Trail Riding, Horse Packing and Related Associations

The Backcountry Horsemen of America are dedicated to preserving the historical use of recreational stock in the back country commensurate with our heritage.

BCH of Alabama, 2527 Danville Rd, Decatur, AL 35603 Website: www.alabamahorsemen.com

BCH of Arizona, PO Box 4486, Chino Valley AZ 86323 Website: www.bchaz.org

BCH of California, P. O. Box 40007, Bakersfield CA 93384-0007 Phone:1-888-302-BCHC (2242) Website: www.bchc.org/

BCH of Colorado, PO Box 1309, Elizabeth, CO 80107 Website: www.bchcolorado.org

BCH of South Georgia, PO Box 812, Farmington, GA 30638 Phone: (404)234-9993 www.bchsg.org

BCH of Idaho, PO Box 513, Salmon ID 83467-0513 Website: www.bchi.org

BCH of Illinois, RR 2 Box 214, Golconda, IL 62938 Phone 618-672-4841

Hoosier BCH, Indiana, Rt 1 Box 321, Springville IN 47462 Phone:  812-825-2339 www.hoosierbackcountryhorsemen.org

Kentucky BCH, 368 Votaw Lane, Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Phone: (659)366-5047 Website: www.kybackcountryhorse.org

Show Me Missouri BCH, 751 S Sparks, Springfield MO 65802
showmebch.com

BCH of Montana, PO Box 4864, Butte, MT 59701  Website: www.bchmt.org

BCH of Nevada, PO Box 3194, Reno NV 89505 Phone: 775-267-4201 www.bchn.us

BCH of New Mexico, PO Box 37005, Albuquerque, NM 87176 Website: www.bchnm.org

BCH of North Carolina, PO Box 158, Lake Junaluska NC 28745-0158 Phone: 828-734-6313 www.backcountryhorsemenofnc.com

BCH of Oregon, 37245 Wheeler Rd, Pleasant Hill OR 97455 Phone: 541-746-4547 www.bcho.org

BCH of Eastern Tennessee, 853 Glendale Rd, Jonesborough,Tennessee 37659 www.bchet.org

BCH of Utah, PO Box 13195, Ogden UT 84412-3195 Phone: 801-985-1909 www.bchu.com

Virginia BCH, 55 Lost Creek Lane, Buena Vista, VA 24416 Website: bchva.org

BCH of Washington, Inc., 110 W 6th Ave PMB 393, Ellensburg WA 98926 www.bchw.org

BCH OF West Virginia, PO Box 216, Wardensville, WV 26851 Phone: (304)897-5795 bchwv.org

BCH of Wyoming, 2446 Spriggs Dr, Lander WY 82520 Website: www.wyobch.org

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. The Leave No Trace organization builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wild lands.

The Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA) proudly represents the finest professional outfitting and guiding services to be found anywhere in the world. Over 200 premiere hunting, fishing and outdoor Montana adventures await you. These outfitters and guides are committed to ensuring your Montana adventure is a trip that creates memories that will last a lifetime.

Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School in Swan Valley, Montana offers you the latest in hunting guide school instruction, hunting techniques and hunting outfitter and adventurer training taught by recognized experts and professionals. They now offer a 6 day packing school, geared toward recreational packing and backcountry wrangling.

The Long Riders Guild provides education and encouragement to people interested in equestrian travel. It is the world's first International Association of Equestrian Explorers.

The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a primitive and challenging backcountry trail on or near the Continental Divide that provides people with the opportunity to experience the unique and incredibly scenic qualities of the area. The CDT will eventually be a 3,100 mile trail, traveling from Canada to Mexico, through five western states - Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) stretches across more than 6,800 miles and 15 states, and is the only coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreational trail in the United States. Linking communities, cities, parks and wilderness, the ADT allows people to hike, bike or ride horses for an afternoon or a cross-country adventure.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) zigzags its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. The PCT boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's eco zones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and arctic-alpine country. Indeed, the PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience.

The Colorado Trail connects almost 500 miles of Colorado's stately Rocky Mountains as it threads its way from Denver to Durango over eight spectacular mountain ranges, through six national forests, six wilderness areas and the headwaters of five major river systems, reaching its highest point at 13,334 feet. Ecosystem diversity on the Trail ranges from plains near Denver to canyon country, forests, lush river valleys and high alpine tundra making this trail a unique challenge for trail riders and long riders.

The American Donkey and Mule Society maintains informative web sites for those interested in the long-eared equines - the cousins of the more well-known horse. From Miniature to Mammoth, Mule to Zorse, they have facts, photos, a catalog of literature, resources, and much more.

The American Trail Horse Association, Inc was designed to meet the needs of today's Trail Rider. By providing identification, and registration, we provide proof of ownership and identity to equines that are registered of all breeds and those that cannot be registered purebred.

The goal of Packsaddling Australia is to help promote the world of packing, in Australia, whether it be using horses, mules, camels or donkeys. It's all about enjoying the best that Australia has to offer. Not living in Australia? You will still find a lot of good information about packing and trail riding and can enjoy the beautiful pictures.

Lucky Three Ranch, Training Mules and Donkeys with Meredith Hodges: Meredith’s equine training program for beginning through advanced levels is the only correspondence course of its kind. You won’t find gimmicks or shortcuts here. These safe, resistance-free techniques, used in sequential order, build a foundation based on trust and bring amazing results.

Riding Around... Trail Information and Trail Riding Programs

The AQHA Ride Program annually hosts some 90 rides throughout the world. All horse enthusiasts are welcome to participate. A portion of the proceeds benefit the American Quarter Horse Foundation and a local charity selected by the host affiliates. With the Frequent Rider Card Passport, AQHA members can earn awards by attending numerous AQHA trail rides in one season.

Few things in life can rejuvenate the soul like a leisurely horseback ride on your American Paint Horse. Enroll in the APHA Ride America Program and earn awards while enjoying yourself.

The North American Trail Ride Conference is one of a number of competitive trail ride organizations in the United States.

Visit Horse Trail Directory.com -- Horse Trails and Campgrounds for horse trails and campgrounds throughout North America. You can view rider's ratings of trails and camps and get local weather forecasts to help plan your trip.

For a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription fee, Trail Source gives you access to trail information including description and topographic maps for thousands of trails worldwide.

For a collection of trails and places to camp and ride submitted by trail riders, visit Horse & Mule Trail Guide USA . This web site lists horse campgrounds, trail head's, trails, overnight places to stay and 5 day rides or trail rides that are BYOH trail rides that are open to the public. This site is for people who have their own horses and mules. There are also links to other pages that have camping and trail information listed.

Looking for a family friendly getaway in the Ozarks? Redbeard's Ranch is a peaceful, scenic, 295-acre, family-oriented campground in Missouri Ozark hill country with approximately 1 mile of Niangua River frontage.  Shaded campsites line the riverfront while the wooded hills and open meadows are ideal for other activities such as horseback riding, hiking, bird-watching, and hunting (in season). Bring your own tent, or let someone else do the work - Glamping (Glamourous Camping) is also available.

TrailMeister.com is a website that provides free trail information such as gear reviews, professionally created trail maps, trail descriptions and trailhead directions for many riding areas in Washington and Ohio.

Favorite Trail Riding Publications and Programs

Trail Rider Magazine is America's Premier Trail and Pleasure Riding Magazine

Mules and More magazine covers everything, from jacks and jennets to all kinds of mules. Don't miss the annual Jack issue. Every equine enthusiast can find useful articles and interesting columns in this magazine. Advertising and articles covering your needs from training, to trailers, to tack and harness gear and reviews of shows, trail rides, and a calendar of upcoming mule, donkey and horse sales and shows, as well as trail rides and other events.

Every month, inside Western Mule magazine you can read all about Mules and Mule lovers. Learn the things people do with their mules and just about anything to do with mules, such as Trail Riding, Packing, Hunting, Showing, Training, Raising, Breeding, and much more.

Western Horseman has been the leader in its category through the years partly because the people who have worked for the magazine also have been involved in the horse industry, with interests ranging from horse shows and rodeo, ranching, trail riding, polo and cutting. No other horse publication carries such a wide variety of topics, which include equine health care, training, breeding, competition, packing and trail riding, ranching, horse and human personality features and historical articles.

Visiting Northwest Montana?

Glacier National Park preserves over 1,000,000 acres of forests, alpine meadows, and lakes. It is home to 70+ species of mammals and 260+ species of birds. The spectacular glaciated landscape contains 700 miles of maintained trails that lead deep into one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states.

The Bob Marshall Foundation (BMF) is dedicated to bringing citizens together to become active wilderness stewards in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. This site also includes updated trail conditions.

Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge is a 2,000 acre, family operated Montana dude ranch. Nestled in a bay on the east shore of Flathead Lake, Averill's ranch features horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Montana as well as a variety of other activities including fishing, sailing and swimming.

Swan Mountain Outfitters is a premier full service horseback based Montana Outfitter.  Offerings include guided hunting trips, guided fishing trips floating down Swan River or into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, summer pack trips from three to 6 days into the Bob Marshall Wilderness and trail rides in Glacier National Park and the Swan Valley.

The Spotted Bear Ranch lies deep in the woods of remote Northwest Montana, between Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness – a place where fish and wildlife reign. Here, cutthroat trout attack flies with a vengeance. Large animals leave tracks in every direction. And humans, far outnumbered, share the adventure experience of a lifetime.

The Glacier Raft Company offers family whitewater river rafting trips or wilderness adventures on vacation along Montana's Flathead Rivers surrounding Glacier National Park. Experience some of Northwest Montana's finest trout fishing. Plus, log cabin rentals just 5 minutes from the West Entrance to Glacier National Park.

At the Riverbed Angler Resort, you can stay in cabins set on a ridge overlooking the Bighorn River. Their location is ideal for fly fishing, bird hunting and relaxing.

Barn, Stable and Ranch Accessories

For superior tack organization and storage, accept nothing less than TackRack by Dry Creek Tack. Designed for complete customization, TackRack lets you create a unique storage system to organize your stable and keep your equipment dry and accessible.

Miscellaneous

Bernice Ende, Montana's own Lady Long Rider, has now ridden over 18,000 miles across both the US and Canada. She travels alone (except for her three horses and her rescue dog, Claire), stays outside with her animals even when offered a bed, and can not envision living life another way. We have helped Bernice with her gear for many years, and consider her a much loved member of the Outfitters Supply family. Learn more about Bernice and read her journal excerpts at EndeoftheTrail.com.

See classified ads for horses nationwide at Horse Classifieds - FreeHorseAds.com and Horsetopia Classifieds.

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