Everyone has a dream ride. I know some people dream of galloping on the beach or fox hunting in Ireland. I've been slowly chipping away at my list of riding trips I'd like to take:
- I've done an independent riding trip from B&B to B&B along the coast of Ireland.
- I've ridden in Yosemite and Yellowstone.
- I've seen wild Mustangs on a Mustang spotting pack trip.
- I've herded cattle at a ranch in Wyoming.
- I've swum horses in the ocean and in creeks.
- I've been horse packing along the John Muir Trail.
I've been incredibly fortunate to do as many of these as I have. But there are still more trips on my riding bucket list.
Grand Canyon
I want to do a mule ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and stay at Phantom Ranch. The reservations for this trip open 13 months in advance. You can only call to make a reservation and the line is busy on the 1st day of the month. It's basically a luck of the draw for who gets answered quickly enough. Cancellations are rare. And it's insanely expensive at $500 per person for 1 night including meals and mule riding for 2 days. In the summer it's boiling hot. In the winter it's freezing cold and may be snowing. But I don't care; I really want to do it.
Machu Picchu
I'd like to ride to Machu Picchu. The famous Inca Trail is closed to horses, but there's a different trail you can ride on. It's pretty epic: 12000'+ passes, long days in the saddle, narrow trails, and steep drop offs. And I really want to get to Machu Picchu.
Iceland
I'd love to ride through Iceland on the amazing tolting Icelandic horses. The horses look like so much fun and the scenery is amazing. I'd love to see volcanoes and glaciers and swim in hot springs. The whole place sounds amazing and what better way to see it than on horseback.
I'm curious to hear from readers. What's your dream ride? Or if you've ever been on a really cool ride, what was it? Fair warning: I'll probably steal everyone's ideas and add them to my own list.
Labels: Horseback Riding Vacation
