Colorado horse camps - info wanted

[Toni_L]

We just learned our family reunion next year will be near Estes Park CO so my husband & I would really like to go out and then do a weeks worth of riding and camping within a days drive of Estes Park. Would prefer a camp with electric & water and with a weeks worth of riding (gaited horses) from camp. Can anyone suggest places that you have been to or heard good things about? Hoping you guys can point me in the right direction!! This woukd be a dream come true for us if we could make it work!

Toni

[Coyoteco]

This is on the other side of the park (Rocky Mountain National Park) from Estes Park. If you are pretty adventurous you could ride from Estes to Grand Lake and camp there. (fantastic and challenging ride) Otherwise, you could trailer over. I’m not sure of horse camps with hookups in Estes Park, but I’m sure someone else will know.

http://www.windingriverresort.com/ There are many miles of trails in a very pretty area.

[Toni_L]

Thanks - I was beginning to think no one was going to respond! I would also be willing to consider great places to camp and ride that are within a 5 hour or so range from Estes Park as well. We just need to be in the Estes Park area for the reunion but before or after that we could travel wherever for a great destination. We are in Iowa so really looking forward to so scenic mountain riding!!!

Hopefully others will also have some recommendations.

[Coyoteco]

Wow, I just saw the date of your post. We were out of town lol.
I think you’d love the Winding River Resort and the riding there. It’s close enough to Estes Park - just the west entrance to the park rather than the east/Estes Park entrance.

You could ask at the yahoo group ColoradoRider too.

[MoseyAlong]

Mtns,plains,canyons. What is your thing.

Toni,
Do some thinking and discussing about what your horses can do and
what you can do driving (trailering). Have your horses done some
steep or rough trails? Can your truck/trailer take steep twisty roads? Can you?

The last time I visited this area, I saw a TV news feature of horse-riding.
Estes does have some tourist rent-a-horse trail rides so maybe you
can ride with them or just rent stable space for your horses. I presume they
must have some tame trails for green-rider tourists.
Facilities on the plains might be cheaper.

http://coloradohorseforum.com/forum/

[Coyoteco]

There are certainly outfitters where you can rent horses in both Estes Park and Grand Lake. Sombrero Ranch rents horses to do that Estes Park to Grand Lake ride that is so spectacular.

That ride from Estes Park to Grand Lake is strenuous and some acclimation would be required. It is essentially climbing a mountain. You might consider not taking your horses on that one trail, and going on a trail ride - it’s nice.

The resort I recommended is on the Grand Lake side. The altitude is pretty high. However, there are many miles of level trails on which to ride. Those trails don’t require climbing or descending mountains. There is a beautiful lake in the area (Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir actually). There are moose in the area, but not so many as to pose a concern. The pretty little town of Grand Lake is nearby.

It is true that if you trailer from Estes Park to Grand Lake, you would likely go over trail ridge road - you can go around this by going down to I-70 and coming through Empire Park (but then you have to go over Berthoud Pass which is all quite lovely too). Trail Ridge Road is a steep road, but I assume if you are planning on trailering through the rockies, you expect that. Maybe I’m wrong. It is a steep road, but it’s not a bad one from my perspective.

[Toni_L]

Just to clear up the questions, I am a avid trail rider and have ridden my horse in all types of terrain, and my truck and trailer can handle the conditions as well. The horses will be very well conditioned for the trip before we ever head out and know we have to take it easy as they get used to the change in altitude.

We have been to the Estes Park area several times without horses, and have done the horse rental thing in the past but this time we want to take our own horses - it’s just not the same to do a rent a ride thing, thats for sure!

It’s sounding like Grand Lake is going to be about our only choice. I think I will check out the colorado horse forum someone suggested as well in case there are other places we are not hearing about on here.

Thanks,
Toni

[ThreeFigs]

Toni, you are expecting a lot of your horses and yourselves. Estes Park is well above 7000 feet. Grand lake is over 8000 feet. You are coming from Iowa. There is no way your horses or you are fit enough to perform comfortably with that drastic change in altitude.

Some things flat-landers do not take into consideration when coming here:

altitude sickness

the increased severity of the sun

increased danger of dehydration

We are dry and high here. Less atmosphere to protect your skin from the UV rays, and the combined dryness and altitude demand that you hydrate continually. And not with Coors Beer, either!

Give yourselves and your horses time to acclimate to the altitude. Drink plenty of water. Use a very good sunscreen and reapply it often. Wear hats and long sleeves. Know that as the sun sets in the mountains at altitude, it can get COLD!

Enjoy your visit to Colorado, but don’t overestimate your or your horse’s fitness. It’s different once you’re over a mile above sea level. Trust me and the others who’ve posted.

I hope you’re towing with something bigger than a 1/2 ton truck, too. Once you hit the mountain roads, you’ll find that a truck that tows fine at sea level won’t tow worth a darn at a mile high.

[MoseyAlong]

Toni,
I think everyone wishes the best for you.

I saw on the other forum that Windsor is your meeting point.
Windsor gives a lot of options.
Edit to add: Time of year can be important, though you may be concerned for
your privacy. June in high mtns = lots of snow drifts. April,May,June = high water.

If you arrive in NE Colorado via I76, you can easily stop at the
Pawnee National Grassland for a day or so. This would allow
you and the horses to acclimate and workout at 5000 feet.

Passes & Permits:
http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA!/?ss=110210&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003771&navid=160000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=Arapaho%20&%20Roosevelt%20National%20Forests%20Pawnee%20National%20Grassland-%20Passes%20&%20Permits

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawnee_National_Grassland

Big Map of Colorado with red = Pawnee National Grassland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PawneeGrasslandInColorado.PNG

It used to be free. It is a natural (tall, short?) grass prairie, lots of dirt roads,
mostly 2wd, if IIEC,
good for horses, i.e. no rocks, rolling hills. It is BLM land and lots
of it leased to ranchers; a few year-round creeks (unless drought),
and some working wind-mills. Technically you might need permission
from lease holder for water use; good to get a phone number anyway.
Verify everything I say, because I could be wrong.
Cell phones probably do not work there, but work in large towns.
Maps on the internet.

From Windsor (or northern CO) there might be good trails near
Cameron Pass, west of Ft. Collins. Or Trailer over Cameron pass
into North Park (Walden area).

[katarine]

Do you need brand inspection papers in CO?

I know nothing of riding in CO or Estes Park in particular. Best wishes finding a place and having a great time.

[Toni_L]

Thanks for the posts. We have been to this area of CO many times, just not with our horses. We are aware of the impact the altitude has on people, animals and engines and will be as prepared as possible ahead of time and also plan to give the horses time to adjust. And, no our truck isn’t a half ton -those in my opinion are not appropriate for towing much of anything even on the flat. Our Diesel will be able to do the job.

The time of year we will be going is summer, probably July but not totally certain on the date yet.

We do not care for open flat riding so hope to avoid that.

Thanks for the information thus far. Hopefully others will have more to add as far as possible destinations for riding and camping.

[Coyoteco]

I don’t think you’ll run into any probems really. If you wnat to go to Winding River, you may want to call them to see if you need reservations. I think you might need them in July.

A nice newer park in the area is Hermit Park. It was a private area but was purchased by Larimer County. I haven’t been since Larimer County took it over, but spent a lot of time there previously. It’s a very nice area and had a primitive camp ground (with bath house) and primitive cabins - along with some corrals. That might be something to do if you and your horses have a free day. You can even ride from there to Lyons - all very pretty.

If you want me to pick up any information at Rocky Mountain National Park, such as a map and their pamphlets about horses in RMNP, let me know. I can easily pick some up and put them in the mail.

I did ask around about other places fitting your description and haven’t heard back yet. Most of the paces I think about are primitive camping. I do have a file of trail, horse camping information and will go thorugh it. If I hear back or find anything, I’ll add it to this thread.

Looking at information on the Continental Divide Trail (goes through RMNP) and Colorado Trail (SW of Denver, but intersects CDT), might give you some more ideas.

I’m with you, I’d head for the high country! The plains and grasslands are beautiful, of course, but the mountains…oh, the mountains!

[Toni_L]

Coyoteco (sorry don’t know your name!),

Thanks so much for your information and offer to pick up some information for me. If you would be willing to do that, that would be GREAT!

My e-mail is tliedtke@southslope.net if you want to contact me off list on how to do that or any more information you get in the future. I know we are starting to plan really early, but it is a trip we are really excited about taking!

We will hope to make reservations for every place we possibly can to make sure we have a spot. If we need to do some primitive camping, we won’t rule that out if that’s what needs to be done. We didn’t have a living quarters trailer until a few months ago, so we are used to roughing it if needed! But we have quickly been spoiled so electric and water are preferred if it is available, if not - oh well! We will be going to ride and enjoy the beautiful area with our horses.

Toni

[Coyoteco]

It’s great that you are planning it early. I’ll get up to the park again sometime during the next few weeks and pick up the information at that time.

It may be that Winding River is almost perfect for you.