Time+Place: Wild West Horseback Riding in Utah

Wild West Riding Adventure in Utah by Wanderlust Designer

It was a gorgeous summer afternoon in Southern Utah. The rusted reds in the sandstone cliffs reverberated against the cerulean blue skies. We got on our horses, left the stables of the resort, and slowly moseyed up the mountain side away from the mighty Colorado River. Within minutes the only sounds we could hear were the hoofs of our horses trundling up the rocky trail. With each step, it felt like we were heading back in time– straight into an old western movie.

There is nothing like the landscape of the American Southwest. The sandstone buttes jutting out from the desert landscape is an iconic scene in almost any Western flick. I can only imagine the awe of the pioneers as they journeyed West to their new homeland. The vast empty space must have been quite shocking. Although our horseback ride was only for about 3 hours, our guides lead us deep into a Castle Valley giving us a taste of this remote area. In actuality we were not too far from civilization, but in my mind we could have been days from the nearest town.

Even for a non-rider as myself, I would highly recommend taking a horseback adventure if you get to southern Utah and/or the surrounding area. Below is a photo essay of our adventure along with resources to planning your own wild west experience.