Bighorn Pack Trips

Introduction
Wyoming USA
Join our pack trips across northern Wyoming, riding across rolling meadows and streams carving through high alpine valleys. The landscape is characterized by the Paintrock Canyon, opening into the Paintrock basin at foot of Cloud Peak, the highest peak in the Bighorn range. The Canyon itself is shaped by steep limestone slopes that climb thousands of feet high above the trail.
Red sandstone cliffs, whose color transforms from deep orange to burgundy red with the changing light, rise above the meadows surrounding the ranch. At the bottom of the canyon is Paintrock Creek, widely known to be one of the best fisheries in the region for rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout. Wildlife is plenty– bobcat, elk, mule and whitetail deer, pronghorn and bears all roam freely.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This Pack Trip involves 5 nights in tents and 2 nights camping at the main ranch.

Description
On the first 2 nights of the trip, guests will stay in a Creekside safari tent at the ranch.

Nights three through six will be spent in our Mountain camp, in the Bighorn Basin. The camp is simple but comfortable and is based out of backpacking tents complete with the comforts of a hot shower and meals prepared by a private chef over a campfire.
Tents will be provided, but you need to bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Room Options
Each guest will have their own tent.



Meals
Your tour includes all meals beginning with dinner on the day of arrival and extending through breakfast on day of departure. All meals will be creatively prepared by a private chef.

Meals at the ranch will be seated, but casual and friendly and accompanied by cocktails, wine and beer.
Meals at basecamp and on the trail will be prepared and shared over open fire.

Dietary Restrictions
We are happy to accommodate all dietary preferences with advance notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

The ride will be relatively slow-paced, as we will only walk when we have the pack string with us. When we go on day rides, there may be some opportunity to trot depending on the level of the riders in the group.
Riders should be confident in steering their horse, as well as mounting and dismounting on their own.

Due to the remote nature of this trip, riders must be in good physical condition with no pre-existing health conditions. The only way in and out of the mountain camp in case of emergency is by helicopter EMS.

Itinerary

Our Pack Trips give guests the opportunity to explore the Paintrock Canyon before heading into the backcountry of the Bighorn National Forest on horseback.

If you’re looking for a rugged and rewarding vacation that gets you as close to nature as possible, then a pack trip is for you. Seven days in the mountains is the best way to get to know your horse, learn about the surrounding country, and experience a diversity of wildlife. You’ll wake to horses grazing outside your tent and spend your days exploring the Bighorn’s alpine forests, meadows, and nearby canyons, before returning to base camp for dinner and drinks by the fire. 

Spend your first full day riding around the ranch to become familiar with your horse before riding into the mountains.
Day three will begin early to start the trip up the canyon with the pack horses, making our way to the mountain camp at the foot of Cloud Peak. The following days will be spent visiting surrounding lakes, hiking, riding miles of trails, and riding out to cow camp to spend the day with the ranch team.
Evenings will be spent around the fire with new friends under a carpet of stars.
The trip will end by packing back down the Canyon to cap the week with a farewell dinner and the historic Paintrock Inn for one last night sharing stories.

Sample Day Itinerary
8:00 a.m. Coffee and breakfast around the fire at basecamp
9:00 a.m. Collect your lunch for the day and ready your horse
10:00 a.m. Ride out from mountain camp to visit the Paint Rock cow camp and spend the day with the team, learning about the operation and how the cattle are run during the summer, all while prepping the next pasture
12:00 p.m. Break for lunch in the field
3:00 p.m. Head back to camp for the afternoon
4:00 p.m. Downtime to relax and take a nap, fish or read by the creek
6:30 p.m. Dinner, drinks, and storytelling around the fire

Rates and Dates for Bighorn Pack Trips

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Hyattville
Airport: Cody
Transfer:

Climate:
                                                Hyattville area