Horseback riding in Yellowstone costs about $99 for a one-hour ride and about $157 for a two-hour ride inside the park, per adult. Full-day backcountry rides inside park boundaries run $550 to $800.
Guided horseback rides just outside Yellowstone’s North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana generally run $150 to $200 per adult for an hour, with longer rides running higher.
Horseback ride just outside Yellowstone with Wild West Rafting
In-park rides have the lowest sticker price, but they come with the most rules. Riders have to be 8 or older and under 240 pounds, cameras and water bottles stay behind, and the corral sits in a far corner of the park that’s a long drive from most lodging. Rides in Gardiner start at age 7, often have no weight limit, let you carry a camera, and don’t require a park entrance pass.
Here’s what each type of ride costs and what it includes.
Yellowstone Horseback Riding Prices
| Type of Ride | Inside Yellowstone? | Length | Adult Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail ride | Yes @ Roosevelt Corral | 1 hour | $99+ |
| Trail ride | Yes @ Roosevelt Corral | 2 hours | $157+ |
| Cookout ride | Yes @ Roosevelt Corral | 4 hours total | $136+ |
| Guided trail ride | Outside near Gardiner | 1 hour | $150+ |
| Guided trail ride | Outside near Gardiner | 2 hours | $225+ |
| Evening ride w/ cookout | Outside near Gardiner | Ride plus dinner | $250+ |
| Backcountry ride | Yes w/ authorized outfitter | Half day | $500+ |
| Backcountry ride | Yes w/ authorized outfitter | Full day | $550+ |
Prices are per person but don’t include fees, taxes, or gratuity.
Horseback Rides Inside Yellowstone
Roosevelt Corral Trail Rides
The park’s lodging concessioner runs the trail rides inside Yellowstone. The one-hour ride costs about $99 and the two-hour ride costs about $157, and both depart from Roosevelt Corral. Rides run June through early September.
Roosevelt Corral is in the northeast area of the park, which is a long drive if you’re staying near Old Faithful or the West Entrance. Add the drive time into your day, and plan to arrive early because the safety talk starts promptly at the posted time.
Old West Dinner Cookout Rides in Yellowstone
You can also ride to a steak dinner in Pleasant Valley. How you travel changes the price:
- Horseback: $136 Adults | $115 Children (ages 8 to 11)
- Stagecoach: $115 Adults | $94 Children (ages 3 to 11)
- Covered Wagon: $94 Adults | $73 Children (ages 3 to 11)
Children under 3 eat free if they share from an adult’s plate and ride on a lap. The whole evening takes two and a half to five hours depending on how you get there. The cookout sells out every summer, so book months ahead.
Backcountry Rides
A few outfitters have National Park Service authorization to guide horseback trips deep inside Yellowstone. These rides cover territory well away from roads and start around $500 per person for a private half day, $550 for a full-day group ride with lunch, and $800 for a full-day private ride.
Backcountry trips in Yellowstone National Park require authorized guides // Credit: NPS
Rides Near Yellowstone
It’s convenient to book a ride just outside Yellowstone’s North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana on your way to or from the park. One-hour rides from Gardiner generally run $150 to $200 per person, and 90-minute to two-hour rides run $225 to $290.
Evening rides paired with a cowboy cookout start around $250 for adults, with lower rates for kids and a dinner-only option for $130. Saddle and paddle combo trips pair a ride with whitewater rafting, and start around $224.
Highly recommend. The horse ride was super fun and had some great views. Overall a great time and well worth the money.
– Landon Bray, Google Review
Extra Costs to Budget For
- Park entrance: You’ll need to pay an entrance fee to ride in Yellowstone. A private vehicle pass is $35 and covers everyone in the car for seven days. A Yellowstone-only annual pass is $70, and an America the Beautiful annual pass (good in all national parks) is $80 for residents.
- Nonresident fee: Every non-US resident age 16 and older pays an additional $100 fee on top of the standard entrance fee, unless they enter with an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
- Gratuity: Not included in any published rate. Plan 15–20% for your wrangler.
- Meals: Lunch is often separate on combo trips, around $15.
- Fuel and drive time: Driving to the Roosevelt Corral from the west or south side can add two hours of driving each way. Make sure you have enough gas before you leave.
Age and Weight Requirements for Horseback Riding
Requirements differ inside and outside the park. For in-park rides, you must be at least 8 years old, at least 48 inches tall, weigh under 240 pounds, and understand English. Riders under 18 wear a helmet and need an adult along. Guests are weighed at check-in.
What you cannot bring catches photographers off guard: no backpacks, purses, camera bags, bear spray, water bottles, or large cameras on in-park rides. Closed-toe shoes are required and long pants are strongly recommended. For more on what to wear and how to prepare, read our tips on horseback riding for first timers.
Rides just outside the park often start at age 7 and let you carry a phone or camera on a neck strap, which matters if you have a younger child or you want to take photos from the saddle.
What You’ll Spend on a Yellowstone Horseback Ride
For most visitors, a short trail ride inside the park runs $100–$160 per person, a guided ride just outside the park runs $150–$200, and a full backcountry day runs $500 and up. Add taxes and booking fees, gratuity for your wrangler, and a park entrance pass if you’re riding inside Yellowstone.
Wild West Rafting runs guided horseback rides near Yellowstone from a ranch minutes outside Gardiner. One-hour rides start at $150, an evening ride with a cowboy cookout starts at $250, and a Saddle & Paddle day that pairs riding with rafting starts at $224. Riders 7 and up are welcome, and there is no weight limit.
Whichever trip you pick, horseback rides are a wonderful way to see the wilds of Yellowstone and beyond.