Hondoo Rivers & Trails
Hondoo Rivers & Trails
Discover Utah's canyon country
In 1975, Patricia Kearney and Gary George founded Hondoo Rivers and Trails. Hondoo is headquartered in the midst of the canyonlands at Torrey, Utah near Capitol Reef National Park. Pat and Gary share a passion for the social and natural history of this extraordinary region and have imbued their trips with this knowledge and appreciation.
Sensitive to the fragile environment they visit, Pat and Gary have labored to be on the cutting edge of their trade. In implementing best practices management with low-impact camping techniques, small group size, well-maintained equipment and top notch horses, Hondoo leads where land managers and other outfitters have followed.
In addition to outfitting PBS’s “Time Team America” and sharing a segment of “Equitrekking,” Hondoo’s backcountry adventures have been featured in many prestigious publications including the New York Times, National Geographic Explorer, Sunset Magazine and Western Horseman. Observers have lauded their guide service for its educational value, and the experience and professionalism of their crews.
Good to know
- Book with confidence: refund or free rebookings
- Covid-secure protocols in place
- Leading specialist in Utah horseback, jeep & hiking tours
Key information
| Destinations | Utah |
|---|---|
| Activity | Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Camping, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism |
| Tour Type | Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
Hondoo Rivers & Trails Reviews
What people are saying about Hondoo Rivers & Trails
Mark B
08/10/2020
This 5 day horseback trip met and exceeded all of my expectations! Hondoo staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and patient (instruction on horsemanship). The rides were all incredible - great horses and great scenery. Pat plans out these trips with great detail. Camp site is set up well, meals were awesome - seriously well cooked meals. If you enjoy tent camping, great food, great scenery, and beautiful horses - THIS IS YOUR TRIP! I am going back again!
C Durand
17/08/2020
We just returned from a 5-day trip in Dixie National Forest with Hondoo. Our camp was at ~8,500 ft. in a beautiful clearing surrounded by trees and a creek. From there, we did day trip rides (4-6+ hours of riding a day, depending on the day) ranging from 8,000 to almost 11,000 ft. We had amazing views of Capitol Reef National Park and rode up to a pristine mountain lake on the second to last day. Pat and Cabe were experienced and helpful guides, and Roger was a great cook and storyteller. The camp was comfortable and even had a hot shower (a gravity bucket), which was a first for us in the backcountry. Our 9-year old daughter, who loves to ride, had an incredible trip (she rated it a 20 on a scale of 1-10). We're already thinking about another trip with Hondoo for next year. Highly recommended!
Susan R
20/08/2020
3, 50’ish ladies just completed the Capital Reef, 5 day Horsebackriding/camping trip with Hondoo. We all agree our horses were some of the best we have ever ridden. Before embarking on out trip we bombarded Pat with so many emails and phone calls on what her protocols were to keep us all safe during COVID. They did a spectacular job. We were very comfortable with all the precautions. Our tents and supplied bedding were top notch. Our group was joined by another group of 3 who had various dietary restrictions and requests. All were addressed and executed to everyone’s expectations, not an easy task!
We have taken several trips like this one in different states. We enjoyed this one so much we will be back to take another itinerary next year. Thank you!
Hondoo Rivers & Trails tours
Utah Horseback Camping
Guided Utah backcountry tour
| Destinations | Utah |
|---|---|
| Activity | Family, Active, Camping, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks |
| Tour Type | Private guided tour |
Utah Guided Hiking
One-day guided hiking tour
| Destinations | Utah |
|---|---|
| Activity | Family, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks |
| Tour Type | Private guided tour |
Utah Horseback Inn to Inn
Guided Utah backcountry tour
| Destinations | Utah |
|---|---|
| Activity | Family, Active, Horseback Riding, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks |
| Tour Type | Private guided tour |
What's included
All trips with Hondoo Rivers & Trails include the following services. Get in touch to find out more.
| Guided excursions |
Guided hikes, horseback rides and jeep trips with an expert local guide. Guides/wranglers, cook, camp jack and interpretive specialist well versed in canyon lands social and natural history. All park permits included. |
|
| Accommodation |
On multi-day/overnight tours: either camping or inn accommodation, depending on the itinerary. |
|
| Ground transfers |
All transportation during the tour. |
|
| All meals |
On overnight tours: all meals from lunch on day two through lunch on the last day. |
|
| Equipment |
On horseback tours: seasoned mountain horses for novice or experienced riders. Saddle bags and quality tack. |
|
| Camping equipment |
On camping tours: complete outfitting with deluxe base-camp including cooking and dining tents, showers and chairs, canvas sleep tent, cot, foam pad and inflatable Thermarest, freshly laundered sleeping bag, sheet, pillow and blanket and six inch foam sleeping pad or cot. |
Your adventure awaits
Speak to Hondoo Rivers & Trails for expert advice
