The first time I rode with zephyr cove was probably a decade ago & i loved it so much. So i was…read moreexcited to share this experience with my husband. I surprised him with a hour long trail ride (something he's never gotten to do in Tahoe). We had a 12 ride & arrived about 15 min before, the woman in the office was so kind & welcoming. I believe her name is Louise (hope i got that right), our trail guide shared that her and her husband started Zephyr Cove Stables 40 years ago and her & her sons still run the operation. I thought that was so cool. We were promptly brought our horses to ride, i got Rocky & my husband rode Clyde :) Laya (hope I'm spelling that right) was our guide and she was so awesome, she was attentive to us and the other couple riding. Pointed out plants and shared information about their medicinal benefits. I love having good conversations with strangers, she really was a delight. The ride itself was seriously perfect. All of the horses were calm and well trained. The view throughout the whole ride was captivating. The hour passed so fast, when the ride was done the same man that made sure i mounted rocky safely was there to help me off. I can't say enough great things about Zephyr Cove Stables. It's a must experience while in Tahoe!

DO NOT BOOK UNLESS YOURE LOOKING TO GET YELLED AND CUSSED AT WHILE RIDING…read more On Sunday 06/14/26, I booked a beginner ride at 2:30 pm for 50 minutes. There was a young girl (wearing a red "I heart coke" top and jeans) that was loading me up and only gave me a thirty second instruction on how to use the horses reigns, "left is left, right is right, and pull to stop." My horse and I were at the end of the line. We started our trail ride and my horse began to eat a plant along the way. Our wrangler (a woman with a purple-ish plaid western shirt, silver reflective sunglasses, and a beige cow boy hat with jeans named Leia) began to shout at me to pull the reigns when that happens, "great, now the horse is going to keep doing that because you let her" she shouted in an aggressive tone. I didn't pay much mind to it. Shortly after, my horse got too close to the one behind it and both horses briefly became uneasy and then relaxed. Leia charged at me with her horse towards the end of the line and began throwing "f" bombs, cursing at me, exclaiming I was not mindful of keeping a distance between the two horses. The one in front of me could have kicked and injured my horse as well as myself. I reminded her that this was a beginner trail and I was not aware that the horses needed to have space between, NO ONE had informed me that I needed to be mindful of this detail, we should've had this conversation BEFORE we got on the horses. Additionally, I reminded her that there is absolutely no reason to speak to me so condescendingly, and it's NEVER justifiable to cuss at a customer. She kept saying it's a safety issue, the person who loaded me should've told me, horses are like traffic and their need their space. All of this happened five minutes into the fifty minute trail ride and I was extremely uncomfortable, disrespected, and tense for the rest of the ride. It is also important to note that throughout the trail, Leia was constantly stopping and going, putting all the riders in a difficult position to maintain a distance and not agitate the horses. It was difficult to enjoy the ride or take photos/videos of the scenery. When we finally returned to the stables, Leia approached me and began to apologize for her behavior (all while I was still on the horse and all other riders were off). I asked her repeatedly, over and over, "I want to talk to your boss" and she replied EACH time "that's not necessary". I told her it was imperative that her boss's were made aware of her extremely inappropriate, beyond disrespectful, and appalling behavior but instead, began to say that her boss's wouldn't care to hear my grievances, she had a difficult day with other riders, has to work regardless of rain or shine, that I don't understand what it is like to work difficult hours, and continued to victimize herself and further justify her behavior. I told her I did not accept her apology and I still wanted to see her manager. Finally, I got off the horse. I was inclined to handle this directly with her management on property but as I was walking away, she commented, "I should've let you break your fucking leg". I spoke to an older woman at the front where we paid and signed our waivers. Here, I informed her of Leia's extreme behavior and suddenly Leia ran up to the window claiming that I was not following directions and put everyone's safety at risk. After she left, I reminded the woman at the front that I had already communicated to Leia that there were no specific instructions about maintaining a distance between horses nor what to do if they begin to eat the plants along the trail. Leia was upset I "didn't follow directions" but there were no directions given on what to do if and when those scenarios were to happen? This experience was extremely heartbreaking, it gutted my entire vacation, an unbelievable amount disrespect experienced from beginning to end. I think everyone who is considering riding with Zephyr Cove Stables should HIGHLY reconsider. I look forward to speaking with management about her disgusting comments and behavior.

Our family had SUCH an experience horse back riding with Camp Richardson Corral! From the moment we…read morearrived to make a reservation, the staff made us feel welcome and safe. The horses were all very calm, well-cared-for, and matched perfectly to each rider's comfort level and somehow personalities too!!! The trail itself was absolutely stunning, winding through peaceful forests with breathtaking views of the mountains. Jake, our guide was super friendly, knowledgeable, and kept the group engaged with fun facts and stories about the area. He also answered all of our questions about the horses, and the trail more broadly. This was a perfect family activity -- relaxing, scenic, and full of natural beauty. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Tahoe, whether you're a first-timer or an experienced rider!

Booked the ride/tour last minute for our group of 3. Got…read morethere 1/2 hour early per request over the phone. Had 20 min on hands to hang out with the horses after paying and completing the paperwork. Tips: they do have a military discount so just ask. $5 off for service person. It's been over 20 years since I rode but the horse were well trained. The trail was nice but definitely dusty so make sure you wear sun glasses and get a bandana. They recommended it but I didn't think it was that bad. It was since I was the last one. My horse Mister was slow and occasionally deviant - likes to walk off the path and required guiding back onto path. But overall he was good. We all had lots of fun minus the dust. If you haven't ridden, I would suggest doing the 1 hr ride first because I was a little sore getting off. But next time I will do the 2 hrs ride to go to the meadows and fallen leaf lake.

Went for a ride with my wife years ago. The horses were out of control and the guide was very…read moreunprofessional and rude!

From the owner: Kirkwood Sierra Outfitters provides peaceful horseback rides and horse supported journeys into the…read morebackcountry. Located along scenic Carson Pass near S. Lake Tahoe, we invite you to explore the heart of the Sierra Nevada through authentic mountain experiences, with direct access to alpine lakes, mountain meadows, and remote wilderness areas.