Horseback Riding | Guest Ranches
Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast Region, British Columbia, Canada

Horseback Riding: The Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast is a region of grasslands, plateaus, mountains, forests, lakes and river valleys. Connecting it all together are the wilderness trails and gravel roads created in the backcountry of many of the communities. These back country routes provide access to the many day use and long haul horse trails located in region.

Locals enjoy horseback riding in the region. The rodeo grounds, the horses grazing in open fields, the cowboy hats, the horseback riding trails, the big farm fields and the many ranches says so. Some horseback ride for recreational enjoyment while others ride because it is a part of life. Life meaning operating a Guest Ranch as a tourist accommodation with tours or as a farm raising animals and growing feed.

Some horse travelers do not live in the region but arrive in the region with horse in tow to attend a rodeo or to explore a horseback riding trail . The horse population jumps dramatically when one of the local rodeos is in full swing in the area drawing crowds from all over North America to the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast.

Guest ranches provide the total western experience and attract people to the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast on a regular basis. But, guest ranches do vary in the region. There are ranches which include an adventure in their vacation packages and there are ranches, more like retreats, providing a refuge for relaxation and rest.

The tours most common with a guest ranch is a long haul wilderness horseback riding adventure with wilderness camping, a cattle drive or as a helping hand on a working ranch. Horse tours and cattle drives include lessons, guide and all the necessary equipment. Meals and accommodations are usually included.

The high numbers of ranches and farms in the region, the massive kilometres of fencing and cross fencing, the constant rumble of driving over cattle guards when traveling the gravel roads in the backcountry, the free range cattle basking in the middle of the gravel road, the big red barns, the row after row of hay stacks - all indicate horse trails in the area.

Some of the horse trails to make note of include the Walker Valley Trail near 100 Mile House, the Collins Overland Telegraph Trail near Quesnel, the Alexander MacKenzie Grease Trail connecting Quesnel with Bella Coola and the Rainbow Range Trails in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park.