Do I need prior riding experience?

No; basic instruction is provided, but you should be comfortable mounting and controlling a horse at walk and slow trot.

Are there age or weight limits?

Age and weight restrictions vary by operator for safety—confirm current limits when booking.

A picnic lunch is typically included at a scenic stop, but confirm specifics when you reserve.

What about restroom facilities?

Backcountry rides use natural breaks; plan accordingly—portable facilities are not standard on trail.

Can I bring my own horse?

No; trips use the operator's stock to ensure consistency in tack and group safety.

What happens in bad weather?

Operators will alter routes or reschedule for safety if storms or dangerous conditions are expected.

Sespe Wilderness Pack Trip: Horseback Pack Adventure from Ojai | Horse | Eco Tour

Ride into the open backcountry of the Sespe Wilderness on the Spot Pack Trip, a guided pack-horse experience that leaves Ojai's valley roads behind for chaparral ridgelines, oak-studded draws and the ragged wash of the Sespe River. Operated out of a meeting point near Parking lot, California 93023, USA, this trip places you inside Los Padres National Forest where the land feels older than the highway grid below. A typical day begins with a short orientation from veteran wranglers, who fit riders to sure-footed stock and share basic commands. Trails climb from oak groves to sun-baked ridges, where scrub oak, manzanita and stands of coast live oak frame long views across the Ojai Valley toward the Topatopa and Sespe ranges. Key features include the broad Sespe River corridor, exposed sandstone outcrops, and narrow canyons that funnel seasonal streams - features that give the area a raw, granular character distinct from Southern California beaches. The rhythm of a pack trip is slow and social: easy walking stretches broken by steep, rocky switchbacks where the horses step with steady confidence. At a shaded meadow or river-side bench, the group stops for a rustic picnic lunch while wranglers tend pack gear and share local stories. Expect close-up encounters with mule deer and red-tailed hawks, and the chance to spot smaller wildlife along riparian sections. This offering stands out because it pairs expert horsemanship with flexible routing - locations vary to match seasonality and trail conditions - so no two days are exactly the same. The company's attention to stock care, conservative group sizes, and interpretive stops make the trip useful for riders who want technique and context, not just a photo op. For visitors to Ojai, the Spot Pack Trip is a way to experience Los Padres National Forest's backcountry on animal-powered transport, a living link to the region's ranching history and to the Chumash people who traveled these slopes for generations. Practical details: arrive prepared with layered clothing, a daypack, and sturdy boots; cell service is intermittent in the Sespe. Families with children who meet weight and age requirements will find the pace accommodating; riders seeking more strenuous rides should discuss route options with operators in advance. Whether you come for the quiet of a river meadow, the open sweep from a high ridge, or the tactile work of riding and packing, the Spot Pack Trip translates a large, wild landscape into a day you can carry home. It's a reminder that this stretch of Los Padres still prefers slow travel - by boot or by horse. Booking is managed through the operator's online reservation; experienced wranglers prioritize safety, provide tack and handling instruction, and you should confirm meeting time, weight limits, and any special needs when you reserve early.