Hoofing It

So they saddled up a couple of horses and took to the wild desert trails of Red Rock National Conservation Area for a long ride after which they sat around a campfire, ate steak cooked over the flames and listened to cowboys sing and tell stories.

The couple, along with 12 others, paid $159 per person to live the cowboy life at the Cowboy Trail Rides stable located across from Red Rock. For the past 16 years, the stable has been offering horseback riding adventures to anyone wanting to experience a bit of the untamed West.

On this recent Thursday, the group prepared to take the sunset barbecue ride, their most popular ride, says stable co-founder Bobby Burns. They mounted their horses at the camp for a 11/2-hour ride through Red Rock’s terrain, stopping atop a peak that gave the group a view of the entire valley.

“You can imagine yourself out in one of those Western” movies, says Miriam Firestone, a local who was taking her second ride at the ranch, this time with brother Luke Daniel and his wife, Sally.

The Daniels were visiting from England; Firestone brought them to the ranch because the five-hour ride — combined with the views, the campfire and the entertainment from real cowboys — is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Most people are surprised to find the stables in Las Vegas, especially in such a picturesque landscape, says Tommy Elliott, a salesman for the rides. Customers choose to go horseback riding for several reasons. Some want to do something outdoors; others look for horseback riding in every town they visit, he says.

The biggest reason?

“They want to feel the mystique of the West,” Elliott says. “People want to know what it was like 150 years ago exploring the desert, and we can provide that feel minutes from the Strip.”

You don’t even have to be an experienced rider. The stable has 80 to 100 horses of varying shapes, sizes and personalities, some especially suited for nervous people. Those horses, called “baby sitter horses,” will carry a rider along the trail and back to the camp no matter what. Other horses are more attuned to their rider’s moods and may become nervous, too.

Though his wife is an experienced rider, Doug Jethro had never been on a horse before, so he lined up to get a baby sitter.

“I’m not nervous, but I want to be safe,” he says to the wrangler.

Tennis shoes and jeans are the default uniform for the rides; it’s a good idea to bring a jacket because it gets cold after sunset, Elliott says. Experienced wranglers accompany every group, guiding them along the trail and back. People are given several opportunities to stop and take pictures during the ride.

Once the riders return to camp, they’re fed a meal of either steak, chicken or fish with corn on the cob, baked potatoes and beans. They finish by roasting marshmallows over the fire and making s’mores. Cowboys either sing or tell stories, adding an authentic touch to an already authentic experience.

There are other rides to choose from, as well.

The Coyote Canyon ride costs $45 and lasts one hour while the Wow ride lasts five hours and costs $329. It includes lunch.

The ride got its name from the people who took it, Elliott says. On a clear day, viewers can see the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as the Las Vegas Valley.

“When people come back from that ride, they always say ‘wow,’ ” Elliott says.

To book a ride, call 387-2457 or visit www. cowboytrailrides.com.