For many, exploring new trails and breathing in the fresh mountain air is best done on horseback. And what better place to get in the saddle than in beautiful Sunriver, Oregon. Here, trail rides meander along the Deschutes River, offering mountain views and showcasing the natural beauty of the region. Enjoy corral rides, pony rides, lessons and guided trail rides on horses selected specifically for the comfort and ability of the rider.
Sunriver Stables
For guided rides, head to Sunriver Stables, the horse-riding destination for visitors of Sunriver Resort, run by Sunriver Trail Rides. The stables are located 1/3-mile past the Sunriver Marina. Corral rides take place in a controlled environment, making them great for beginner horse riders not quite comfortable with a trail ride yet. Corral rides are offered on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations needed. For children 2 and older and weighing less than 60 pounds, pony rides are available. These five to seven minute rides are also first-come, first served. For riders who are more comfortable on horseback, the Sunriver Stables are also the starting point for trail rides taking off from Sunriver Resort.
Trail Rides and Lessons in Sunriver
Sunriver Stables at Sunriver Resort offers two trail riding options of either 45 minutes or 75 minutes, happening seasonally from mid-April through September each year. “The Pines” is a 45-minute trail ride that includes 15 minutes of instruction and 30 minutes on the trail, open to riders 7 years and older and weighing less than 220 pounds. This is a beginner-friendly walking trail ride and reservations are recommended. For a longer ride, “The Great Meadows” is a 75-minute trail ride that includes 15 minutes of instruction and 60 minutes on the trail. It’s also open to riders 7 and older and weighing under 220 pounds, and is also a ride where reservations are recommended.
For riding lessons and private trail rides, Three Rivers Equestrian Center is another option for those looking for horseback riding. The center is located about 6 miles south of Sunriver and just south of Three Rivers at 55250 Foster Road. Private two-hour rides can be spent within the arena or on the trail alongside the Deschutes River. The facility also offers beginner, English, Western, dressage and driving lessons on horses they provide or on horses brought by riders. Four instructors are available, with specialities in different disciplines.
Sunriver Resort Horseback Riding
This Wrangler Immersion Camp adventure is open to riders who are 14 years and older and is an all-day activity, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending between 4:30 and 6 p.m. depending on the day’s ride schedule. The Wrangler Immersion Camp is a unique experience open to just one person per day and are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Sunriver Sleigh Rides
For a horse-drawn adventure in the snow, Sunriver Resort offers weekend sleigh rides around the holidays each December, another offering at Sunriver Resort from Sunriver Trail Rides. Enjoy the holiday tradition of an open-carriage sleigh ride, being towed behind a team of chestnut-colored haflinger horses. Riders are taken over the Meadows Golf Course at Sunriver Resort, which is typically covered in snow at this time of year, making for a magical horse-drawn experience. The Victorian-style sleighs can comfortably accommodate four adults and two children weighing less than 55 pounds at once.
While there are plenty of opportunities to build upon horse riding skills while in Sunriver, don’t let the fun stop there. Central Oregon offers more horseback riding opportunities throughout the region.
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Sunriver is an aptly named town; the idyllic community soaks up tons of Central Oregon sun and has the mighty Deschutes River meandering through. It’s tough to not feel the magic of Sunriver when rays of light first break over the not-so-distant Cascade Mountain peaks and dance on the tips of ponderosa pines in the surrounding Deschutes National Forest. Central Oregon tours are popular for visitors and locals alike, and for good reason. With four distinct seasons, Sunriver is primed and ready for exploration any time of the year. From snowmobiling to horseback riding, here are the best ways to discover Sunriver.