What to expectFrom booking to barn and back.
Your first ride, explained in order.
The same answers riders get on the phone, arranged the way the day actually happens. Quick facts on the right if you are in a hurry.
BookingBefore you drive up.
How do I book?
Call 805-968-3901. Last-minute riders are welcome when space allows, and a reservation is confirmed once the stables confirm it back to you.
How much does a ride cost?
From $115 per rider for the 1.5-hour ride to $300 per person for the private half-day. Every ride and departure is on the rates page.
How do I pay?
Credit card or cash, and you pay after the ride.
At the corralThe first twenty minutes.
Do I need experience?
No. Every ride is guided, and the wranglers match horses and pace to your group at the gate.
Is there paperwork?
A liability release. For riders under 18, a parent or guardian signs it. If a rider under 18 is coming without a parent or legal guardian, a parent or legal guardian fills out the riding release ahead of time, prints it and sends it along. Grandparents can't sign it.
Download the riding release (PDF)What should I wear?
Close-toed shoes and a snug hat, ideally one with a chin string. In winter, a light jacket is a good idea. Leave purses and backpacks in the car or your room.
The rulesShort list, firm edges.
How old do riders need to be?
Seven and up, on every ride. A rider under 18 without a parent or legal guardian along needs the riding release, filled out by a parent or legal guardian and printed.
Download the riding release (PDF)Is there a weight limit?
Up to 265 lbs on the 1.5-hour rides, and up to 235 lbs on all longer rides.
Should I tip my guide?
Gratuity is appreciated and is never included in ride rates.
Making a day of itThe canyon rewards lingering.
What will I actually see?
Creek crossings and waterfalls in Indian Canyon, oak and manzanita higher up, and the coast and Channel Islands from the summit rides.
Can we ride privately?
Yes. Three lengths and a two-rider minimum. Times are arranged around you when you book.
Can we stay overnight?
The Circle Bar B Guest Ranch shares the canyon: rooms, cottages and cabins on their own line, 805-968-1113, or at circlebarb.com.
Gates open at 7:30 am, close at 8:00 pm, seven days a week, all year.
Anything else?Ask a wrangler directly.
The phone beats the internet here.
Weather, group plans, nerves about a first ride: call 805-968-3901 and get it answered by someone standing in the yard.
8:00 pmThe gates close. Tomorrow they open at 7:30.
Rides get booked by phone.
805-968-3901One call books the ride, picks the time, and matches your group to the right horses. Last-minute riders are welcome when space allows.