Colorado Horseback Riding

Folks from all over the world travel to Colorado in order to experience the raw beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Many choose to explore the area on horseback where one can experience high country vistas, vibrant mountain streams and local wildlife including moose, deer, elk and coyote. Vacations Inc recommends Sombrero Ranches, Inc. – Northern Colorado’s largest horse outfitters, with horses for all of your needs.

Today, the Sombrero, Inc. operation, offers visitors the opportunity to experience riding – as early settlers did – in the natural beauty of the Colorado Rockies. You won’t find any souvenir shops or commercialism at the Sombrero Stables locations. Sombrero has been very careful to preserve the land in order to share the dramatic beauty with their guests. An artist’s brush couldn’t have painted a more spectacular landscape. Come ride the Rockies with Sombrero and Hi-Country, Inc. and see for yourself.

Sombrero has 3 great locations in Grand County.

Grand Lake
Sombrero’s Grand Lake Stables are located on the western edge of Grand Lake Village, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. On offer is a variety of riding options from two hour rides to all day rides. Terrain varies on all rides: flower-laden meadows, mountain streams, dramatic high trails high into the skies.

Choose from 2-hour rides, half and full-day rides, breakfast rides and steak-fry rides, or their 10-hour historic Continental Divide ride which gives you the opportunity to see some of the Rocky Mountain’s most beautiful country, and view its raw, unchanged splendor just as it was when the first settlers came to Grand Lake. Call (970)627-3514.

For full details on Sombrero Stables, visit their website.

Snow Mountain Ranch
Snow Mountain Ranch is located between Winter Park and Granby Colorado. Ride on the 5,200-acre ranch surrounded by snow-capped mountains. They are open year round and have lots of choices for fun activities in all seasons. Let their wranglers guide you across trails that take you by beaver ponds, mountain streams and through lush forests of pine trees and mountain flowers.

1-hour, 2-hour, and 4-hour rides are available, as well as breakfast rides, featuring cowboy coffee, hot cakes, sausage and eggs, and steak dinner rides. Fancy a wagon ride, or watermelon wagon ride for a group outing? They’re available too, again with breakfast or steak dinner options. Call (970)887-1999.

Winter Park
At Beaver Village in Winter Park, Sombrero now offers one hour and two hour trail rides. The one-hour ride is by far the most popular ride. Just the right amount of time in the saddle to enjoy a scenic trail ride in the Colorado mountains. Their wranglers will lead you on private trails through the forest, across the Fraser River and into open meadows along the river. An enjoyable ride for all abilities. The minimum age is 8 yrs old and no “double riding” is allowed.

The two-hour ride is for those who like to spend more time in the saddle. This ride starts out along the same scenic trails as our “one hour ride” but, then goes up higher into the forest before winding back down along the river. Not recommended for the “first timers” or younger children. Call (970)722-0100.

What to Wear
While long pants and boots are the normal attire, shorts and tennis shoes will work on the one hour ride. A light jacket or sweat shirt is a good idea to bring along in the afternoon. You can tie extra clothing onto the saddle.