WILDERNESS HORSEBACK RIDING
Welcome to the Flat Tops, 235,214 acres of pristine wilderness. No roads. No motors. Just you, your horse, and the sounds of the wind and the river. Choose an itinerary below, or call us to customize your own adventure.
THE SEASON RUNS FROM JUNE 28 THROUGH THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER
Wilderness Riding Adventures
Explore the second-largest Wilderness Area in Colorado on horseback. This isn’t your average Dude Ranch, it’s totally untamed. With more than 150 miles of trails, the Flat Tops Wilderness has it all: gentle rides along the river, steep grades into the higher reaches of the wilderness, and more wild country than you could possibly see on a single trip. No horseback riding experience is necessary. Our gentle, well-trained horses are perfect for beginner riders and our friendly wranglers are great teachers. The recommended minimum age for horseback riding is 12 years old.
Where the road ends, our adventures begin - literally. The lodge sits at the end of a forest road, surrounded by Wilderness on three sides. No vehicles or bikes are allowed inside the Wilderness Area. From the lodge, we strike out on horseback into wild and scenic country where wildflowers and wildlife abound. Common sightings include moose, elk, deer, bears and eagles.
Individual log cabins provide rustic, yet cozy accommodations. Built in the late 1920s, these historic cabins have received a few upgrades over the years, including basic electricity and simple half-baths with cold running water. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and an authentic wilderness experience.
In the mornings, riders will come down to the main lodge for a hearty breakfast. Next, we’ll pack lunches and saddle up for the day’s ride. There are a variety of trails to choose from, and one of our friendly wranglers will be your tour guide. Upon your return to the lodge, our crew will have appetizers waiting, followed by a home-cooked dinner. Relax on the deck with a cold beverage, play a game of cornhole, or return to your own cabin for some peace and quiet.
HORSEBACK RIDING PACKAGES AND PRICING
1-Day, 2-Night Riding Adventure
-
Perfect for a weekend getaway, this package gives you a full day of horseback riding, 2 nights in one of our cozy cabins, all meals and afternoon appetizers.
Arrival Day: Arrive in the afternoon, get settled and take a walk down the river or just relax before dinner
Day 2: Full day of riding
Day 3: Depart after breakfast
-
$670 Per Person
Includes: Two nights lodging, one full day of guided horseback riding, all meals and afternoon appetizers from dinner on your day of arrival, through breakfast on the day of departure.
All rates are per-person based on double occupancy (2 person minimum per cabin). Single occupancy private cabin upgrades are available upon request.
Does not include: alcohol or transportation to and from the main lodge. Please let us know if transportation is required. Gratuities are customary, see FAQs below for details.
2-Day, 3-Night Riding Adventure
-
Our most popular package, this option gives you 2 full days of horseback riding, 3 nights in one of our cozy cabins, all meals and hors d'oeuvres.
Arrival Day: Arrive in the afternoon, get settled and take a walk down the river or just relax before dinner
Day 2-3: Two days of riding
Day 4: Depart after breakfast
-
$1,120 Per Person
Includes: Three nights lodging, two full days of guided horseback riding, all meals and afternoon appetizers from dinner on your day of arrival, through breakfast on the day of departure.
All rates are per-person based on double occupancy (2 person minimum per cabin). Single occupancy private cabin upgrades are available upon request.
Does not include: alcohol or transportation to and from the main lodge. Please let us know if transportation is required. Gratuities are customary, see FAQs below for details.
3-Day, 4-Night Riding Adventure
-
Get the complete experience with 4 nights in one of our cozy cabins, 3 full days of horseback riding to explore this vast wilderness area, all meals and afternoon appetizers.
Arrival Day: Arrive in the afternoon, get settled and take a walk down the river or just relax before dinner
Day 2-4: Three days of riding
Day 5: Depart after breakfast
-
$1,580 Per Person
Includes: Four nights lodging, three full days of guided horseback riding, all meals and afternoon appetizers from dinner on your day of arrival, through breakfast on the day of departure.
All rates are per-person based on double occupancy (2 person minimum per cabin). Single occupancy private cabin upgrades are available upon request.
Does not include: alcohol or transportation to and from the main lodge. Please let us know if transportation is required. Gratuities are customary, see FAQs below for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Access to Budge’s Wilderness Lodge is by high-clearance 4WD only. Standard pickups and stock SUVs with about 9” of clearance can make the trip, just take it slow. After September 1st or anytime snow is in the forecast, well-fitting tire chains with tensioners are required.
Most guests flying in to Colorado choose to rent an SUV to drive to the lodge. Whether you’re flying into Denver or Eagle, all major rental car companies offer high clearance pickups and SUVs.
If you not have a high-clearance vehicle or prefer not to drive to the lodge, we offer pick-up near Deep Lake, which is about 8 miles from the lodge for $400 round trip per vehicle (max 4 passengers). This requires driving on improved dirt roads for about 28 miles.
If you’d prefer to avoid dirt roads altogether, we offer pick-up at the Eagle County Regional Airport for $600, round trip per vehicle (max 4 passengers).
For detailed directions and other info, please see our Guest Information Page.
-
For a suggested packing list, what to expect and directions to the lodge, please see our Guest Information Page.
-
The minimum recommended age for horseback riding is 12 years old, depending on the child and previous riding experience. As an alternative for younger kids (or anyone who is not interested in riding a horse), we offer fully-guided fly fishing trips on foot. This is a great way to experience the wilderness, hike through beautiful country, and learn how to fly fish. Visit our Fishing Page to learn more.
-
Tips are customary and certainly appreciated. We recommend tipping 20% of the cost of your trip. Gratuity can be divided equally between the wrangler(s), kitchen and lodge crew. Cash is preferred and we have envelopes available at the lodge.
-
Owing to a brief season, remote location, the highest safety standards and industry leading service, our wilderness experiences are operationally cost-intensive. For that reason, our payment and cancellation policies are as follows:
Deposits & Payments:
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm all reservations. The balance is due 30 days prior to arrival and is non-refundable. All payments are non-refundable under any circumstances. If full payment is not received by the due date, you may forfeit your deposit and your space may be offered to our wait list.
Cancellations:
You may cancel your trip at any time, but all payments, deposits and fees paid to Budge’s are 100% non-refundable. No exceptions. If a fishing or horseback riding trip is cancelled with more than 60-days notice prior to the arrival date, the non-refundable deposit may be credited toward other guests or dates within 12 months of the date of the original reservation, subject to availability. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the arrival date, the exact reservation may be transferred to another guest, or the payments received will be forfeited. For these reasons, we strongly advise guests to purchase vacation cancellation insurance through your local provider. These are the standard operating policies of Budge’s and are subject to change without notice.
Let’s Plan Your Adventure
Contact us today to begin planning your wilderness horseback riding trip. In addition to the options listed above, we’d be happy to help plan a custom adventure for any family, group or individual.