Western US riding vacation. Your reviews/suggestions welcome!

[Lusoluv]

Hi all,
Looking for feedback if you’ve taken a trip with Bear Basin Adventure outfitter near Dubois, WY or others? Trying to plan a riding vacation with DH. We’ve ridden at the Bitterroot Ranch in Dubois in the 90s. I could ride with the fast group and he could take it a little slower. We did several excellent endurance/camp trips with another outfitter in WY since then, but they’ve retired. We felt we couldn’t find something as cool, but have the bug again.

I prefer the camp-type trip vs. a big ranch vacation as we don’t want to housed with lots of guests or golf. We love to get away to semi-solitude. Might try a working ranch if it catered to smaller guest numbers. We loved the 2 places we’ve used before because it wasn’t nose-to-tail riding. My DH loves looking at the scenery, but I’d like some chances to canter and move along if I want.

We’re staying in the US, so any ideas or personal experiences are welcome!

[stb]

Rainbow Trout Ranch in Antonito, Colorado. Beautiful mountain rides and definitely not nose to tail if you are a competent rider. They have nice horses and are very good about grouping rides according to riding ability.

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

I’ve taken 2 trips with Hondoo River and Trails in south-central Utah, both camping/riding trips in Capitol Reef National Park (classic Southwest painted-rock type scenery). We had a mix of riders from beginner to advanced, and they made sure we each had a horse suited to our abilities. They were very knowledgeable and good company too! Highly recommend.

http://www.hondoo.com/

[lawndart]

[QUOTE=Lusoluv;7456479]
Hi all,
Looking for feedback if you’ve taken a trip with Bear Basin Adventure outfitter near Dubois, WY or others? Trying to plan a riding vacation with DH. We’ve ridden at the Bitterroot Ranch in Dubois in the 90s. I could ride with the fast group and he could take it a little slower. We did several excellent endurance/camp trips with another outfitter in WY since then, but they’ve retired. We felt we couldn’t find something as cool, but have the bug again.

I prefer the camp-type trip vs. a big ranch vacation as we don’t want to housed with lots of guests or golf. We love to get away to semi-solitude. Might try a working ranch if it catered to smaller guest numbers. We loved the 2 places we’ve used before because it wasn’t nose-to-tail riding. My DH loves looking at the scenery, but I’d like some chances to canter and move along if I want.

We’re staying in the US, so any ideas or personal experiences are welcome![/QUOTE]

I rode with Bear Basin in 2010. Had a wonderful time despite getting altitude sickness. We rode from a base camp, which is about 8000 feet, up to 12,000 feet. Truly wild territory, which I love. Horses were wonderful, food great, and the hosts were very nice and knowledgeable. I just got their brochure and I am so tempted by one of the rides they have added since I was there last, the Dunoir Valley Pack Trip. They have also added an adventure trip, which includes fishing, swimming, hikes, rock climbing, but that does not interest me, but might be something your DH would enjoy.

[Manni01]

my recommendation I have been there many many years ago, but it seems to be still the same way… We sure loved it… And the scenery was amazing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLK0C025KHI

[pfqh]

I’ve been here a number of times. They take you out to see wild mustangs - where else can you get to do that? Largest herd I’ve seen with them was over 150 head. Nothing like seeing a black stallion size you up to keep you away from his mares! http://www.blueskysage.com/

[Lusoluv]

Lawndart,

Thanks for your feedback. I just got off the phone with Sarah of Bear Basin and it sounds like I’m really leaning towards their outfit. I know there are tons of Dude Ranch vacations, but while hubby and I are still young (ahem!) enough to camp, we love to do that. In a few years our bones will be too creaky to tolerate even the comfy base camp that BBA provides, so that is a big draw. I was a little worried that the terrain and/or guides would insist on nose-to-tail riding, but Sarah mentions that when the trail and footing allows, we can trot or canter now and again. I put training rides on 1-3 horses per day, so I don’t need to rip-roar around, but also don’t want to be told that I can not trot or move my horse a few times in the course of a week
Who knows, if you decide to book a trip with them this summer, we might meet up! Thanks again!!

[Lusoluv]

BlueSkySage also sounds great! We did several rides with Western Encounters in the late 90s-mid-2000s where I’d ride 35-45 miles/day and hubby had the option to take a shorter & slower route back to camp. Now that he’s in his mid-50s and doesn’t ride regularly that might be tougher on him. But I love learning about the places you riders like…keep 'em in my notebook in case I decide to do a “fling” on my own someday

[lawndart]

[QUOTE=Lusoluv;7458099]
Lawndart,

Thanks for your feedback. I just got off the phone with Sarah of Bear Basin and it sounds like I’m really leaning towards their outfit. I know there are tons of Dude Ranch vacations, but while hubby and I are still young (ahem!) enough to camp, we love to do that. In a few years our bones will be too creaky to tolerate even the comfy base camp that BBA provides, so that is a big draw. I was a little worried that the terrain and/or guides would insist on nose-to-tail riding, but Sarah mentions that when the trail and footing allows, we can trot or canter now and again. I put training rides on 1-3 horses per day, so I don’t need to rip-roar around, but also don’t want to be told that I can not trot or move my horse a few times in the course of a week
Who knows, if you decide to book a trip with them this summer, we might meet up! Thanks again!![/QUOTE]

Sarah and Heath are great. I just wanted to tell you that out of our group of 6 women, I, at 50 years old was the youngest. The oldest had just turned 70. The camp is quite comfy, you get foam mattresses on wooden cots, there are small stoves in each tent (it gets pretty cold at night, I was there in July) and Heath will even rig up a quick shower for you upon request. No nose to tail, at least on the ride I was on. Ask for BK or her daughter KB, they are both boss mares and love to take charge. I rode BK and I was totally comfortable letting her make the decisions in the hairy spots :lol:

If you get there, and I don’t, tell Sarah and Heath 'Hi from the Pink Bra Ladies", they will remember us, no doubt :winkgrin:

[Lusoluv]

Lawndart,

Thank you for letting me see your vacation photos. I love the fact that the number of guests on their trips are rather small. I’m really eager to book a trip now! I’ve been to Dubois, Lander and Jackson Hole in the past and can’t get enough of that part of the country! In my chat with Sarah, I learned that she worked for a few years at the Bitterroot Ranch in Dubois, which was my first ride vacation back in '94. Can’t believe that was 20 years ago - yikes! Thank you for confirming that booking with them will be a safe bet on a great vacation!

[Heart_s_Journey]

The Dunoir wilderness is fabulous! I did a ride up there with The Great Divide and 7 others with them - Oregon Trail, Pony Express, Outlaw Trail and Cattle Drives.

The first ride I did with them, Skip and Vivian were the guides, and then they started Western Encounters.

The Dunoir is lovely - we rode up to 12,000 feet, lots of dificult climbing which I love, waterfalls, wildflowers, elk, deer, beaver, moose, etc all over the place.

You will love it

[Lusoluv]

Heart’s Journey: We did 14 rides with Skip -including the last ride the last season they were open. He let riders do things they (and most other outfitters) would never do. We have tons of great memories…

Can’t wait to make some more

[lawndart]

I am glad you enjoyed the photos, but I am removing the link since I don’t want them out there forever.

So far, BBA has been the best ride we have been on. Anyone familiar with banddoutfitters? http://www.banddoutfitters.com