There is no more authentic way to explore Capitol Reef Country than from the back of a horse. Long before paved roads and hiking trails, this was the primary way that pioneers and outlaws navigated the labyrinthine canyons and high-altitude forests of Southern Utah. Today, you can follow in those same hoofprints, trading the hum of a car engine for the rhythmic creak of saddle leather and the steady pace of a trusted mountain horse.

The beauty of riding here lies in the region’s extreme diversity. You can spend your morning trotting through the dusty, cinematic desert of the lower "Reef"—where towering Wingate sandstone cliffs make you feel like you've stepped into a classic Western—and your afternoon climbing into the cool, shaded aspen groves of Fishlake National Forest. Whether you are a first-time rider looking for a gentle hour-long trail or a seasoned equestrian seeking a multi-day backcountry odyssey, the "Vertical Desert" provides a backdrop of unparalleled scale and beauty.