HORSES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE DURING THE SHORT STAY PERIODS. Getting your luggage packed from or to Florence Lake will cost $200 for the packer. Pack horses and riding horses to and from the ranch and Florence Lake are $60. So the packer and one pack horse charge will be a minimum of $260.

Pack trips

Pack trips from the ranch are available ONLY to guests staying at least one night. Charge for the packer is $250 per day, $125 per pack horse, and $125 per saddle horse. A packer/guide can accompany up to five riders. We can pack to locations in the Sierra National Forest and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. The most popular pack trip destinations are Sallie Keyes Lakes in the forest and Evolution Valley in the park.

We will haul a backpack for any hiker who stays at least one night, or who arranges to pick up a resupply at the ranch.

If you want an overnight pack trip, you will need to contact us several months in advance so we can arrange with the Park Service or Forest Service. You will need to arrange for the necessary wilderness permits in advance also. It all comes down to: Plan Ahead.

Horseback riding conditions—Applies to all riders

The minimum age to ride a horse is 6 years. Riding helmets are required for everyone up through age 12. Bicycle helmets are approved for horseback riding. Due to insurance requirements, we cannot allow riding without a guide. We do not allow double riding; it’s one person per horse. There is an additional charge of 3% which is paid to the USDA Forest Service for use of forest trails.

We have an absolute weight limit for riders—250 pounds (113 kg), and the rider must be in very good physical condition with an athletic build, not overweight.