Enjoy a private, scenic, guided horseback ride along Lake Natoma's American River, led by certified wranglers. Spot local wildlife like mule deer, coyotes, jackrabbits, squirrels, vultures, and red-tailed hawks on your western trail adventure.
Private Horseback Trail Ride near Sacramento - Weekend
Summary Description
Highlights
- Ride along the American River, Lake Natoma & Nimbus Dam
- Potential encounters with local wildlife
- Guided rides led by certified local wranglers
Description
Shadow Glen Riding Stables is pleased to offer scenic western trail rides along the American River at Lake Natoma. All horseback rides are fully guided by certified wranglers knowledgeable of the area. Some of the wildlife you may encounter include Mule Deer, North American Coyote, Black-Tail Jackrabbit, Western Gray, and Douglas Squirrel, Turkey Vultures, and Red-tailed Hawk.
You will also see Nimbus Dam, and evidence of the historic mining done from this portion of the American River, native plants, trees, wildlife, and waterfowl. The scenery in our area is beautiful and varied. Some portions are in full sun and others are more treed and shaded. This is not a flat ride through a pasture; you will get to go up and down hills and through the trees.
Included / Excluded
- An expert-guided experience
- Helmets are provided at no cost
- A beautiful and fun ride!
- No loping on trail rides
- No double-riding
- See FAQs for answers to common questions
Start / End Locations
Important Information
Know Before You Book
- Release forms must be signed by all riders.
- Max weight - 300lbs. If over, please call for arrangements
- Please call for special needs arrangements
- Children must be at least 7 years old to ride – no exceptions.
- Riders 15 years of age or younger MUST be accompanied by an adult
- Riders must wear close-toed shoes and long pants
- ALL riders under 18 must wear a helmet (provided - no cost)
Cancellation
Cancellation Cutoff: 24 hours
Cancellation Notes: Please cancel 24 hours in advance if you wish a refund. Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or a no-show will result in no refund being issued.
Options and Pricing
| 1-Hour Trail Ride - Weekend - Private | RETAIL PRICE |
|---|---|
| Adult (7 - years) | $82.00 |
Points of interest
Terms and Conditions
Release forms must be signed before the ride begins. These forms can be found on our website at www.shadowglenstables.com.
We ride in the rain. Rides may be canceled (or rescheduled) due to high temperatures, heavy rain and/or heavy wind – riders will be notified the morning of the ride if it is going to be canceled. Riders are not financially responsible for the ride in the event the ride is canceled by Shadow Glen Riding Stables.
Additional Information
Return & Cancellation Policy
Our cancellation and refund policies vary depending on the type of booking (trail rides, lessons, and camps). These policies are clearly outlined in the descriptions for each activity on our website and within the PeekPro booking system.
• Trail Rides: Guests must provide at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a trail ride in order to receive a full refund.
• Lessons: A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule a lesson for a full refund.
• Camps: Cancellations require 48 hours’ notice or a valid doctor's note to be eligible for a refund.
• Gift Cards & Vouchers: You can return an unused gift card or voucher for a refund, within 30 days of purchase. Gift card and voucher refunds are typically processed within 7 business days, but may take up to 10 in some cases.
If you have any additional questions regarding our cancellation policy, please feel free to reach out to our team.
FAQ
My son/daughter is not quite 7, can my child ride on the same horse with me?
“Double riding,” as this is called, is very unsafe for both the adult and the child. We value your child's safe experience at our stable and would never want to put him/her in jeopardy. There are no exceptions to this policy for any reason.
I have a lot of experience, so can I take a horse out on my own?
Our trails are not your basic boring pasture ride – there are lots of different routes, wildlife, and state park users – all of which are experienced guides are here to help you navigate, so we cannot send you out alone. We also love our horses like family and would not want to risk their well-being. Most people are wonderful to our animals, but it only takes one bad experience to undo years of training. There are no exceptions to this policy.
I want to get on a horse and run – can we do that?
Simply put – No. If you want to go on a fast-paced ride at breakneck speed – please look elsewhere. We are situated in the Gold Fields of the Folsom Lake Recreation Area and it is very rocky in some areas. We also share the trails with mountain bike riders and hikers. Approaching others at a lope, gallop or run puts riders, horses and other park visitors at risk. These two elements coupled together make loping on a trail ride extremely risky. If you are interested in learning to lope please talk to us about taking a lesson series where we are able to teach you how to properly control a horse at a walk, trot, and lope. No loping on trail rides in no negotiable, but we would love to teach you to lope in a lesson series.
I have a ton of riding experience, is this ride going to bore me?
No! We have beautiful trails, well-trained horses and guides who have a ton of information about the area. The trails go up and down hills, through wooded and open areas, down to Lake Natoma – this is not your boring, flat ride through a pasture! Come see what the Folsom Lake Recreation Area has to offer.
Can I pick my horse?
We will match you with your horse based on size, training, and personality. Certain horses are appropriate for children, adults, beginners and advanced riders. We are often told our horses are the best rental horses people have been on. Our horses are not dead sided or broken down – they are happy, healthy animals who seem to genuinely enjoy human companionship. Please let us find you a good riding companion!
How long is the one-hour trail ride?
Yes, people really do ask this. It is actually about 62 minutes, but who is counting right? We assume people must mean distance, so it is approximately 3.5 miles. All rides include views of the lake.
Do you do birthday parties?
We would be happy to provide horseback riding for a birthday activity, but we do not provide and food, decorations or entertainment beyond the horse ride. We do have a picnic area you are welcome to use to have cake before or after the ride but ask that you not bring streamers, balloons or pinatas – as much as children love these things, horses do not. For every 3 children 12 and undergoing on the ride, 1 adult must go on the ride as well.
Do you have discounts?
Not at the moment. If we offer discounts in the future we will include the information on this website.
I want to take my niece/nephew/neighbor's child/grandchild, etc. on a trail ride. Can I?
Of course! Please make sure you have the child's custodial guardian signs the Release of Liability available on this website. We cannot let individuals under 18 ride without the consent of the parent or guardian.
Why do you need my credit card to make a reservation?
Whenever we book a ride for someone we are paying out money as well. We have to pay staff, make sure horses have shoes, shots, and feed. We also can't book other riders in the time slot and a number of riders being held by reservation. This means if you don't show up we lost money and the potential for other businesses. We will charge the credit card on file if riders do not show up, or fail to cancel by the close of business the day before. For example, if someone had a reservation for 1:30 on Saturday they would need to cancel no later than 4:00 on Friday to avoid being charged for the entire cost of the ride.
What if it is rainy or windy? Will I still be charged?
No, we will call you as soon as we are certain the ride will be canceled to try to reschedule. We will not charge your card if for any reason you can't reschedule.
Why can't I just come in and go for a ride? Why do you have to know in advance? How far in advance do I need reservations? Etc.
Our facility has gotten very busy! We recommend making reservations for weekend rides 4-5 days in advance. If you are aiming for a particular time, day or have 5 or 6 people even more notice is usually recommended.
About operator:
Shadow Glen Riding Stables has been serving the Sacramento area for over 45 years. We are nestled in a corner of Mississippi Bar, connected to approximately 10,000 acres of designated California State Park horse trails. Once here, you can feel the “Old West” and know you are in for a great time. Our location has gold mining history … and the remnants are easily seen along our scenic trails. Our trails take you down to the American River at Lake Natomas and as far up as Folsom Lake and Granite Bay. These trails connect to the Pioneer Express Trail, the Western States Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail – all of which are historically and ecologically significant. You can ride to vernal pools, lagoons, lakeside and to protected wetlands for migrating fowl. Guests often see coyotes, deer, jackrabbits, gray squirrels, wild turkeys, and bobcats.
Shadow Glen offers a variety of activities including trail rides, private riding lessons, horse boarding, summer camps for kids, group lessons and other “hands-on” horse adventures. We also offer special events – so keep an eye on our website and sign-up for our newsletter. All our guides are certified Wranglers and Instructors who are CPR and First Aid certified. Our goal is a fun, safe adventure and a chance to really experience the “Old West”.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Shadow Glen offers a variety of activities including trail rides, private riding lessons, horse boarding, summer camps for kids, group lessons and other “hands-on” horse adventures. We also offer special events – so keep an eye on our website and sign-up for our newsletter. All our guides are certified Wranglers and Instructors who are CPR and First Aid certified. Our goal is a fun, safe adventure and a chance to really experience the “Old West”.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Basic Information
- Duration: 1 hour - 2 hours
- Trip difficulty: Easy
- Max Group Size: 8
- Category: Outdoor Adventure
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