Ride. Witness. Be Inspired.
At Academy Riding Stables, we offer breathtaking wrangler-led horseback rides through the Garden of the Gods park in Colorado Springs, CO. We are located about 90 minutes south of Denver and just minutes from Manitou Springs.
- 2 hours
- Ages 11 and older, Minors must be accompanied with a parent or guardian. For the safety of our riders, regardless of age., we cannot allow more than one rider per horse
This two-hour tour is designed for beginner to advanced riders and allows you to experience the entire breadth of the enchanting beauty that the Garden of the Gods offers.
Seasonal Horseback Riding Tours Schedule
Winter Schedule
September 5 – April 30
One-Hour Rides
10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Two-Hour Rides
10:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Summer Schedule
May 1 – September 4
One-Hour Rides
9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Two-Hour Rides
9:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Horse Boarding in Colorado Springs
Currently all full!
The Best Colorado Springs Horseback Ridings!

This was an amazing experience and I am very happy I booked with Academy! I searched many stables in the area and ultimately settled on taking the one hour tour. I was more than impressed. All staff is so very friendly and caring, they walk you through every instruction so you feel comfortable, they take amazing care of the horses, and best of all they don't judge your skill level. First you go through the safety and training, then they match you with a horse (which they do very well!) The guides on the trail provide a lot of geographical and historical information. Their process for safety of the tour was really easy to follow and they were very attentive to what was going on with all the horses. The views are amazing, there is no better way to see Garden of the Gods. I am so so sooooo happy I rode with Academy.
– Amanda | Tripadvisor
Our girls loved this tour. The views and scenery were amazing and the staff was "incredible". They are experienced riders and were hesitant to do a guided tour, as they can often drag based on others in the group. This was not the case and the trail lead kept things fun, interesting and engaging. Most importantly, they did not feel like herded cattle. Well done Academy Riding Stables.
– CrashPusher | Tripadvisor
This was definitely a good riding experience! We opted for the 2-hour ride and are so glad we did! The stables are very well-maintained and all the staff members were super friendly. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the various sites in Garden of the Gods and about the region in general. We'll be back for more!
– Ash B. | Tripadvisor
We took the 2-hour ride option through the Garden of the Gods. The ride was a fun way to get a guided overview of the park. My wife is a very experienced rider, and I am very inexperienced - but we both had an enjoyable time. The horses seemed well cared for, and the equipment was in good shape. The park itself is stunning, and definitely a must-see if you visit Colorado Springs.
– Brian W. | Tripadvisor
We had a wonderful time riding through Garden of the Gods. The staff was excellent and lots of fun. They pointed out all of the great sites. We ride on every vacation. This was the greatest one yet. I definitely recommend the 2 hour ride to make it worth your while. Make sure you take a ride with them.
– myoung215 | Tripadvisor
Took our family of 4 on a 2 hour ride though Garden of the Gods, it was amazing. Highly recommend it. The trail was challenging at a couple of points but we had a 8 yr old first time rider successfully complete. You ride your own horse and get excellent instruction. The horses are well trained and cared for. The views were great in fall.
– Tara M. | Tripadvisor
First we went to the Garden of the Gods visitor center and the traffic was crazy with nowhere to park. Good thing we’d already booked a horseback ride! This was a peaceful and unique way to view the gorgeous sandstone rock formations from a quiet trail with no crowds or traffic or parking issues. Horses were obviously very well cared for and the ones running free in the paddock behind the stable seemed quite happy. My horse was a total sweetheart and knew the terrain very well - he basically did his thing and let me enjoy the views. Great for beginners (or even people who have never ridden before - the horses are that well trained) and a cute date idea if in the CO Springs area!
– brogake | Tripadvisor
This seems like a well-run operation. The staff hand-picks a horse for you based on your size and your experience. They communicate with each other and with the riders effectively. Allie and Connor were excellent guides - I was in the middle of the line, but could still hear everything Allie had to say. The two-hour tour gave me a chance to see the beautiful Garden of the Gods. I am not a regular rider, but I am always on the lookout for signs that animals are not well-cared for --didn't see any suggestions of this at ARS.
– CTLovesToTravel | Tripadvisor
I took a two hour riding tour of the Garden of the Gods. The area was so beautiful I couldn't stop craning my neck to look around. That might have been a problem if the horse hadn't been so great! Cheyeene was easy to ride, sure footed and never showed any signs of spooking even when we passed some trail construction. My guide Kevin was friendly and knowledgable about the area. Thanks for the great time, I'll be back next year.
– Laura K. | Tripadvisor