Horse Riding and Camping

Riding is a great way to connect with nature and experience the tranquility and beauty of the forest. On horseback, you can reach parts of the forest that might be inaccessible by foot or vehicle... and the horse's height adds a new perspective of surrounding nature and wildlife.

Certified weed-free forage and bedding is required on all National Forest land.  No hay is allowed in Wilderness areas.  The Colorado Department of Agriculture maintains a directory of certified weed-free forage producers.

Horseback Riding

Many forest trails are open to multiple uses, and trails may shared by hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists. 

Horses have the right of way on multiple use trails:

• Hikers yield to horses
• Bicyclists yield to horses and hikers

Horse Camping

Horses are not permitted in campgrounds and picnic areas unless specifically stated.

The White River has several equestrian campgrounds with corrals, opportunities for dispersed camping, and miles of trails for riders packing in for overnight stays. 

The Colorado Backcountry Horsemen's online handbook offers safety tips and Leave No Trace advice for camping with horses.

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Recreation Opportunities

Horseback Riding (288)

Horse Camping (18)

Showing: 11 - 20 of 293 results

Bakers Tank Trailhead #40

This trail winds through a dense forest as you climb up to Baker’s Tank. This is a popular trail for hikers and mountain bikers, so please be considerate of all trail users and yield right-of-way…

Bar H-L Road (Forest Road #211)

 Bar H-L begins at County Road 245, is 6.05 miles and is authorized for full sized street legal high clearnace vehicles; ohv, horse and foot traffic. Most of the trail is on the Blanco District.…

Basalt Area

The Basalt area includes the popular Fryingpan River Valley.

Basalt Mountain #1911

East Creek Trail, West Fork Trail and Capitol Lake. This area is popular with horseback riders, hikers, and backpackers.

Battlement #2160 (East)

This page describes the eastern half of the Battlement Trail. This portion of the trail traverses the Mamm Creek drainage, and can be accessed from the west via the Beaver Creek Trail or West Mamm…

Battlement #2160 (West)

This page describes the western half of the Battlement Trail. This portion of the trail traverses the Battlement Mesa, and can be accessed from the west via the Battlement Road or from the east via…

Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)

The Battlement Jeep Trail is 4.3 miles long and gains 2,000 feet of elevation. The route is extremely rough, rocky, and steep, and is recommended for experts only. Trail features include steep scree…

Battlement Mesa Area

The Battlement Mesa area is located south of Interstate 70 and shares its southern border with the Grand Mesa National Forest. The Battlement Mesa area can be accessed from Rifle, CO and…

Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5

The Battlement Reservoirs Trail (also known as the ) leads to the Battlement Reservoirs, which are a chain of seven man-made lakes located in a spectacular mountain setting. Beginning at the…

Battlement Trailhead

The Battlement Trailhead provides access to the Battlement Jeep Trail (Forest Road 847) and the Lava Creek Trail (#2160.5). Both trails are open to foot and horse use, and the Jeep Trail is also open…