Horseback Riding in Arizona/Utah
LONG VALLEY CATTLE DRIVE |
This is an authentic American Western cattle drive; the annual move from the high country summer pastures near Bryce Canyon to the winter range on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and in June from the ranch headquarters near Alton back into the summer pastures. The ranch is operated by a large extended clan who have run cattle in this country since it was first settled. They are experienced riders and congenial hosts who are proud to share this unique experience with a handful of outsiders.
October: Drive the herd from the summer range high on the Bryce Canyon Plateau to the winter range on the Arizona Strip country. Riders will work with the cowboys to move the herd south across a challenging landscape of canyons, sand dunes, pinyon and juniper foothills, and sagebrush flats to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
June: move the cattle from the ranch headquarters, back onto their summer pastures on the Bryce Canyon Plateau.
ITINERARY FOR THE DRIVE TO SUMMER RANGE
Day 1 Meet in St George at 1:00pm. Drive northeast to where the first campsite is located along Kanab Creek on the Glendale Bench.
Day 2 After a hearty breakfast, saddle up and begin driving the cattle to the various pastures of their summer range high on the Bryce Canyon Plateau, part of the Dixie National Forest. Plan to ride about 6-7 hours per day, with a break for lunch. There will be four days of driving cattle, and one day of either trail riding into the scenic high country without cattle, or visiting the scenic overlooks of Bryce Canyon National Park.
The camp is moved daily by vehicle, so riders will return to a new campsite at the end of each day's ride. The first two camps are near the headwaters of Kanab Creek. From there the trail climbs onto the Bryce Plateau, and for the remaining 4 nights, camps will be along the headwaters of the East Fork of the Sevier River.
The country's character is very much defined by the brilliant red and pink cliffs of the Bryce formation. The narrow sage- and grass-covered valleys are bordered by the rugged cliffs, which in turn give way to the open meadows and pine, fir and aspen forests of the high country. Transfer back to St George, arriving by 6:00pm on day 6.
I have been on many adventure vacations over the past 20 years - this was the best ever:
Challenging but he Heaton's made it seem easy; educational; lots of fun; food & campsite top notch; horses were well behaved, very well trained & very well cared for; there was not one cuss word, harsh language or even a raised, irritated voice the entire week, just laughter, joy & compliments!
- Mary Looman June 2009
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Meet in St George at 1:00pm. Drive north through the inspiring sandstone formations of Zion National Park and from there on to where the first campsite is located near the tiny town of Alton, Utah. |
| Day 2: | Meet the members and friends of the extensive Heaton Family, and become acquainted with your horse and the cattle. You will assist the cowboys in cutting specific cows from the herd. When the trail boss has determined that all animals are ready for the miles ahead, begin herding the cattle down 4-Mile Canyon to a camp on Kanab Creek. |
| Day 3: | Days 3-9: After a hearty breakfast, saddle up and begin moving the 800 cow/calf pairs from their summer range high on the Bryce Canyon Plateau, toward their winter range on the Arizona Strip. There will be a short break for lunch, before resuming the task at hand.
The trail proceeds along Kanab Creek, then through an area the locals call “The Sands.” From there cross the Coral Sands State Park, around the southern edge of Zion National Park, and across the sagebrush flats of the Arizona Strip toward the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
On Day 5 or 6 the trail crosses the Utah/Arizona state line and that night’s camp is in Arizona. The cowboys will tell you that the air becomes fresher there, and that the collective attitude of the cows improves noticeably. The ranch's winter headquarters is located 13 miles from the north rim near Toroweep, and its southern boundary is the canyon rim. The last night's camp will be located within a few miles of the rim. |
| Day 10: | Spend the day sorting cows and dispersing small bunches across the winter range. |
| Day 11: | Transfer back to St George by 1:00pm. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | St. George, Utah |
| Length of Ride | 11 days, 10 nights and 8 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-3 Maximum-12 |
| Pace | slow |
| Tack | western |
| Horses | local ranch bred |
| Weight Limit | 210 lbs |
| 2012 Dates | Drive to summer range: June 19-24
Drive to winter range: Oct 29-Nov 8 |
| 2012 Price | Drive to summer range: $1,525
Drive to winter range: $2,630 |
| Single Supplement | $135 |
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