Horseback Riding In Yosemite National Park

If you'd like to explore the splendor of the Sierra Mountains, try horseback riding in Yosemite National Park in California. Regardless of your experience level, there is something for everyone with guided trail rides, multi-hour and multi-day camping trips and even pony rides for the kids. Following are some of the great horseback riding options available to you at Yosemite National Park.

At the Park's stables in Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows and Wawona, you can choose from two-hour, four-hour and all-day very reasonably priced trail rides. Rates start at $35 per person for a two-ride ride and cost about $70 for all-day rides. You should note that all day horseback rides require a three-person minimum. If you'd like to find out more and to make reservations for rides at one of these locations, call Valley Stables at 209-372-8326; Tuolumne Meadows Stables at 209-372-8427; or Wawona Stables at 209-375-6502

For a more of a back-country horseback riding experience, you can sign on for one of High Sierra's Camp and Saddle Trips. These four, five or six day excursions head out from the Tuolumne Stables and take place during the months of July through September, weather permitting. On one of these adventures, you'll be led by professional, experienced guides and packers who will entertain you with folklore and points of interest throughout the trip. They also take care of everything for you - they pack all the food, gear and feed for the animals. Another engaging part of this journey is that your personal items will be carried through the trails on pack mules. Prices start at around $550 and range up to about $875 depending on the length of the trip you choose and you can even request customized rides. Contact Yosemite Stables by calling 209-372-8348.

With Yosemite Trails, you can take a one or two-hour long horseback ride through the awesome, scenic loop of the Sierra National Forest to get a really up close and personal experience with nature. If you'd like to spend a little more time in the saddle, you can opt to take a 5 1/2 hour trip that includes a ride though the Mariposa Grove within Yosemite Park. In addition to the rest of the park's splendor, you'll also get to see the incredible 2,000 year-old Mariposa trees. It's recommended you bring a lunch on this one. Prices for these three rides range from $30 to $80 - which ain' bad!

Yosemite Trails also offers lead horse rides for children under the age of 7. Your child's horse will be led around the stables by one of the park's qualified wranglers for around $20 for 15 minutes. For more information, you can call Yosemite Trails at 559-683-7611.