Horseback Riding at the Grand Canyon

Seeing the Grand Canyon from the saddle is one of the best ways to spend your time at either the South or the North Rim. Imagine you're John Wesley Powell, discovering the area for Europeans, or imagine you're traveling through on your way further West to settle some unkown territory. Riding a horse along the rim of the Grand Canyon will unleash your imagination and make your experience a thousand times more exciting. It might even be one of the most memorable things your ever do on vacation! Horseback riding the Grand Canyon through a tour group is also thoroughly relaxing, easy and fun. The horses on the job at all the stables who offer trail rides are retired, friendly ol' steeds. These horses also know the trails really well, so there's no need for you to lead them or turn the reigns, really. Just give them a gentle nudge with your heels every once in a while and they know exactly what to do. They're pros! The gentle heel-nudge is for when you think your horse might be stopping for whatever reason, or just to let him know you're still up there! Yes, riders on these tours only pretend to be in charge, but that's what makes the horseback riding trail rides at the Grand Canyon so relaxing and enjoyable. You don't really have to do a thing but stay in the saddle. So, get your hat, throw on some jeans and sit back and ride the dusty trail. Below you can read about the mail stables that offer horseback riding tours at the Grand Canyon.

Apache Stable

Apache Stable is located at Moqui Lodge in the town of Tusayan, outside Grand Canyon National Park, near the South Entrance to the Park. They offer guided tours that take guests by horseback to different viewpoints along the south rim. They also have rides for two hours where you tour Kaibab National Forest. Or, try the Desert View Ride, which lasts for four hours and goes along the South Rim. You also might like the Campfire Trail Ride or the Campfire Wagon Ride. Trail rides go on the rim and into Kaibab, but not into the Grand Canyon. You can book a tour for as little as one hour or as many as four hours. You can go in a group of two or a group of 30. It's not up to you, though. It depends on how many people show up for the tour! Apache Stable is open April through October, weather permitting.

Stable in the Pines, or Circle Pines Stable

There are some riding stables which offer easy rides with guides on trails near the town of . Guides will give talks as you ride, so you can learn about local wildlife and plants as you take in the country air. The outfit is called Stable in the Pines and it is located the KOA Campground on Route 40 in Williams. Check the KOA website for horseback ride coupons and specials. Circle Pines is closed October through April.

Horseback Riding on the North Rim

Allen's Guided Tours offers horseback riding tours through Kaibab National Forest and also along the Arizona Trail. Their corrals are located near Jacob Lake, on Highway 67. The Kaibab National Forest tours are along flat terrain, so you dont' have to worry about a rough ride. It's gentle and fun, and tours last one to two hours. The rides along the Arizona Trail are longer, so if you have children, or if you're not used to horseback riding, maybe you should opt for the shorter, easier, Kaibab National Forest trail rides, which also, by the way, take you to viewpoints along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Kaibab rides also leave every hour, and you don't need reservations, so planning is easy. The longer Arizona Trail rides must be booked a day in advance and there must be at least four people in the group.