Stanley, Idaho, is nestled at the foot of the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains. As one local told us, “If you’ve seen a postcard of Idaho, you’re looking at Stanley!” There are a lot of great ways to get out into those mountains. You can hike, ATV ride, swim, and even horseback ride. We tried a new activity for us at the Redfish Lake Corrals. Mystic Saddle Ranch operates their horseback rides and we loved our ride into the mountains.
Guided Horse Tours
The Redfish Lake Corrals is located just outside Stanley by Redfish Lake. Mystic Saddle Ranch offers guided trail rides with several options for the length of ride you can take. We went on a 90 minute guided ride that took us into the mountains and up onto the bench with great views. This ride was just right for our family.
One thing nice about a guided trail ride is that it is a real horse experience, but you don’t have to manage the details. We showed up at the ranch, checked in, and signed a waiver. Then we met our guide and our horses.
Training
The first order of business was to receive a little training. We learned how to start and stop the horse, how to make the horse turn, and how to keep the horses from grazing if they got distracted by the grass. Though we needed these lessons, the horses really didn’t. They knew exactly where to go and mostly started and stopped when our guide’s horse started and stopped. The horses were the real professionals.
After our brief training, we were led to the loading area to saddle up. This was a small chute that allowed us to step up into the stirrup much more easily.
The Ride
Once we were in the saddle, the ride was amazing. Our guide led our family along a well-defined trail. Along the way, we chatted and asked questions. Our guide talked about the area, the trees and flowers, and our family. We moseyed along, enjoying the jutting Sawtooth mountains, and taking in the colors of the wildflowers. We took a lot of pictures, chatted, and enjoyed the gentle sway of the horses. Best of all, we felt perfectly safe and at ease for the entire ride.
If you’re interested in a fun, unique family adventure, try a horseback ride with Mystic Saddle Ranch at Reddish Lake Horse Corrals. Find more details on their site here. Make sure to go visit Redfish Lake, too, since it is just down the road. And check out some of the other fun Things to do in Stanley.
