Dave Killen/The Oregonian

Hiking is nice, but there’s something special about exploring Oregon’s trails on the back of a horse.

We recently went on a three-day guided trip into the wilderness of the central Cascade Mountains, riding mustangs and mules through the alpine forests. And while hitting the trail on horseback was a bigger hassle than hiking, it was a fun and different way to experience nature.



Whether you want to go into the wild or take a trot down the beach, there are outfitters and ranches around Oregon at the ready. You can find some close to Portland, but the best places to go horseback riding are in central Oregon, the Wallowa Mountains and the Oregon coast, where there’s no shortage of trail rides available.

Using recommendations from guides and an online search, we’ve cobbled together this list of places to go horseback riding at six areas around the state. It might not be entirely comprehensive, but it should serve as a good starting point to get you into the saddle and out on the trail.

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Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian

PORTLAND AREA

Equestrian Wine Tours

Flying-M-Ranch

RR Saddle Club

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Dave Killen/The Oregonian

CENTRAL OREGON

Black Butte Stables

Central Oregon Trail Rides

Flyspur Ranch

Slice Ranch

Smith Rock Trail Rides

Sunriver Stables

Wilderness Horse Adventures

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

OREGON COAST

C&M Stables

Green Acres Beach and Trail Rides

Hawk's Rest Ranch

Oregon Beach Rides

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

WALLOWA MOUNTAINS

Del Sol Wilderness Adventures

Eagle Cap Wilderness Outfitters

Wallowa Lake Pack Station

Wallowa Mountain Outfitters

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

EASTERN OREGON

Cornucopia Lodge and Pack Station

Oregon Backcountry Outfitting

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

MOUNT HOOD

Mt. Hood Outfitters

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB