Horseback Riding in Red Rock Canyon

experience

Duration
1 to 2 hours in the saddle depending on the ride; the Sunset ride adds a barbecue dinner
Price
from $89 per rider for the 1-hour Coyote Canyon Ride, no transport included (Cowboy Trail Rides)
Departs from
Cowboy Trail Rides' camp in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 20 minutes from the Strip; round-trip shuttle included on the Canyon Rim and Sunset rides
Age policy
Age 7 and up on all four Cowboy Trail Rides rides

About

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, 17 miles west of the Strip. BLM lists horseback riding among its main activities, alongside hiking, climbing, biking and the 13-mile scenic drive past red and cream sandstone cliffs.

Guided rides here are run by Cowboy Trail Rides, a family-owned company that has offered horseback and wagon rides since 1996 from a camp inside the conservation area. It sells four set rides, all for riders aged 7 and up.

The routes wind through Joshua trees, yucca and cactus and cross dry washes and narrow gorges. They look out to the Spring Mountains and the Red Rock escarpment. Wild burros are often seen along the trails.

What to expect

The Canyon Rim and Sunset rides include a round-trip shuttle, or you can drive to camp. The shorter Coyote Canyon and Red Springs rides include no transport. Each rider is matched to a horse the company calls well trained and gentle, and a wrangler leads the group at walking pace.

The 1-hour Coyote Canyon Ride circles Overlook Mountain and looks down into the Las Vegas Valley. Red Springs drops through a narrow gorge. The 2-hour Canyon Rim Ride climbs onto Fossil Ridge in the morning light. The Sunset ride follows the canyon floor, then ends in camp with a grilled dinner, a campfire and s'mores.

Who runs it

Several companies run this tour from Las Vegas. These are the published terms on each company's own site; we don't rank them or earn anything from them.

  • Cowboy Trail Rides$89 (Coyote Canyon, 1 hour); $109 (Red Springs, 1.5 hours); $149 (Canyon Rim, 2 hours); $199 (Sunset Trail Ride and Western BBQ, 1.5-hour ride) 路 1 to 2 hours of riding 路 Guided ride on a trained horse; round-trip shuttle on Canyon Rim and Sunset rides only; barbecue dinner on the Sunset ride

Good to know

  • All four rides are for ages 7 and up. No weight limit is published; ask the office.
  • Departure times shift with the season. The Canyon Rim Ride leaves at 7 or 8 a.m. in summer and 9 a.m. in cooler months. Red Springs leaves at 11 a.m. from June to mid-September and 12 p.m. from September to May.
  • Only the Canyon Rim and Sunset rides include a shuttle. For the other two, you need your own way to camp. BLM notes that public transit does not reach Red Rock Canyon.
  • For next-day rides, call the office at (702) 387-2457 to check availability. The office is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • If you also plan to drive the 13-mile Scenic Drive, BLM requires a timed-entry reservation on Recreation.gov for entry between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from October 1 to May 31.

Questions about Horseback Riding in Red Rock Canyon

How much does horseback riding at Red Rock Canyon cost?

Cowboy Trail Rides lists four rides. The Coyote Canyon Ride is $89 for 1 hour and Red Springs is $109 for 1.5 hours; neither includes transport. The 2-hour Canyon Rim Ride is $149 and the Sunset Trail Ride and Western BBQ is $199; both include a round-trip shuttle. Prices are per rider as shown on the company's booking pages.

Do I need riding experience?

No. Cowboy Trail Rides says its horses are well trained and gentle, and describes the 1-hour Coyote Canyon Ride as a good introduction to back-country riding. The Red Springs Ride is a bit more challenging than Coyote Canyon but, the company says, still suits first-time riders. A wrangler leads every group.

How old do kids have to be to ride at Red Rock Canyon?

All four Cowboy Trail Rides rides list a minimum age of 7. The company does not publish a weight or height limit online, so call (702) 387-2457 if that could affect anyone in your group. The Sunset ride runs into the evening, so factor in the later finish when planning with children.

What is included in the sunset ride and barbecue?

The Sunset Trail Ride and Western BBQ is a 1.5-hour ride through a canyon narrows and across a mesa, followed by dinner in camp. The listing names steak with salad, Dutch oven potatoes, baked beans, corn on the cob and drinks, then marshmallows and s'mores at a campfire. Chicken, salmon and a vegetarian burger are listed as options, and a round-trip shuttle is included.

Do I need a Red Rock Canyon timed-entry reservation for a horseback ride?

BLM requires a timed-entry reservation for the 13-mile Scenic Drive and visitor center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from October 1 to May 31, bought on Recreation.gov. The trail ride is booked with Cowboy Trail Rides, which runs its rides from its own camp. Ask the company whether you need a separate reservation to reach the camp.

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