Why Just Take a Ride When You Can Have an Adventure?
Because Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch is surrounded by the Plumas National Forest, we have access to over 100 miles of riding trails. That means you can enjoy something different on each ride, from shady forest trails to spectacular ridge routes offering spectacular views. Here’s just a sampling of the many rides we offer, depending on the season, and day of the week:
Convict Camp: (Upper Cookout) – Joining the ride to Convict Camp will be dependant on your skill level. The trail winds through the trees in gently sloping hills, and then climbs to 9 Mile Road where you can look down at the Ranch from on high. From there it’s down one of three steep trails - Snowy River, Backdoor or Burnout – to our steak cookout location.
Lower Creek Cookout - Since this is our lunch ride destination, we wind along the creek and the lower end of 9 Mile Road. Once you arrive at the cookout, we'll be sure to have the hamburgers ready with all your favorite outdoor summer barbecue favorites!
Argentine Lookout – This is an all day ride. After leaving the ranch at an elevation of 4,300 feet we climb steadily to 7,000 feet. Along the way we take some of the old Forest Service Roads where you can see the Greenhorn Ranch, Quincy to the west and the peaks of the Sierra Buttes to the Southeast. Then it’s back on trail while we traverse the last peak to Brady’s Camp where we tie up for a sack lunch. After lunch, those who want can take the ¾ mile hike to Argentine Lookout (elevation of 7,209 feet) and enjoy some spectacular views up and down the mountain range.
Glory Bee Mine - There are two ways to get to the Glory Bee. The first route is for beginning riders. We follow Greenhorn Creek downstream a piece before going up Pine Creek. Along Pine Creek we’ll pass through the old logging/mining town/camp of Argentine. There are still some old foundations made from stone and cedar logs along with a shelter dug right into the side of the mountain. Afterwards the trail splits, beginners follow to the right, and the intermediate and advanced riders head left. Once at the mine you’ll see the remains of the elevator structure and actually go inside a horizontal tunnel about 300 feet into the mountain. Pick and drill marks are still evident in the walls.
9 Mile Road - 9 Mile Road is where we take our intermediate and outlaw riders to learn loping. On this outing we may ride to either the Convict Camp Cookout or Lower Creek Cookout. Since the 9 Mile Road borders portions of Greenhorn Ranch, it provides a number of different accesses trails to the Plumas National Forest for all riding skill levels.
Boot Tree Ride – If you’re curious about “the old boot tree’ you’ll have to join us on this afternoon ride. We usually go at the end of the week. And riders will have the opportunity to leave an offering just for “posterity’s sake”.
