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Looking out between a horse's ears over the East Beaver Valley

East Beaver Valley · Backcountry rides

Colorado horseback riding on real ranch horses.

Half-day rides on the East Beaver trail network. The wranglers pair you with a horse they know. Beginners welcome through experienced riders.

Talk to usCall to book
14 mi
Trail network
Age 7+
On the trail
No exp
Required
$220
Half-day / rider

The Elk Glade trail network covers about fourteen miles across the lower bench, the south meadow, the upper aspen, and the East Beaver Creek crossings. Rides are half-days: up through the upper aspen loop, with lunch on the bench and Pikes Peak holding the western horizon.

The horses are ranch horses — a mix of working quarter horses and a few easy-riding favorites we keep for first-timers. Every horse is paired to a rider during orientation; nobody rides a horse that doesn’t fit them. The pace is walk and easy trot on most rides. Faster pace available on request for experienced riders. We don’t push the horses or the guests.

The wranglers are knowledgeable, patient, and good company. They’ll show you how to read a track, name the wildflowers, and tell you the history of the ranch if you ask. Several have been on this ground for the better part of a decade.

Duration

Half-day rides. We’ll pick the country.

  • Half-day ride

    Upper aspen loop. Lunch on the bench.

    $220

Prices per rider. Groups of 6+ get a 10% reduction; family packages quoted on request.

Riders on a rocky ridge above the forested East Beaver Valley

What you’ll see

A morning on the East Beaver.

First light from the barn. Cool air, dew on the meadow, the sound of horses shifting. Orientation runs about twenty minutes — basics on rein, stop, turn, where to look on the trail.

Out the gate, the trail drops through the lower meadow toward the creek. Walk pace. The wranglers point out the things you’d miss on foot — the bear rub on the ponderosa, the elk track that ran through here at dawn, the spot where a mountain lion took a deer last winter.

By the time you turn back, the sun is on the south face of Pikes Peak and the aspen are catching it.

Frequently asked.

Can kids come along?

Yes — riders 7 and older are welcome on the trail. We pair younger riders with calm horses our wranglers know, and we keep the pace conservative on family rides. Under 7 can lead-line in the barn lot, no extra charge.

What will I see on a ride?

Mule deer on most rides; elk on the upper meadows in fall; hawks and golden eagles overhead; wildflowers in summer, aspen turning in early fall, and the south face of Pikes Peak holding the western horizon. The route varies by season — wranglers pick based on conditions.

Is this safe for first-time riders?

Yes. The wranglers brief you, pair you with a horse, walk you through mounting, and ride at the pace of the group. The trails are well-established and the horses know them by heart. We average roughly half first-timers on each ride.

Can I bring my own horse?

No — we run on ranch horses the wranglers know. It's a safety and pace decision. Visiting horses don't know the country or the rest of the string.

What about weather?

Light rain we ride through. Lightning or a real storm we hold or shift the timing. Mountain weather in summer can change fast — we make the call at the barn.

Plan a ride

Send a note with your dates and party size.

Most rides book a week or two ahead. Holiday weeks (July 4, Labor Day) fill faster. We’ll match your party to the right horses.

Send a noteCall (303) 355-4868

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