Backcountry Horsemen of California (BCHC)

A youth and family oriented nonprofit organization. 

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Resources

Resources

This page provides a list of materials and links from outside the BCH organization. (If you would like to add a useful resource to this list, contact the BCHC Webmaster with your suggestion)

Topics

Trail Construction and Maintenance

Trail Safety

Safety resources for equestrians (in alphabetical order by title)

Packing

Books

  • Back, Joe. Horses, Hitches & Rocky Trails; the Packers Bible. A complete, often humorous presentation of packing horses into the wilderness, amplified by beautiful, often witty, drawings, and step-by-step instructions. ©1959, revised 2018.
  • Davis, Francis W. Horse Packing in Pictures. Everything to know about packing a horse with outstanding illustrations. © 1975.
  • Elser, Smoke and Bill Brown. Packin’ in on Mules and Horses. Professional outfitter’s system for safe, efficient backcountry packing. © 1980.
  • Harmon, Will. Leave No Trace, Minimum Impact Outdoor Recreation. The official manual of the American Hiking Society. The ethics and commonsense practices of backcountry human impact. Falcon Guide. ©1997.
  • Hill, Oliver C. Packing and Outfitting Field Manual. Basic information to plan and take pack trips with excellent knot and hitch tying diagrams, useful menus and equipment lists. 5 th edition, 2005.
  • Post, Charles Johnson. Horse packing: a manual of pack transportation. A practical guide with illustrations and written instructions on hitches, cordage, ropes, splices, knots and more for safe and efficient packing. © 2007.
  • Eversole, Robert. Horse and Mule Adventures with TrailMeister. Eversole helps horse and mule riders have a great time on the trail and in camp through videos, a book, articles, tips, a U.S. trail directory and in-person clinics.

Packer’s Manual

TrailMeister

Recreational Packing Clinic Info BCH Idaho

U.S. Forest Service Pack Mule Program Video

Pack Stations (in alphabetical order)

BCHC provides this information as a resource and does not recommend or promote any pack station.

Central Coast Mountains

  • Johnston Horse Camp: Located in New Cuyama, CA, offers packing lessons, horse camping and mountain pack trips.
    Website: johnstonhorsecamp.com

  • Los Padres Outfitters: Located in Carpenteria, offers pack trips in the Santa Barbara Mountains.
    Website: lospadresoutfitters.com

Southern Sierra Nevada

  • Balch Park Pack Station: Located in Springville, CA, offers custom tailored horseback trips through remote High Sierra Wilderness.
    Website: balchpark.com
    Facebook: Balch Park Pack Station

  • Golden Trout Pack Station: Located in Springville, CA, provides pack trips in the Kern River Canyon, far into the Golden Trout Wilderness.
    Website: goldentroutpacktrains.com

Eastern Sierra Nevada

  • Bishop Pack Outfitters: Located in North Lake, CA, provides backcountry trips to Sabrina Basin, Horton Basin, Lamarck Lakes and Humphries Basin.
    Website: bishoppackoutfitters.net
    Facebook: Bishop Pack Outfitters

  • Cottonwood Pack Station: Located in Lone Pine, CA, offers supported hiking trips and will transport your gear to/from a point you specify or transport you AND your gear by horse/mule to/from a campsite).
    Website: cottonwoodpackstation.com

  • Frontier Pack Station: Located in June Lake, CA, takes people on trail rides and pack trips to lakes over 9,000 feet in elevation.
    Website: frontierpacktrain.com

  • Glacier Pack Train: Located in Big Pine, CA, provides day rides and longer stays at
    Website: glacierpacktrain.com

  • Leavitt Meadow Pack Station: Located on the Eastern base of Sonora Pass off 108, guided trips into the Hoover wilderness and beautiful destinations up to the Northern Borders of Yosemite.
    Website: leavittmeadows.com
    Facebook: Leavitt Meadows

  • Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit: Located in Mammoth Lakes, CA, offers custom pack trips and a myriad of services with options ranging from all-inclusive trips.
    Website: mammothpack.wixsite.com
    Facebook: Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit

  • McGee Creek Pack Station: Located near Mammoth Lakes, CA, offers guided trips into the John Muir Wilderness and other scenic areas of the Eastern Sierra.
    Website: mcgeecreekpackstation.com
    Facebook: McGee Creek Pack Station

  • Red’s Meadow Pack Station: Operating out of Reds Meadow Valley near Mammoth Lakes, offers guided trips into the Ansel Adams Wilderness and other areas in the vicinity.
    Website: redsmeadow.com
    Facebook: Red’s Meadow Pack Station

  • Rainbow Pack Outfitters: Located west of Bishop behind Parchers Resort. A working family business operated since 1924, provides excellent service into the Eastern Sierra backcountry.
    Website: rainbowpackoutfitters.com

  • Rock Creek Pack Station: Situated in the eastern Sierra near Bishop, organizes pack trips into the beautiful wilderness areas surrounding Rock Creek and the John Muir Wilderness.
    Website: rockcreekpackstation.com
    Facebook: Rock Creek Pack Station

  • Virginia Lakes Pack Outfit: Based near Bridgeport, provides guided trips into the Hoover Wilderness, Emigrant Wilderness, and other scenic locations.
    Website: virginialakes.com
    Facebook: Virginia Lakes Pack Outfit

West Central Sierra & Yosemite

  • Aspen Meadow Pack Station, Inc.: Located near Dodge Ridge Ski Area and Pinecrest resort has been guiding riders, hunters and anglers to the Emigrant Wilderness area for more than 80 years.
    Website: aspenmeadowpackstation.com
    Facebook: Aspen Meadow Pack Station

  • Clyde Pack Outfitters: Outfitter and guide service with pack stations out of Dinkey Creek, Courtright and Wishon lakes, serving the John Muir Wilderness.
    Website: clydepackoutfit.com
    Facebook: Clyde Pack Outfitters

  • D & F Pack Station: Located in Lakeshore, CA, offers backcountry overnight pack trips in the Shaver Basin, halfway between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks.
    Website: dfpackstation.co
    Facebook: D&F Pack Station

  • Horse Corral Pack Station: Located between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, offers day rides, overnight pack trips, and resupplies (we haul freight on four legs).
    Facebook: Horse Corral Pack Station

  • High Sierra Pack Station: Located in Lakeshore, CA, offers pack trips for all outdoor lovers: hikers, fishermen, and sightseers.
    Website: highsierrapackstations.com
    Facebook: High Sierra Pack Station

  • Kennedy Meadows Pack Station: Situated near Sonora Pass in the central Sierra, provides guided trips into the Emigrant Wilderness, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, and other scenic areas.
    Website: kennedymeadows.com
    Facebook: Kennedy Meadows Resort

  • Minarets Pack Station: Located on the southern border of Yosemite National Park provides pack service into the Ansel Adam’s Wilderness and Southern Yosemite National Park.
    Website: minaretspack.com
    Facebook: Minarets Pack Station

  • Muir Trail Ranch: Lakeshore, CA, offers horse-assisted trips into the Sierra National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park.
    Website: muirtrailranch.com
    Facebook: Muir Trail Ranch

  • Sequoia Kings Pack Trains, DBA Pine Creek Pack Station and Berners’ Pack Outfits
    Website: sequoiakingspacktrains.weebly.com
    Facebook: Sequoia Kings Pack Trains

Lake Tahoe & Nothern Sierra

  • Reid Horse & Cattle Co.:With operations based in Plumas County, CA, offers pack trips from their Gold Lake Pack Station.
    Website: reidhorse.com

Useful Links

Public Lands and Public Lands Agencies

Organizations

BCHA and Partners

BCHA State Organizations and Affiliates

(State organizations often have several chapters/units with their own websites and Facebook pages – if not listed here, do a Search in your browser for the website or on Facebook)

Support Our Cause

Ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use in America’s backcountry through volunteerism, educational programs and working in conjunction with government agencies.

Join Us
Donate

Our Associates

Back Country Horsemen of America

United States Bureau of Land Management

United States Forest Service

California Conservation Corps

California State Parks

National Park Service

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Leave No Trace