Destination: Southern Utah.
Overview: Southern Utah is a prime winter destination for equine adventures. You’ll avoid deep snow; in fact, you might not find any snow at all. You’ll also avoid the summer crowds.
Best time to go: Between January and March. February is usually is a bit warmer than January. March is very nice, because it’s warmer and the days are getting longer. However, beginning mid-March, the crowds start coming, and the solitude starts disappearing.
Top riding areas: Head for the region south of Interstate 70 and east of Interstate 15. This is high-desert country with an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. One beautiful area is the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which has scenic deserts and spectacular canyons. Also consider the upper Pirea River area, Grand Gulch, and other Cedar Mesa canyons. Anasazi ruins, pictographs, and petroglyphs.
You’ll find: You’ll ride past arches, waterfalls, springs, cliffs, and desert flora, and view abundant wildlife. In the Cedar Mesa canyons, you’ll also find Anasazi ruins, pictographs, and petroglyphs.
Trip planning: Decide on your specific destination, then call the appropriate land manager — such as the Bureau of Land Management (www.blm.gov) or the United States Forest Service (www.fs.fed.us/r4/) —for rules, regulations, and any required permits for trail riding and horse camping. Many areas restrict the size of your party and number of livestock, and don’t allow fires. Some areas prohibit grazing and require that you pack in certified weed-free feed.
Top rides: There are two ways to enjoy a trip. You can simply set up camp at a trailhead and just do day rides. Or, you can take pack stock and ride into the backcountry. My wife, Nancy, and I prefer to pack in. Following is typical of our favored four-day trip.
~ Day 1: We hit the road early, and drive to the trailhead. We usually enjoy lunch at a local cafe in a small town somewhere along the way.
We like to get to the trailhead by noon. We then saddle up the horses, load up the pack stock, and head down the trail. We choose campsites that are usually a two- to five-hour ride, so we can get to camp and pitch tents before dark. This becomes our base camp for the trip. Moving camp every day is too much work.
We choose base camps that offer areas to explore and interesting places to ride.
~ Day 2: We cook a hot breakfast and a hot dinner in camp with a propane stove or over a campfire. Lunch is packed in a saddlebag and eaten cold on the trail. This is an exploring day. We usually hit the trail by noon, which allows us to ride for several hours.
~ Day 3: This is another exploring day. I really enjoy getting up in the wilderness and going to bed in the wilderness.
~ Day 4: We pack up, pack out, and drive home. We traditionally end our trips with a hot meal at one of the local cafes in a small town on the way home.
Contact: For more information on the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, visit www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html.
