Horseback Riding in Idaho

Discover the ideal place to ride horseback in the Rocky Mountain West – Idaho is the place to go. The state has 10 national forests and tens of thousands of miles of trails, large wilderness areas with river-bottom trails and trails leading to high-mountain lakes, many dude ranches with guided trail rides, and the big wide open countryside of the Owyhee Canyonlands, where wild horses still roam.

One thing you can be sure of is that you’ll have plenty of elbow room in the Idaho backcountry and you’ll see endless beauty – vast open spaces that go for miles.

Folks who have their own horses and are looking for scenic and fun places to ride should consider the Sawtooth Wilderness, the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness or the Gospel Hump Wilderness. All of these areas have popular trails that lead to high mountain lakes, high mountain passes and outstanding scenic views in all directions. Trails in wilderness areas tend to be well-maintained and well-signed.

Beyond the wilderness, every national forest in Idaho has hundreds of miles of multi-use trails that are open to horseback riding use. Be sure to bring your camping equipment and take your time to enjoy the trip. See national forest links below to evaluate where you’d like to go.

Dude ranches are most popular with people who would like to go on a horseback ride, but don’t have their own equipment. Idaho has many dude ranches to choose from. Many of them offer guided horseback rides. A few working ranches in Idaho also offer a more hands-on experience to participate in a cattle drive. See the Idaho Outfitters and Guides web site to search for a trail ride at a guest ranch or working ranch.

Some of Idaho’s State Parks also have great trails for horseback riding, including Harriman State Park, Priest Lake State Park, City of Rocks Reserve, and Farragut State Park.

If you really want to get away from it all, and you have your stock, head out into the Owyhee Canyonlands. The Bureau of Land Management has maps of roads and trails in the Owyhees at Boise-area offices.

National Forest Information

Boise National Forest
Payette National Forest
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Nez Perce National Forest 
Panhandle National Forests 

Photos:
Myers of Salmon in the White Cloud Mountains in Central Idaho, by Jerry Myers.