If your preferred mode of transport for exploring new country is on the back of a horse, you're in luck. Horses are permitted in Arches, though there are restrictions on their use and where they can go. Please read through the following regulations before you arrive in the park.
- Effective September 6, 2016, horseback riding and pack animal use is restricted to day-use only. The park is revisiting the Backcountry Management Plan to examine impacts caused by increased use in the backcountry.
- Horses, mules and burros are designated as pack animals. No other animals, including llamas and goats, are designated as pack animals.
- The use of saddle and pack animals is permitted in the following roadless areas: Salt Wash upstream from the Delicate Arch road, Courthouse Wash and Seven Mile Canyon.
- All travel in roadless areas is confined to the wash bottoms. Leaving wash bottoms to avoid quicksand when it is present is an exception to this regulation.
- Use is permitted on all designated four-wheel roads within the park, which include: The Willow Springs road, the "four-wheel-drive road" (from Salt Valley to Willow Flats including the Tower Arch loop road) and the Cache Valley road.
- Use is permitted on the following two-wheel drive, non-paved roads: Salt Valley road from the main park road to the park's west boundary and the Klondike Bluffs road.
- Maximum group size for trips is 10 people and 10 pack animals.
- Where possible, horses will be watered downstream from the source. All manure dropped in or near any spring or non-flowing water source must be immediately removed to avoid contamination.
- At trailheads and other loading areas, any manure spilled from the trailering unit, fresh excrement, or feed must be picked up prior to departing.
- Horses must be picketed in locations which least damage the vegetation. Animals may not be directly tied to trees and other vegetation except tamarisk (salt cedar). Animals may be tied directly to this exotic species.
- Grazing, or loose herding of pack and saddle stock is not allowed in the park and horse and pack stock users are required to carry feed for overnight trips. In the backcountry, the use of loose hay or grain containing viable seeds is prohibited. Stock users are required to carry supplemental weed free feed on all trips.
