. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (approximately 1.7 million acres) provides equestrian access in designated trail corridors through the most remote Colorado Plateau canyon and plateau terrain in southern Utah — Escalante River canyonlands, Kaiparowits Plateau, Grand Staircase geological staircase. All levels World-class canyon scenery Apr–Jun / Sep–Nov

The High Uintas — Utah’s Alpine Wilderness

The High Uintas Wilderness Area (approximately 460,000 acres) in Duchesne, Summit, and Daggett counties is the most extensively developed high alpine wilderness equestrian destination in the Beehive State — hundreds of alpine lakes accessible via designated trail from multiple wilderness trailheads, the Kings Peak corridor at 13,534 feet, and extraordinary subalpine meadow wildflower season from late June through early August. The most heavily used equestrian approach routes include the Grandaddy Lakes Basin trailhead from the Mirror Lake Highway and the Spirit Lake and Burnt Fork trailheads from the Vernal corridor.

Contact the Ashley National Forest’s Duchesne, Vernal, and Flaming Gorge ranger districts for current equestrian trail access information, wilderness permit requirements, and trailhead staging area availability. The primary season is late June through mid-September. Suits intermediate to experienced riders with appropriate high alpine self-sufficiency preparation. Intermediate Advanced Jun–Sep

Moab and the Canyon Country — Canyonlands and Arches

Canyonlands National Park (approximately 337,598 acres) provides equestrian trail access on designated sections through the Island in the Sky, Needles, and Maze districts. The Moab BLM Field Office’s extraordinary canyon and slickrock terrain provides hundreds of thousands of acres of the most internationally recognized adventure tourism community in the American Southwest for equestrian use. Several licensed outfitter operations in the Moab area serve guided canyon country trail rides through the extraordinary Colorado River plateau red rock landscape. Contact Canyonlands National Park for current equestrian trail access information by district and any permit requirements. Best March through May and September through November. All levels guided Experienced independent

Wasatch Front and the Central Mountains

The most accessible equestrian trail system for the most populated corridor in Utah. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest’s Wasatch Range canyons (Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, American Fork, Millcreek, and dozens more) provide the most accessible national forest equestrian terrain within 30 to 60 minutes of Salt Lake City and Provo. The Fishlake National Forest (approximately 1.4 million acres) in Sevier, Piute, Wayne, and Millard counties provides the most specifically fall aspen-forest-character equestrian landscape in the central Utah national forest system — including Pando, the world’s most massive single organism (approximately 13 million pounds), an aspen clone near Fish Lake. The Manti-La Sal National Forest provides access from the Wasatch Plateau to the La Sal Mountains’ extraordinary 12,000-foot alpine terrain above Moab. All levels May–Oct

The San Rafael Swell — Remote Colorado Plateau Interior

A massive uplifted geological dome approximately 75 miles long and 40 miles wide in central Utah’s Colorado Plateau interior — the most specifically remote and most geologically dramatic single BLM landscape accessible in the Utah interior. The extraordinary San Rafael Reef’s dramatic monocline and canyon system, the Wedge Overlook’s spectacular canyon panorama, and the San Rafael River’s desert canyon corridor create a riding environment of genuine Colorado Plateau wilderness character. Contact the BLM Price Field Office for current equestrian access information and water source availability. If you’re riding the remote backcountry, bring a satellite communicator or personal locator beacon — cell service is completely absent and emergency evacuation would require extended overland travel. Suits experienced riders with appropriate desert remote terrain self-sufficiency preparation. Experienced riders

Best Parks and Public Lands

When to Ride: Seasons in Utah

What to Wear and Pack

• ASTM/SEI-certified riding helmet — essential for every ride
• Boots with one-inch heel; waterproof or quick-drying for High Uintas alpine creek crossings
• Lightweight breathable long-sleeved sun-protective clothing and broad-brimmed hat — Utah’s Colorado Plateau altitude significantly increases UV exposure
• High SPF sunscreen reapplied regularly for any desert or plateau ride
• At least 3–4 liters of water per rider for any summer desert canyon ride
• High altitude management awareness for High Uintas Wilderness rides above 10,000 feet — allow adequate acclimatization time
• Weed-free certified hay — required for High Uintas Wilderness equestrian camping; strongly recommended throughout national forest and national park horse camping systems
• Satellite messenger or PLB for any multi-day High Uintas Wilderness pack trip, Grand Staircase-Escalante backcountry expedition, or remote San Rafael Swell canyon ride where cell coverage is completely absent
• Blaze orange for national forest terrain during deer and elk firearms season (fall)

Beginner Ride Ideas

Equestrian Events in Utah

Days of ’47 Rodeo (Salt Lake City, around July 24) — The most specifically Utah and most Mormon pioneer heritage-identified single equestrian event in the Beehive State’s annual calendar, combining PRCA rodeo programming with the pioneer heritage celebration of the 1847 arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. Check current dates and programming directly with the organization.

Utah State Fair (Salt Lake City, September) — Open horse show competition, 4-H and FFA youth horsemanship, and agricultural programming reflecting the Utah working and competitive horse community. Check current dates and equestrian programming directly with the fair.

Utah Endurance Rides Series (AERC Utah region) — Utah’s extraordinary public land trail systems make it one of the most specifically endurance-riding-identified equestrian communities in the mountain West. The Tevis Cup draws significant Utah preparation and participation. Check current Utah endurance ride event scheduling directly with the AERC Utah region.

Cost of Horseback Riding in Utah

Beginner lessons typically run $55–$90 per hour for private lessons. Salt Lake City and Provo metropolitan area facilities and Park City and Heber City resort community operations toward the higher end; rural Uinta Basin and central Utah operations toward the lower end.

Guided trail rides typically run $55–$120 per rider for a standard one- to two-hour ride. Bryce Canyon and Zion national park concessioner programs and Moab area outfitters toward the higher end.

High Uintas Wilderness multi-day guided pack trips typically run $200–$400 per person per day for fully outfitted experiences. BLM public land equestrian day use is generally free. National park equestrian access fees are included with standard vehicle entry fees.

Ways to save: Book Bryce Canyon and Zion national park guided ride reservations as far in advance as possible — these are among the most in-demand guided ride reservations in the US national park system. Self-outfit High Uintas Wilderness pack trips with your own horses and purchased weed-free hay for the most affordable single overnight wilderness equestrian camping experience. Time Moab area BLM guided rides to November through February when the most comfortable desert canyon temperatures coincide with the lowest visitor demand.

Frequently Asked Questions