The World’s 14 Best Mountain and Valley Horse Rides in the USA

1.Red Rock Canyon Sunset Horseback Ride and Barbeque Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,305 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $199Our pick

Leave the Strip for a 90-minute beginner-friendly ride through Red Rock Canyon with calm horses and helpful wranglers. After sunset, sit by the fire for steak, chicken, salmon, or vegetarian barbecue, followed by s’mores and cowboy poetry. Pickup is available from select Las Vegas hotels, and the small group is limited to 20 people.

“I really enjoyed our ride, the horses & scenery. Our guides were great & very friendly!! Would definitely recommend.”

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2.West Maui Mountain Waterfall and Ocean Tour via Horseback

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 845 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $187

Ride for about two hours through West Maui’s mountain trails and down toward the Pacific with guides such as Kai, Cierra, Richard, and Cole. You’ll be paired with a horse suited to your ability, stop for mountain and ocean photos, and may trot or canter when conditions allow. The ride is dusty, sometimes muddy, and waterfalls are seasonal.

“A must do on Maui. See the real island on the back o a horse. From jungle to sea. Well maintained hoses and safe.”

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3.2-Hour Horseback Riding through Red Rock Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 838 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $149

Leave the Las Vegas Strip for a two-hour guided ride through Red Rock Canyon with Cowboy Trail Rides. Wranglers match you with a horse or mule, teach basic safety, and lead you along rocky trails and high ridges. Guides such as Denise, Haley, and Riley are known for calm instruction. Hotel pickup, equipment, and bottled water access make this an easy half-day outing.

“Excellent trail ride; well cared for and sure footed horses; friendly and competent wranglers; great views in a unique desert setting. The Rim ride includes rocky trails, rim edge riding, and up‐and-down riding. It's very beautiful! It is a desert ride with desert plants so wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Above all enjoy this ride.”

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4.Monument Valley: Horseback Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 715 reviews · 30 minutes - 1 hour · from $74

From D/D MTA Horse Tours at the KOA Campground, a Navajo guide pairs you with a suitable horse and leads a 30-minute to one-hour ride past Eagle Mesa, Sleeping Bear, Sitting Hen, and the Mittens. Expect basic instruction, photo stops, English commentary, and a calm pace for beginners, with more freedom for experienced riders when conditions allow.

“the guide was very helpful and informative on area and history. Great tour.”

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5.2 Hour Monument Valley Horseback Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 458 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $110

Ride for about two hours through Monument Valley from Sacred Monument Tours near The View Hotel. You’ll meet a Navajo guide, choose a horse suited to your experience and size, and follow a slow route toward the Mittens, Merrick Butte, and Sentinel Mesa. Guides such as Logan, Ranger, Marco, and Nelson have earned praise for their care, stories, and photography help.

“2 hour horseback ride. Our guide Logan was excellent. He talked about all the monuments, and took excellent care of my wife and I. Highly recommended.”

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6.Orderville: East Zion Park White Mountain Horseback Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 400 reviews · 1 hour · from $67Best value

Ride a well-trained horse from the East Zion stables with an English-speaking guide, then dismount for a short walk into a striking slot canyon. The one-hour tour suits beginners, includes equipment and a small group of up to six, and costs $67. Guides such as Tim, Trev, Jacob, and Carly are praised for patient instruction and helpful photos.

“It was great. Destin and Trav are very good with people and they sure know everything about the area and those horses. The horses are gorgeous and they obviously are well looked after they’re in great condition.”

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7.Horseback Riding Experience through Red Canyon with a Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 321 reviews · from $105

Ride for about two hours through Red Canyon from Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant. Your wrangler pairs you with a suitable horse, teaches trail basics, and shares stories of Butch Cassidy and southern Utah. Guides such as Gayleen, Hap, and Austin have earned praise for their patience and care.

“My husband and I had 2 horses who were sweethearts Pepper and Bean. Both knew the trail so we could really trust them and enjoy the ride. Austin was a patient and knowledgeable guide. Strongly recommend this adventure,”

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8.Small-Group East Zion White Mountain Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 272 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $70

Ride for about an hour with a small group of up to six people near Orderville, east of Zion National Park. Guides such as Tim, Carly, Jake, and Trev lead an easy trail ride for beginners, then take you on foot into Red Hollow Slot Canyon. Horses, equipment, and basic instruction are included.

“Short but sweet; enjoyed the ride and walking into the slot canyon. Saw mountain lion and mule deer tracks. Tim did a great job.”

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9.Bryce Canyon: Horseback Ride in the Dixie National Forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 260 reviews · 1h 30m · from $95

Follow an English-speaking guide on a gentle 90-minute ride from Ruby’s Inn through Dixie National Forest to Bryce Canyon’s northern rim. You’ll pass ancient bristlecone pines and view Boat Mesa, Sinking Ship, and Bryce Amphitheater. Beginner-friendly horses, saddles, basic instruction, and saddlebags are included.

“Our guides were great - professional and really good fun to go on a short ride with. The view up by the rim of Bryce Canyon is breathtaking and seeing it by horse back is the way to go. Absolutely recommend this tour. My party of five had a great experience with this one.”

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10.Waipi’o on Horseback: Mountain Ocean Views Working Cattle Ranch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 252 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $160

Ride through WOH Ranch near Honokaa with guides such as Micah, Patricia, Nia, and Trisha. Expect a gentle two-hour trail ride through a traditional Hawaiian ahupua’a, with fruit tasting, fishponds, native plants, cattle, wildlife, and wide Hamakua views. The tour offers ocean views but does not enter Waipio Valley or reach the beach.

“The guides were informative and skilled, while the horses were beautiful and really well trained. My horseback riding experience was extremely limited, but even as a novice this ride was easy to accomplish. The ride is very scenic with views of the ocean, wildflowers, local wildlife, and samples of local fruits. If you love horses I highly recommend this tour!”

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11.Bryce Canyon City: Horseback Riding Tour in Red Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 212 reviews · 3 hours · from $130

Ride about six miles through Dixie National Forest, Red Canyon, and Losee Canyon with Ruby’s Inn Adventures. Guides such as Kevin, Jeff, Skylar, and Cheryl provide basic riding help, point out hoodoo shapes, and share tales of Butch Cassidy country. The pace suits first-timers, though you will stay mounted for most of the three hours.

“We had a fabulous horseback ride through Red Canyon by amazing guides. They were knowledgeable, friendly and professional. It was about a 20 minute ride from Bryce. There were about 12 people of all ages on the trail ride. Children included. We encountered a rattlesnake which was very unexpected and the guide handled it so well. No one was put in harms way and the ride went on as planned. 5 stars! We loved it!”

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12.1 Hour Monument Valley Horseback Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 181 reviews · from $120

Ride into Monument Valley’s West and East Mitten Buttes and Sentinel Mesa on a one-hour horseback tour with a small group of up to four. Guides such as Logan, Dino, Ethan, and Nikko share local stories, take photos at scenic stops, and provide helmets, PPE, and cowboy hats. Bring time for the $20 park entry fee and finding the stables.

“Great moments in this spectacular place! My daughter and I enjoyed this experience and our guide gave us good info.”

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13.Grand Canyon Ranch Tour with Horseback/Wagon Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 38 reviews · 7 hours · from $225

Leave Las Vegas for a seven-hour Arizona outing with a Hoover Dam photo stop, Joshua Tree Forest views, and a guided 45-minute horseback or covered-wagon ride at Grand Canyon Western Ranch. Guides such as Colton, Kevin, and Casey add trail stories, ranch history, music, and cowboy humor. Lunch and round-trip hotel transfers are included.

“Had the most wonderful day! Tyler our driver went out of his way to pick us up as we were not coming from Las Vegas we were staying in Arizona. Reba was excellent communication via email re: the same. Also Casey was a gentleman telling us stories of the ranch & singing beautiful songs. Colton was my guide for the horseriding he was so calm & helpful & informative about the land. All the staff were super friendly & helpful & John brought my cousin on the wagon ride & again he was a gentleman & very informative about the ranch & land. Went for my birthday on new year's…”

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14.E-Bike Private Half-Day Dead Horse Point Mountain Biking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $259

Spend about four hours on an e-bike in Dead Horse Point State Park with a private guide from Bighorn Mountain Biking. Guides such as Kristen, Dominic, Jake, Jack, and Brandon adjust the pace to your group, teach basic riding skills, and pause at major overlooks. No prior mountain biking experience is required.

“This was so fun! Our guide was very cognizant of our abilities and took the time to actually coach us on how to complete certain sections which made it even more fun! We went with Brandon! We stopped at all the best views, he brought us snacks and didn’t make us feel uncomfortable with anything at all! Great fun!”

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