At a Glance
- Ride Types: 1hr, half-day, full-day
- Skill Level: All levels welcome
- Season: June–Sept
- Nearest Ranch: Ridgway area
Trail Riding in the San Juan Mountains
Several outfitters within a twenty-minute drive of Ouray offer guided horseback rides ranging from one-hour introductory trips to multi-day pack experiences into the backcountry. The terrain — alpine meadows, aspen groves, and ridgeline trails with San Juan views — is ideally suited to the pace and perspective of a horse.
Ridgway, twelve miles north of Ouray on US-550, has the highest concentration of horse ranches in the area. The Ridgway/Ouray corridor sits at the edge of the San Juan Mountains where the canyon country gives way to the Cimarron Valley — both landscapes are accessible by trail.
What to Expect on a Guided Ride
Most trail ride outfitters provide all equipment and match riders to horses appropriate for their experience level. Closed-toe shoes or boots are required; operators typically provide helmets. Children as young as six or seven are often accepted on slower, shorter routes.
Evening rides returning at golden hour are particularly memorable in this landscape. The San Juan peaks catch alpenglow long after the canyon floor falls into shade — experienced riders often specifically request late-afternoon departures.
Booking Your Ouray Trip
Reserve horseback rides in advance for July and August — demand peaks with summer tourism and slots fill quickly. Most outfitters can be booked online or by phone from The Lumberyard Condos in the days before your trip.
Book your Ouray accommodations direct at ouraycondos.com. All five units are dog-friendly and sleep groups from two to ten.