THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Leave the heavy lifting to the pack stock and ride into the eastern Sierra with Spot Trips. Rainbow Pack Outfitters handles USFS wilderness permits and pack logistics so you can reach alpine lakes and meadows without the shuttle headaches.
Leave the heavy lifting to the pack stock and ride into the eastern Sierra with Spot Trips. Rainbow Pack Outfitters handles USFS wilderness permits and pack logistics so you can reach alpine lakes and meadows without the shuttle headaches.
Book with Rainbow Pack Outfitters
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Rainbow Pack Outfitters · Bishop, California
East of the Sierra crest, in the Owens Valley town of Bishop, California, Spot Trips with Rainbow Pack Outfitters turns the logistics of backcountry travel into part of the adventure. Book a one-way or round-trip ride and let saddle stock carry your packs while you ride to high meadows, alpine lakes, and granite cirques of the eastern Sierra. Guides handle Wilderness Permit reservations under USFS rules and will have them ready at the pack station on the morning of your departure, so you ride straight into remote country.
Riding from the Bishop area places you between the high granite of the Sierra Nevada—glacially carved peaks, moraines, and shimmering alpine lakes—and the sagebrush-and-juniper floor of Owens Valley. Key landscape features reachable by pack stock include creekside meadows, subalpine aspen groves, and granite ridgelines. Wildlife sightings often include mule deer browsing in the evenings and golden eagles riding thermals over the valley. The pack trip itself emphasizes practical, old-style trail travel: sturdy pack stock, saddles and pommel bags, and the slow rhythm of a horse-borne approach to camp.
What makes Spot Trips special here is the combination of local expertise and logistical simplicity. Rainbow Pack Outfitters charges only for days the packer and stock are in use and reserves permits up to six months ahead; you supply personal camping gear and food, while they arrange transport and permit pickup. That system opens up classic eastern Sierra corridors with far less planning and heavy lifting, particularly for parties that want to reach lakes or meadows inaccessible to vehicles.
Practical policies reinforce safety and horse welfare: a non-negotiable 225 lb weight limit, rules about baggage carried in saddlebags or secured behind the saddle, and age-based limits for young riders. Groups run from solo pack service to parties of up to ten, so Spot Trips works for solo backpackers who want a one-way ride as much as for families seeking a guided approach to a basecamp.
If you go, bring sturdy soft-sided duffels for the pack stock, quick-dry layers for big temperature swings, and lightweight camp gear to keep loads manageable. Ask the outfitter about suggested pick-up times and permit details when you book; permits are first-come, first-served under USFS policy. For travelers based in Bishop, a morning meet at the pack station can put you into quiet high country by noon. Spot Trips pairs honest packhorse work with eastern Sierra scenery: it’s not glamour, but it’s how most of this country was explored—and still best seen. Rainbow Pack Outfitters requires a non-refundable 30% deposit at booking with final payment due on the first day, and their guides will brief riders on saddle care, trail etiquette, and low-impact camping before departure for safety and stewardship.
moderate.
2–6 hours (transfer); multi-day camping as arranged.
Light-to-moderate fitness for riding and short hikes; ability to stand, mount, and balance in a saddle for several hours
Rainbow Pack Outfitters reserves USFS Wilderness Permits for you up to six months in advance and will have them ready for pickup at the pack station on your trip morning.
The weight limit is 225 lbs. / 102.58 kg and is non-negotiable for rider safety and horse welfare; options may be discussed if near the limit.
Yes — you provide tents, sleeping systems, food, utensils, and personal items; the pack stock carries these items to your site.
Children under 7 are limited to a walk-and-lead in the yard at the guide’s discretion; riders under 10 have time and terrain limits at the guide’s discretion.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is required at booking; full payment is due on the first day of the trip and no-shows are charged in full.
Group sizes run from solo pack service to parties of up to 10 riders; pricing is based on days packer and stock are in use.
This country lies within the traditional territory of the Paiute people; USFS manages the wilderness permits that govern overnight use here.
Using packstock and practicing Leave No Trace reduces trail impacts; follow outfitter guidance on grazing, stock manure disposal, and campsite selection.
Rainbow Pack Outfitters is a pack and trail service based in Bishop, California, offering guided horseback rides, resupply logistics, and full-service base camps for visitors to the eastern Sierra. The company operates a range of trips along the Historic Rainbow Trail and into Bishop Basin and surrounding backcountry, including scenic short rides, full-day adventures, fishing outings, and family-friendly experiences. Available experiences include the Long Lake Scenic Ride that travels past South Lake to Long Lake; the Bishop Lakes Ride through pristine lakes, streams, and meadows; the Willow Camp Ride, a gentle 30-minute route along Bishop Creek’s south fork for families and children; and the Rainbow Meadow Ride, a one-hour trail through blooming meadows and sparkling streams. Child-focused Walk'n Lead sessions let children six and under explore the yard with wranglers. For backcountry hikers and longer expeditions, Rainbow Pack Outfitters provides Resupplies that deliver food, gear, and essentials to designated drop points, and Dunnage Drops to carry heavy packs over tough trails to Bishop Pass. Spot Trips transport riders with gear moved behind, available one-way or round-trip with permit arrangements. Full Service Base Camps and the Cadillac Trip offer guided camps with an on-site cook, hiking and fishing access, and planned meals. Full Day Fishing Trip options combine guided rides and fishing in remote lakes. All offerings are launched from Bishop and focus on access to Sierra backcountry scenery. Descriptions and bookings are managed by Rainbow Pack Outfitters; prospective guests should contact the company for availability, permits, and specific logistics.
Book with Rainbow Pack Outfitters