The Gunnison Country Guide Service offers you a variety of horseback riding and horse packing vacation options. You can choose pack trip packages from a single overnighter up to as many days as you desire. We will design these trips to meet your interests, whether they are fishing, wildlife, photography, sightseeing, covering miles on horseback, or just plain relaxing away from the crowds. You can choose from fully outfitted, full service trips or drop camp trips where you provide your own food and gear and are left in the back country for a predetermined amount of time. Hiking with pack stock is also available.

You do not have to be an experienced horseman to enjoy these rides. Over the years we have taken hundreds of people on their first horseback ride. We have also put the most experienced of riders on a horse they were absolutely pleased to ride. Your comfort and safety is always considered. An effort will be made to adjust the length of your ride to your ability with regular rest stops to stretch legs and to enjoy other activities. These are pleasure rides. But, make no mistake about it. You will be treated to a genuine wilderness experience on our pack trips. And, if you are the type to want long, challenging, all day rides, we’d also be pleased to accommodate you with that type of riding. You will ride a better horse. Our horses and mules are strong, powerful, experienced mounts accustomed to mountain trails. You will find them to be well trained, well conditioned, people friendly and gentle. Your guides are courteous and helpful. They are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and a lot of fun. You will be treated the way we’d like to be treated. We are proud of the many friends we have made from our customers.

#1. WRANGLERS CHOICE PACK TRIP – This full service pack trip is an enjoyable way to extend your stay into the wilderness. You will travel by horseback carrying all of the necessary supplies, food, and camp gear on pack animals. From your campsite you have the opportunity to fish, hike, take photos, ride and explore. Each day’s ride will take you to some extremely scenic and interesting destinations. Guides/wranglers and cook remain with you throughout your trip. All camping equipment is provided and great tasting family style meals are prepared for you. You’ll need only your own sleeping bag and personal gear. (Adjustment in menu can be arranged for guests with special dietary needs. Sleeping bags can be rented.) These 3 to 5 day trips can be arranged throughout the summer season from our favorite trailheads in the beautiful Gunnison Country. You may be joining other riders and mixing parties to form our group on an itinerary prearranged by yo ur guides. Join our group of adventurers as we ride the pristine high country. (Group size is limited to 8 guests maximum.)

#2. CUSTOM PACK TRIP - This is the same full service pack trip as described for the Wranglers Choice Trip, but provided exclusively for your party. Together we will design a trip to meet your needs, interests and physical ability. We can provide a trip for almost any number of people (2 minimum) and for any number of days (2 minimum). Contact us early to obtain the dates desired.

Price per Person per Day: 2 People = $225.00, 3 - 5 People = $215.00,
6 or more - Use Wranglers Choice Rates

#3. SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES PACK TRIP: May and early June is springtime in the high country of Colorado. The countryside is greening up and the snow is melting and ebbing back up toward timberline. But the high passes are still clogged with snow and impassable. The herds of mule deer and elk are working their way up with the snow, but are still unable to reach their larger and more distant summer ranges. This is birthing time for the deer fawns and elk calves. It is a great time for wildlife viewing and a beautiful time to be riding. We set up a camp packed in a few miles by horseback. We use wall tents with wood burning stoves inside for heat along with cots and foam pads to insure your comfort. Meals are prepared inside a heated cook and dining tent. There is a small stream and a series of beautiful, good sized, beaver ponds with eager brook trout that runs right next to camp. We take daily rides from camp to look for wildlife, play in the snow if desired, and to look for shed antlers that the deer and elk have dropped over the winter. This is the start of the summer season and there are few people in the back country, the horses are fresh and responsive, the wrangler/guides are rested and eager to show you a good time, and the price is right.

SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES PACK TRIP PRICES: 3 DAY/2 NIGHT = $550.00 PER PERSON, 4 DAY/3 NIGHT = $695.00 PER PERSON, 5 DAY/4 NIGHT = $795.00 PER PERSON

#4. FALL COLOR RIDES BASE CAMP: September and early October is a beautiful time in the Gunnison Country. The days are often sunny, cool and crisp, the colors are changing as the aspen leaves turn to gold, and the elk can often be heard bugling as they go into their mating season. It is the favorite time of year for many who live in and visit the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Our Fall base camp is located at the end of a rough jeep road at the edge of the Fossil Ridge Wilderness. This is a very comfortable, heavy duty tent camp with wood floors, cots and wood burning stoves for heat, and an impressive kitchen and dining tent. We initially drive (4wd) into this camp. Then ride daily on horseback into the beautiful wilderness and back country surrounding this campsite. You can ride to fishing spots and hunt for shed antlers from this camp. Overnights into the wilderness on a custom trip may also be arranged and combined with this camp.

#5. WALKING WRANGLER PACK TRIP - For back country hikers who do not wish to ride horseback, but who want the luxury of a guided trip supported by pack stock, this trip is for you. This is a custom pack trip without the riding horses. You will enjoy your hike by taking the load off of your back and putting it on ours.
Price per Person per Day: 2 People = $150.00, 3 - 5 People = $135.00, 6 or more People = $120.00

#6. REGULAR DROP CAMP - On a drop camp trip you and your gear and food are packed in on horseback. You are left in your camp for a predetermined stay, and at the end of that stay, we will return to pack you back out. You provide your own equipment and food or make arrangements for us to provide it for you. The drop camp fee includes the trip in and out, and you may stay as many days as you wish at no extra charge. These trips are often popular with fishermen.
Price: $295.00 per Person plus $200.00 per Pack Horse

#7. ONE WAY DROP CAMP - You can plan your trip so that you are packed in on horseback, but hike out with backpacks at the end of your stay. Often much of the trip out is downhill and your packs are lighter. Price: $160.00 per Person plus $100.00 per Pack Horse

#8. HIKING DROP CAMP - Hike and camp in the wilderness without the heavy backpack. We will pack your gear and food in and out for you. Or, pack in one way can be arranged.
Price: $400.00 Wrangler Fee (one time charge per group) plus $200.00 per Pack Horse.

#9. DAILY TRAIL RIDES - Perhaps you wish to stay in one of the fine resorts, motels, cabins or developed campgrounds in the Gunnison Country and plan daily activities from there. We can provide you with a top quality back- country trail ride for a full day or half day. You may depart from a variety of scenic and challenging trailheads on the Gunnison National Forest. If you wish to spend part of your full day trip trout fishing, we can ride to some productive high mountain lakes, streams and beaver ponds. We do not ride from a stable, but trailer to a trailhead. This is a better ride than you can expect from most stables. All rides must be arranged by reservation. Contact us well in advance.
Price: Half Day = $90.00 per Person, Full Day = $160.00 per Person (Includes Sack Lunch)
 

Fishing If you are interested in trout fishing, it is available on almost all of our trips from full day rides to extended pack trips. If fishing is the primary activity you are interested in, we can plan your rides so that you can fish a variety of waters.

Click on links below to view Gallery

Call, Write, or Email for more complete information:
John Nelson, The Gunnison Country Guide Service, P.O. Box 1443, Gunnison, Colorado 81230
Email: packtrip@gunnison.com, 970-641-2830 or Cell # 970-209-7104