An incredible landscape with mountain lakes and ancient forests awaits you in Great Sand Dunes National Park. Admire a unique natural work of art in the United States, the largest sand dunes in the western hemisphere. Ride through old Western ghost towns and swim under waterfalls or in mountain springs. You might even encounter a herd of buffalo. This ride is suitable for beginners and advanced riders as well, as the principle here is that the more you learn about your horse and your equipment, the more you will enjoy your vacation. Here you are right in the middle of the action, packing your own saddlebags and learning how to ride properly in the mountains. Learn all about the plants and animals as well as the history of this national park from your guides. Spend your evenings around the campfire under the stars and start the day with cowboy coffee. Ride over Medano Pass and swim in Medano Creek after a sandy ride through the dunes. Enjoy the spectacular view of the sand dunes, which contrast sharply with the snow-capped mountain peaks.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Colorado Springs and transfer to the Radisson Hotel near the airport. No meals are included on this first evening (but our guests receive a 20% discount at the hotel restaurant).

Day 2: Early in the morning, you will be picked up at the Colorado Springs hotel. You will drive to the ranch and continue with the horses and wranglers to our starting point on the eastern side of the majestic Sangre de Christo Range. Once we arrive and the pack horses are loaded, one of the wrangler guides will give you detailed instructions on riding, saddling, and caring for your horse. When everything is ready, we pack our things and set off for our camp in the national park. We ride south along the Rainbow Trail to Medano Pass. The pass is a rough and rocky road, and on the west side of Medano Pass we descend until we reach one of our high camps, which will be our home for the next three days. While some help with the horses, others help set up the kitchen and tents. Soon we enjoy our favorite drink around the campfire and think about tomorrow while waiting for a hearty cowboy-style meal.

Day 3: The next morning, we wake up to cowboy coffee and a hearty breakfast before saddling up the horses and riding down the dunes at the western foot of the Sangres. We ride along Medano Creek to the highest dunes. At lunchtime, we can all discover the mysterious and overwhelming sand dunes, visit the visitor center, and splash around in Medano Creek. Later, we will enjoy our lunch among ancient pine and cottonwood forests. Afterwards, we will return to our comfortable camp for another evening of stories around the campfire with the brightest stars you have ever seen in the sky.

Day 4: We will start the day again with plenty of coffee and a hearty breakfast, then head to the high treeline area of the park. Today we ride to Medano Lake, which lies at an altitude of almost 3600 meters in a cirque dominated by the over 4000-meter-high Mt. Herald. Here we will have lunch and spend the afternoon hiking, fishing, climbing, or simply relaxing.

Day 5: Today we ride north on the Sand Creek Trail. We ride through Heavenly Valley, cross Cold Creek on our way to Sand Creek and the Star Dune Complex. Back at camp for our last night, we are tired but already reminiscing about our adventures of the last few days.

Day 6: Reluctantly leaving our peaceful camp, we climb over Melano Pass one last time, looking back for a final glimpse of the mysterious sand dunes and the wide, shimmering San Luis Valley. We ride down the pass and soon meet our van at the end of our mountain odyssey. Soon we reach the road and take you back to Colorado Springs.

(Subject to change)

Accomodation
1st night at the Radisson in Colorado Springs, the other nights in thent camps.

Saddle & Tack: Western

Experience: Little riding experience required, moderate riding tempo

Horses: Quater Horses and Quater-Mix

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