Choosing the Right Ride: Your Guide to the Perfect Horseback Adventure in Pemberton, BC
When you’re planning a horseback riding experience in British Columbia, it helps to know exactly what kind of terrain, pace, and adventure you’re signing up for. At Copper Cayuse Outfitters, we offer both Valley Rides and Mountain Rides, each showcasing a different side of this incredible region. Whether you're visiting from Whistler for the day, travelling through on a BC road trip, or dreaming of a bucket-list horse riding holiday, here's how to choose the ride that’s right for you.
Valley Rides: Flat, Scenic & Perfect for All Riders
1-Hour and 2-Hour Rides
If you’re looking for a gentle yet genuinely engaging trail ride, our Valley rides are the ideal place to start. These rides travel across flat, fertile farm country, with a mix of winding forest sections and refreshing creek crossings. The terrain is friendly and open, which makes it perfect for riders wanting something relaxed to take in the beautiful scenery.
Even though these are our most beginner-friendly rides, you’ll still be guiding and communicating with your horse. Our horses are well trained, but you’ll need balance, clear cues, and a little strength to help your horse navigate the trail that combines farming roads, creek entrances, and snackable forested trail.
Terrain & Pace
Mostly flat through farmland, along farming roads, dykes, creeks and winding forest trail
Beautiful views down the Pemberton Meadows to Mt Currie
The 2-hour ride often offers opportunities for faster paces, depending on group ability and trail conditions
Valley Rides are great if you:
Are a beginner or feeling unsure
Want a ride that’s relaxing and scenic
Prefer gentler terrain
Are short on time or visiting from Whistler for a quick adventure
Are an experienced rider looking to reconnect with horses or a quick ride - we recommend booking a private ride as an Intermediate rider to enjoy a faster pace. Most riders on our hourly rides are beginners and we will ride to the slowest pace on our public rides.
The Valley is peaceful, beautiful, and accessible, making it a great fit for almost everyone.
Mountain Rides: Steep, Technical & Truly Unforgettable
Half Day, Full Day, Three Day, Four Day, and Retreats
If you’re craving something bold, rugged, and uniquely British Columbia, our Mountain rides deliver an experience you won’t find in many places in the world. These routes venture deep into the Coast Mountains, featuring steep climbs, technical descents, river crossings, rocky trails, and big backcountry views.
This is true mountain riding - challenging, rewarding, and immersive. Even experienced riders often tell us they’ve never ridden terrain like this before.
Terrain & Pace
Lots of steep mountain terrain—uphill and downhill
River crossings and rugged forest trails
Technical riding that requires balance, willingness, and communication with your horse
Due to the terrain, faster paces aren’t always possible or appropriate. Longer rides have more opportunities for canters, depending on the group’s ability.
Instead, you’ll experience a style of riding that’s new to most riders - technical, steep and exploratory.
Mountain Rides are great if you:
Are a confident beginner who’s athletic and ready for a challenge
Are comfortable taking instructions and working with your horse
Want an adventurous ride near Whistler that goes beyond the typical trail tour
Are an experienced rider wanting something technically interesting and visually stunning
Want a bucket-list horseriding holiday that fosters deep connection, exploration and time outdoors out of service.
Our Three Day and Four Day Trips and our Retreats take this to the next level - wilderness camps, alpine lakes, stargazing, mountain sunrises, and days spent exploring terrain that few ever get to see from horseback.
How to Choose Your Ride
Here’s a simple way to narrow it down:
Choose a Valley Ride if:
You want a gentle introduction to horseback riding
You prefer flat or moderate terrain
You’re new or uncertain and need a confidence boost
You want opportunities for a little speed on the 2-hour ride (book a private ride if you’re an Intermediate+ rider)
You’re looking for a short adventure during your Whistler stay
Choose a Mountain Ride if:
You’re athletic, adventurous, and excited to try mountain terrain
You have good balance and are comfortable following guidance
You want a longer, more immersive ride
You’re seeking a rare, authentic BC backcountry riding experience
You want something technically challenging - even if you’re experienced
If you're an experienced rider
We definitely recommend our Mountain Rides, as it is often a new type of riding even for experienced riders. However, our hourly ride are still enjoyable for intermediate riders looking for a quick ride, to reconnect with horses, are short on time, or want to go for a quick rip. To ensure you have the best possible time, we recommend booking a Private ride, as most of our hourly riders are Beginners and will dictate the speed that we ride. By booking a private ride, we can ride to your ability level.
Start Your Horseback Adventure in BC
No matter which ride you choose, you’ll get to experience the natural beauty of Pemberton and the Coast Mountains in a way that only horseback travel can offer. Whether you’re a first-time rider or planning a full horse riding holiday in British Columbia, your adventure starts with choosing the ride that matches your comfort, curiosity, and sense of exploration.