Posted 2010-01-20 9:03 AM (#115494) Subject: Riding Out West
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Posts: 161
Location: S. Central Illinois
Am thinking about a trip west. Either Colorado or South Dakota. Need a campground with comforts. Not all that are coming actually ride so they want something they can do as well. Friends have ridden near Estes Park in Colorado and loved it but was thinking about something a little different this time. Don't want to go all the way out there and be disappointed! Anyone have other suggestions?
Posted 2010-01-20 11:02 AM (#115502 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 231
Location: Illinois
check out http://www.triplejranch.com/ it is in Montana, it has cabins, and riding and fishing, and lake tours, and nature hilkes, a hot tub...alot of activities other than riding.. oh, and they supply the horses, not a place you can actually haul in to...located near the Bob Marshall Wilderness..you can also leave the non riders at the ranch and take a 2-3 day pack trip into the wildnerness and explore the "wilder side of life"
Posted 2010-01-21 4:23 PM (#115560 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 99
Location: Pleasant Plain, Ohio 45162
Check horseandmuletrails.com and go to campgrounds. Under the state of South Dakota there are a lot of good reviews about Broken Arrow Horse Camp. Don't think you can go wrong camping there. Good Luck
Posted 2010-01-22 6:48 AM (#115574 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 6
We spent a week at Broken Arrow last summer. It is a very nice campground and very clean. Another nice feature is that it is only minutes from the town of Custer. There are many tourist type attractions in the area for non-riders in the group.
The horse pens are not real close to the campground, they sit on top of the hill and you have to use wheelbarrows to transport your hay, feed and tack to the horses. You can not bring the horses to your trailer to tack. The trails are great, but, not real well marked on their maps. Maybe, the maps are better this year.
Posted 2010-01-24 1:29 PM (#115654 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 186
I stayed at Iron Creek camp last summer in Custer national park. Small but nice camp. You have to make reservations, Hearney Peak tail is well marked but not for inexpierenced riders. Don't make my mistake and turn the wrong way and end up the the Needels Highway with a big gooseneck, we hardly fit thru the tunnels and there is NO place to turn around.
Posted 2010-01-25 1:47 PM (#115685 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 214
Location: lyle,mn
We are going to Broken Arrow this summer in July. We have heard a lot of nice things about the place. I wanted some nice comforts for myself and horses. A nice shower house, water, electr, and sewer hook ups at each site. For the horses I wanted corrals with water near by. Plus there are attractions near by that if run into bad weather we could go do something. Mammoth Springs for example see the dig going on.
Posted 2010-01-26 6:49 AM (#115710 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania
We stayed at Broken Arrow last summer. Ditto to what has already been stated about Broken Arrow. They do supply the wheel barrows....one color for tack and another for manure. The horse stalls are covered, which I liked. We would definitely stay there again.
Tenderfoot outfitters are located in Gunnison, Colorado. Town of Gunnison is like stepping back in time. Still unspoiled by the usual tourist type shops that have taken over the once rustic Jackson Hole. The drive from Denver to Gunnison is beautiful. I did a day trip with Tenderfoot to their summer camp site, which is very scenic. Tenderfoot Outfitters is on the web, and reasonably priced.
Posted 2010-03-03 12:35 PM (#117211 - in reply to #115685) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 69
Location: missouri
Originally written by dawnb on 2010-01-25 1:47 PM
We are going to Broken Arrow this summer in July. We have heard a lot of nice things about the place. I wanted some nice comforts for myself and horses. A nice shower house, water, electr, and sewer hook ups at each site. For the horses I wanted corrals with water near by. Plus there are attractions near by that if run into bad weather we could go do something. Mammoth Springs for example see the dig going on.
When are you guys going to be at Broken Arrow? We are going July 4-11. WOuld be neat to meet you.
Posted 2010-03-03 4:33 PM (#117221 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 161
Location: S. Central Illinois
Not going until 2nd week of August. Have to schedule around kids athletic schedules! Would have been great to meet, though. Be sure to post after the trip for any tips or trails that will be fresh in your mind. First big haul, don't usually go more than 3-4 hours away from home.
Posted 2010-03-04 12:36 PM (#117246 - in reply to #117221) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 376
Location: Missouri
Mid August is huckleberry season, and guess what is the bear's favorite food? Yep, huckleberries. Be a good idea to check out the trails you plan to ride in advance. If they go thru huckleberry patches, you'll encounter a host of those big, furry, four legged, critters.
We rode the Tetons in Mid August, never again. We encountered numerous bear everyday in the huckleberry patches.
Posted 2010-03-04 1:51 PM (#117249 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Bob,
I don't think they will run into many Grizzly's in South Dakota. I could be wrong since I've not ridden in that country.
In the general area around Yellowstone park, Absolutely something to be aware of. Although the only Grizzlys I've seen outside of Alaska, Have been right inside of Yellowstone Park. People keep telling us that grizzly's have been spotted in some of the areas we ride outside the park, i.e. Wind Rivers, Tetons. Kinda of a you should have been here yesterday. You could have seen. But we have never been lucky enough to see one outside the park.
Now I am seeing more Wolves. They have spread out and we see them more frequently than we ever did in years past.
Posted 2010-03-04 2:17 PM (#117250 - in reply to #117211) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 214
Location: lyle,mn
We are going to be there 7/1 thru the 7/7. We will have to get together. I haven't been on the computer too much lately. We got a new puppy and I'm spending way to much time with her.
Posted 2010-03-05 8:15 AM (#117263 - in reply to #117249) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania
Wolves seem to be a growing problem. We have a rancher friend in New Mexico that has seen calf and foal kills. The ranchers can be reimbursed if they can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a wolf was the culprit. Very difficult undertaking, especially for short handed, hard pressed ranchers. Rancher friend in Idaho has had 13 calf kills to date that are wolf related. He did not carry fire arms, but after the lastest wolf encounter he now packs a side arm. He shouted, made all kinds of noises on horse back during an inspection of the herd, but the wolves kept coming closer. Another cowboy heard his shouts, and the 2 of them were able to get the wolves to back off. He was amazed at how bold they are becoming.
Posted 2010-04-27 6:30 AM (#119407 - in reply to #119394) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania
We rode Fort Rob last summer. WOW! You are right about the history, and the trails are nice. The horse accomodations ("mare barn") provided huge stalls. If I can figure it out, I will post pics.
Also, the McGarry Ranch (check out website) is a working ranch near Rexburg, Idaho. You are allowed to bring your own horses, and they only take 8 guests per week. Wonderful folks. Snake River runs right thru ranch...beautiful country.
Posted 2010-07-09 9:07 AM (#122090 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 161
Location: S. Central Illinois
Getting ready for our trip and looking for an overnight stop. We would like to stop somewhere between Omaha and Sioux Falls on 29--about halfway for us. We have found a place called Aunt Reba's that looks pretty nice but puts us closer to driving 700 miles in one day--anyone else have other suggestions. We are traveling with 4 trailers amounting to 15 horses. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.
Posted 2010-07-09 3:23 PM (#122130 - in reply to #115494) Subject: RE: Riding Out West
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Posts: 161
Location: S. Central Illinois
We will actually be out there the tail end of July and first week of August. Going to try to do the touristy stuff when we first get there to avoid the Sturgis crowds. This was the only week we could get coordinated with all of us.