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Owens Valley Horse Drive


Itinerary for Owens Valley Horse Drive




Sample Itinerary: Spring Drive - subject to changes

Day 0 (Friday): Arrival
Arrive by 4:30pm on Friday in Rock Creek. Meeting is at the Lower Corral of the Pack Station (where the drive ends). A van will take you to camp, 10 miles northeast of Independence, the horse's winter range. We have dinner together and go over the trip itinerary.
Meals included: Dinner
Camping near Blackrock


Day 1 (Saturday): Thibaut Field to Big Pine
Breakfast at dawn and we leave the corral at 7:00am. The riders head out for the first 4 miles along the aqueduct and get used to their horses. When the horses catch up with us, we keep the horses held back as we ride east of the Owens River. There is alkaline grass meadows, tules, sage brush, camel thorn and plenty of dust. We stop for lunch at 10:30 to 11:00 am alongside of the Owens River. Those wanting to get off and head to the hot springs and camp on Baker Creek can take the afternoon off. The afternoon ride is approximately 4 hours past Tinnemaha Reservoir and up the Valley. Its tough riding in the heat over 100 degrees...its the real thing. We swim in the huge pool at Keoughs Hot Springs and camp alongside Big Pine Creek.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Big Pine Creek


Day 2 (Sunday): Zurich to Bishop
We start at dawn and spend 4 hours riding along the base of the Inyo Mountains. Spectacular views of the Palisade Glacier and the Sierra Nevada. We follow the old narrow gauge railroad and ride through the ruins of the old farms and ranches of the Owens Valley. After lunch, we cross highway 395...always one of the highlights of the trip. Those wanting to head to camp early can get off at lunch. We ride for 3 more hours in the afternoon and skirt the southside of Bishop. We celebrate the evening with fiddlin, guitar playing, and plenty of ice cream and cake.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Millpond


Day 3 (Monday): Bishop to Swall Meadows
We travel the stock drive route through Round Valley and start to climb up Old Sherwin Grade on the original wagon road. The sagebrush gives way to pinyon pine forest. We spend our last night  in Jeffrey Pine Forest alternating with meadows and Alders alongside of streams that come out of springs just above camp. We have a panoramic view of the White Mountains and you can see where we rode up through the Owens and Round Valleys.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Swall Meadows


Day 4 (Tuesday): Swall Meadows to Upper Rock Creek
We climb up Sand Canyon and follow the original wagon road into Rock Creek Lake. In less than two hours, we are at 9-10,000 ft riding through high mountain meadows with the snow covered peaks surrounding us. After a leisurely lunch, we ride to the East Fork of Rock Creek and take the trail down to the Lower Corral. Expect to be at your cars by 3:00pm. We host a celebration banquet at 6:00pm in Bishop. Some people leave that afternoon before the banquet. If you stay (we recommend you do!) you should book a room in Bishop for that night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner



Sample Itinerary: Fall Drive - subject to changes

Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival & Ride to Wells Meadow
Arrive by 6:30am in Bishop in the parking lot North of the City Hall and Fire Station. Entrance to the parking lot is directly across from the Wash Tub coin-op laundry at 237 North Warren Street. We then take you to Rock Creek for breakfast and leave from Lower Corral at around 9:00am. Leave Lower Corral at the pack station (9,000ft) and then climb to the old wagon trail and then descend to Round Valley. There is approximately a 4,000 ft elevation drop as we come down the Sand Canyon and hit the old stock trail.  We camp at the base of Wheeler Ridge. We get into camp at about 4:30pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Wells Meadow


Day 2 (Sunday): Wells Meadow to Keough’s Hot Springs
We skirt Round Valley and Bishop.  Some of the roads are paved and the majority dirt roads beneath the power lines. We leave at 8:00am and have lunch on Bishop Creek at noon and then take another 2 hours to the corrals at Warm Springs. We van guests to stay at Keough’s Hot Springs. This is an easier day. In September--temperatures are often in the 90’s in the afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Keough’s Hot Springs


Day 3 (Monday): Warm Springs to Aberdeen Station
We leave the corrals and ride for an hour down Warm Springs Road and cross the Owen’s River. Another 4 hours of riding on the eastside of Owen’s River takes us through salt grass meadows and the alkaline sage flats of the Owen’s Valley. Lunch at Zurich. Another four hours in the afternoon brings us to our third night’s camp. We encourage guests that are tired to get off at lunch, and we take them to Taboose Creek.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Taboose Creek


Day 4 (Tuesday):  Aberdeen Station to the Thibaut Field
It is about 4-4.5 hour ride along the Owen’s River and aqueduct to the pasture where the stock are left for the winter. After lunch, we transport the guests back to Bishop to their cars. We host a celebration banquet at 6:00pm in Bishop. Some people leave that afternoon before the banquet. If you stay (we recommend you do!) you should book a room in Bishop for that night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


Note: This tour is operating under permit with the USDA Forest Service through Special Use Permit on the Inyo National Forest.



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Owens Valley Horse Drive
Tour Code: HDCA01
4 days / 4 nights
Dates : June & Sept

Trip Rating :
Difficulty : Riding Level
Riding Level Explained
ABeginner
Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter.
BNovice
Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting trots, and short canters.
CIntermediate
Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces (including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly.
D Strong Intermediate
Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day.
EAdvanced
All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country.
Lodging: Basic
Lodging Level Explained
   
= Facilities in lodges, estancias, haciendas, resorts, etc.
   
Basic lodging - some with shared bathroom facilities, usually no AC or room service.
Regular standard room - usually with private bath.
 Accommodations with superior comforts.
   
 = Trips with nights in tent camps. Sometimes the first and last night are in hotels.
   
Basic tent camping - everyone helps out with camp chores.
Regular standard with some camp amenities and camp cook.
Camping facilities with superior comforts like camp shower, bathroom facility..
   
 = Trips that combine nights in hotels and camping.
   
Basic accommodation and basic camping facilities can be expected.
Regular standard with some nicer amenities.
Only assigned to hotel and camping facilities with superior comforts.

Online Reservation

Check here for details and availability
Season Tour Dates  Min / MaxReserve
A 2024 06/14 - 06/18 4d / 4n 4 day spring horse drive 4 /25 Reserve
B 2024 09/14 - 09/17 4d / 3n 4 day fall horse drive 4 /25 Reserve
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accommodation
Tack: Western
Horses: Mostly quarterhorse mix
Pace: Walk, trot, canter
Walk, Trot, Canter,
Airport: Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)
Location on Google Map
Image Gallery
Image Slide Show
Customer Trip Rating
Climate
What To Bring
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