Horseback Riding
Horseback Riding
From our herd of 60+ horses you will be assigned your own horse for the duration of your stay. Our head wrangler will match the horse and rider according to ability, physical requirements and horse temperament. Goosewing wranglers are experienced horsemen & women and will instruct you in our arena and on the trail on how to ride well for a memorable Jackson Hole horseback riding experience. All wranglers are First Aid and CPR certified and have completed our horse safety course. If all you want to do is walk and enjoy the scenery, we have the perfect trail; if you want to trot and lope, we have rides appropriate for this as well. We also have cattle work (team penning) available for those who would like to try and are advanced enough to control their mounts. Rides go out Monday – Friday to different areas of the National Forest and Wilderness. We offer two, four, and six hour long trail rides. There is no riding on your check-in or out day. Riding on your check in day consists of being fitted to your horse and saddle and riding in the arena or taking your loping test (this is only available for arrivals between 4:00 and 5:00 PM and can be limited, also based on weather conditions). The ranch uses mostly quarter horses or quarter/draft crosses. The weight limit varies based on height, physical fitness and trails. Children 6 and older can join the riding program, but must be able to control their horse and follow instructions. We recommend cowboy boots, or riding shoes. Boots should have at least a 1 1/2 inch heel and be slick soled. Enclosed shoes and long pants are required. We have riding helmets with sun visors available by request. We also have gel pads for the saddle seats.
- Each ride is limited to 6 or 7 horses per wrangler
- Riding lessons available in the arena or on the trail
- Trail rides fit to your riding ability, beginner to advanced. Walking to loping
- Loping rides and lessons available after rider passes riding test
- Cattle work available
- Bareback riding available
- Horse swimming available
- Barrel Racing and Pole Bending
- Riding Games
- 2, 4, or 6 hour trail rides
- Lunch rides
- Sunrise Breakfast rides
- Kid only rides
- Adult only rides
- Family rides
Horseback trails and riding activities are prearranged each evening for the following day. Sign up typically begins at 6:00pm. Riders can choose from a variety of trails, arena lessons, team penning, or horse game options. Our head wrangler will help you decide what option fits your ability and interest best. Rides will go out in rain or snow, but will be canceled for lightning. Trails are subject to change based on weather, riders ability and trail condition. Some riding activities are ONLY available during the peak season such as swimming rides, kids rides, and breakfast rides.
Pack trips are available as a separate package with a minimum of 4 nights out.
Pack Trips
Back Country Horse PackTrips
Jackson Hole Wilderness Pack Trips
**Goosewing Ranch will NOT be offering back country horse pack trips for the 2023 season. Please contact us directly via phone or email with questions.
2023 Pack Trip Package details
First trip departs on Monday July 3, 2023
4 Night Back Country Package
This is an exclusive package with a minimum of 4 occupants and a maximum of 6 occupants. This package is not located on the ranch or inclusive of any ranch horseback riding, meals, amenities, or activities. This is a back country experience only. You will arrive to the Goosewing Rendezvous Base Camp on Monday afternoon (check-in time ranges from 2pm – 5pm). Spend the first arrival day getting acclimated to camp life and packed for your next two nights really in the wild. Depart Tuesday morning on horseback to our back country camps of Jagg and Crystal Creek. Spend these days and nights exploring the Gros Ventre wilderness on horseback, hiking or even doing some small stream fishing. On Thursday you will ride back to the Goosewing Rendezvous base camp, relax, shower and enjoy a nice dinner around the camp fire. Friday is checkout. Camp checkout is between 8am and 11am. All meals, stock, bedding/sleeping bags, towels, guides are included. While at base camp you will have access to power, and running water for showers. Back country participants should be in good physical health and have a great sense of adventure. We recommend that all participants are between the ages of 10 to 70. There are not other accommodations available if inclement weather persists or if participants decide this is not for them. Package dates arrival Monday departure Friday. Available from July 3 – August 18
Pack Trip Description/Packing/Accommodations/What to Expect We offer custom western pack trips to groups and families of 4-8 individuals in the Gros Ventre Wilderness of Jackson Hole, WY. We require a minimum of 4 people for a pack trip, and a maximum of 8.
This location allows access to some of the most scenic areas in the Western United States. The landscapes are big, open and spectacular with pristine mountain streams, panoramic views. pine trees, wide basins, steep canyons, lush mountain meadows and an abundance of wildlife. Pack trips will be filled unless a private trip is booked, private trips must pay for full trip occupancy.
DAY 1 Pack trippers will need to arrive at Goosewing Ranch by about 9:00am the morning of their trip, and be ready to ride. Pack trip will depart after a brief orientation and saddle fitting. We will help you sort your gear, then pack it onto to a pack horse for you. You will ride approximately 6 hours to the Crystal Creek Camp, where you will find your camp accommodations.
Day 2 will be spent exploring the area on horseback, hiking, fishing or just relaxing around camp.
Day 3 is spent riding out of the backcountry and back to Goosewing Ranch, completing a loop trail. Return to Goosewing Ranch between 2pm and 4pm.
Overnight pack trips are the best way to experience the breath-taking beauty of the undisturbed majestic back country.
The camps provide comfortable wall tents, cots, sleeping bags, privy, and hearty home cooked meals.
No skill or experience is required; only a spirit of adventure and a love of the outdoors. With our dependable, gentle mountain horses and expert instruction, even beginners feel comfortable in the saddle. All you have to bring is your personals, camera and a sense of adventure! We do suggest packing warm clothing such as stocking caps, wool socks, sweat pants for sleeping, gloves, jackets, sunscreen, and rain gear. You will want a riding boot or shoe and a light weight comfortable shoe for around the camp. Jeans and layers are best. Some dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advanced notice. Don’t forget personal items and a camera with extra batteries.
Some essentials: toiletries (tooth brush, tooth paste, bar soap), sunscreen, bug spray, pain medication, personal medication, water bottle (Goosewing Ranch will provide you with one), hat or helmet, sunglasses. All of your items should fit into a soft sided duffle bag or dry bag and not exceed 25lbs. We suggest carrying medication, snacks, and water bottle on your riding horse or on your person.
If you wish to fish you MUST purchase a Wyoming Fishing Licenses before your pack trip departure.
Pack Trip Policies Pack trips will go out in sunshine, snow or rain depending on trail conditions. There is no refund on pack trips cancelled within 60 days of departure. If inclement weather persists then you will stay at the base camp area instead of the wilderness camp, and do riding out of there for the day. This is guide discretion. If you decide this is not what you wanted all alternative accommodations are extra and not guaranteed or included in this package. Minimum of four participants, max 8 per trip. This is a wilderness experience into the Gros Ventre Wilderness and Bridger-Teton Backcountry. Expect mountains terrain, meadows, wildlife, and vast temperatures differences between day and night. This area is foot or horseback traffic only.
We highly recommend pack trip participants be in good physical health and able to withstand full days of riding and activity. Suggested age range is between 10 and 65 years of age. Children must be able to control their own horses and follow instructions.
Package subject to change.
Pack Trip Rates are currently unavailable for 2023
Children’s Activities
Children’s Activities
Goosewing Ranch is a great place for kids and teenagers to roam free and explore their sense of adventure in the Wild West. There is a wide range of activities, experiences, and adventures to keep the truly young or the young at heart well entertained. The children’s program is offered from June 18– August 19 (Peak Season Only) when there will be a kids wrangler staffed. These activities are varied throughout each day and are best suited for children 6 years and older, children ages 3 – 6 will be able to enjoy some of these but will need a parent or adult to attend with them. We don’t offer babysitting. There are different organized activities daily, we organize the activities that will be available to you. Activities are discussed and arranged each evening for the following day. Children and adults (families) are encouraged to enjoy and experience ranch activities together.
Activities include
- Western and Native American Arts & Crafts (dream catchers, horseshoe and river rock painting, face painting, horse painting, bracelet making and more)
- Lawn games (Kickball, three legged races, water balloon toss, and much more)
- Scavenger hunts
- Horse games and horse painting
- Target shooting with BB guns, pellet rifles or .22 rifles
- Roping
- Archery, and hatchet throwing
- Kids only horseback rides
- Fire making
- Track and scat identifying
- Kids Cabin with lots of Games
- Canoeing and water based activities
- Horse grooming and care
- Livestock care, egg collection, pig wrangling, steer chasing, feeding horses
- Native American and local history
- Mountain Man and Cowboy History
We have a game cabin with Foosball, shuffle board, and ping pong tables. Children are the full responsibility of their parents. Baby-sitting is not available. There are no full time baby-sitters on the ranch or life guards at the hot tubs.
Activities are subject to change.
Our outdoor and other guided activities
Our outdoor and unguided activities
If horseback riding isn’t your thing, or if you are looking for something to keep you busy while you aren’t in the saddle, we have plenty of activities at our Jackson Hole resort ranch to keep you busy! We try to have a mixture of organized activities and less structured opportunities to ensure you have a great vacation. Our resort ranch is a great fit for multi generations and family reunions, as well as couples, singles, and groups of friends.
Organized Activities for 2023
Everyday Activities: Every day we will have several activities (peak season) that you can choose to participate in. Some examples of the activities we offer are target shooting with .22 rifles or BB guns, hatchet and knife throwing, archery, horse games, fishing instruction, themed trail rides, team penning, unguided tubing the river, unguided hiking, unguided mountain biking, and roping practice. We even offer the prospect of western photos. Activities are subject to change without notice. Typically horseback rides go out in the morning and equine activities are through by 4pm, then you can join in our other instructed activities. Each day a different activity will be instructed and offered in the afternoon. You will also find time to enjoy things on your own like hiking, swimming, UTV exploring, fishing and more.
Evening Entertainment: At night you can join in as we sit around the campfire, take part in wine tasting, enjoy mountain man and cowboy stories, scavenger hunts, listen to authentic western entertainment, board games, play a hand of poker, take a sunset UTV ride, or take part in our line dancing. Evening activities vary from day to day and are offered only during our peak season. Our location makes for spectacular star gazing. We focus on relaxation and encourage families to enjoy time together sharing the days stories.
Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is excellent in the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Gros Ventre Valley area, with one of the largest fish populations in the country. The Gros Ventre River is home to the native cutthroat trout; this river runs through the meadows of our historic Goosewing Ranch. If you love to fish in a peaceful and remote location, Wyoming is the place for you.
For those who are interested in fly-fishing for the first time, or wish to improve knowledge and skills of the sport, we offer fly-fishing instruction twice a week or by request on our stocked pond (this is not a guide service). We have equipment available for those guests who would like to participate in this activity. We also have fishing pontoon float rafts, fly rods, spinner rods, flies, lures, and additional fishing equipment available at the ranch for guests to use. Children under 12 years of age can use spinner rods only. Maps of great fishing locations are available at the main office. Fishing is best early June (before heavy runoff) and early August through September. Late June to July the snow runoff can create muddy water and poor fishing. Even during June and July there are many areas with great fishing still available including a trophy lake.
If fishing away from the ranch, a fishing license is required and costs $14 per day (this permit can be purchased at the ranch or online through the Wyoming Game and Fish Website).
River and Water activities
River and Water activities
The Gros Ventre River can provide great fun for those that enjoy water sports. We have inner tubes available for our guests to use to float the river. Start at the ranch and end at the bridge just two miles down river. This is best enjoyed in July and August, and for children 8 and up. This is not guided and floaters need to know how to swim and be prepared for cold water. Those loving to sunbath can take the float tubes or the canoe to some of the local lakes and relax under the sun. You can also go for a swim in our pond and swim to the little island. If the river is to cold or wild for your sense of adventure then enjoy our heated swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Horseback rides can be arranged to include a stop at a local swimming hole or even a chance to swim with your horse (peak season only and must pass a riding test)! There are no life guards at any of these locations. Swim or participate at your own risk.
There is NOT a pool at the ranch. There are 3 hot tubs for guests use.
On Your Own
On Your Own
Things available for you to use on the Ranch unguided
UTV/ATVs, Inner Tubes, Mountain bikes, hiking trails and maps, fishing gear (spinner and fly), canoes, fishing pontoons, camping gear, tepee for a night out of your cabin, pool table, Foosball table, shuffle board table, board games, books to enjoy, play ground, pool, hot tub, sauna, fire rings, ropes.
New hot tubs.
The ranch has an outdoor hot tub and a sauna. Area has a deck with lounge chairs, perfect for sun tanning. Under the pergola, a shaded cocktail area overlooks the pond. Bring your swim suit and flip flops. Towels are provided, and robes are provided for adults.
