peaceful valley

My family and I had a wonderful horseback trail ride out of Peaceful Valley. Our youthful and knowledgeable guides Lisa and Laney took us through beautiful grasslands and badlands, past prairie dog towns, over ridges and through the Little Missouri river valley. The operators Neil and Laura Tangen are safety conscious while still providing interesting and affordable rides for their guests. We don't have photos from the trail, as cameras weren't allowed on the ride for safety reasons. I'll remember this ride as the highlight of my trip to North Dakota.

The ride is fantastic - no autobot horses plodding along with no input from you. Plus the scenery is perfect. We even rode right by a buffalo.However, the staff made this ride possible for me and my son. His fear overcame his desire to go on this ride with me and he started to cry, thinking he couldn't control his horse. The head wrangler immediately put him at ease, respectfully. My son has special needs, and all the wranglers were amazing throughout the entire ride. While the ride itself was a great memory, the best part for me was watching my son become confident and happy in the face of overwhelming anxiety. We could not have done it without the support of the staff who stepped up perfectly.Truly an experience we will never forget!

My sister Kathy and I had a truly wonderful time this summer on our trail ride at Peaceful Valley. First, the horses all seem and seem well-cared for. My horse was one of the older ones and she was very, very sweet. The staff asks about your level of experience (and weight - don't take it personally!) to assist in matching horses with riders. Second, our lead guide (whose name escapes me), one of the owners, was superb. She was so personable and informative, I think largely because she's a teacher when she's not running the ranch or raising her family. She engaged each guest individually, asking their name, where they were from, talking about the horses, and sharing information about the park. Third, you get such a great appreciation for the park from horseback. Truly a beautiful way to see the park. The valley itself is lovely to begin with, and what you don't see from the car are all the views from the tops of the twisting, interesting ridges with that the horses traverse. We had a wonderful time - I can highly recommend this activity at Theodore Roosevelt. P.S. Wear the hard hat (just in case), remember to wear something other than flip-flops, wear long pants in a dark horse-colored fabric (no white or khaki - you'll thank me later), and remember to tip your guide. :^)

This is a must. The best way to view the badlands. I am a some what experienced horse back rider and was skeptical as I figured this was a little trail ride around the woods. Wow! was I wrong. This was awesome and the best experience I have ever had and I have rode in many different destinations. We viewed wild horses, buffalo along the top of the badlands to the lower lands to prairie dogs, walked along thin trails high in the badlands. Recommended is helmets which I believe is a good idea. The guides first bring the group in the corral with a short ten minute lesson in controlling the horses, turning and instructions on safety before departing. This is a one and one half hour ride-excellent!

Great operation. We are experienced horsemen but decided to not haul our horses this time and do the guided tour. Horses are very well taken care of and behaved. Guides were very fun! Saw wild horses lots of prairie dogs and Bison. Highly recommend!

This was my first experience on a horse and i dont think i could have found a better place to do it. Staff was friendly, the guide knowledgeable and the horse was very well mannered and the scenery beautiful. In short if end up in the area again i will definitely book another ride.

There's simply nothing else like it...riding your horse across the top of a butte, cautiously glancing down to enjoy the scenery without turning your stomach upside down...taking a deep breath of the sage baking in the hot sun...viewing a herd of buffalo in the distance hoping they don't get too close... and arguing with the prairie dogs who think YOU'RE getting too close! The folks at Peaceful Valley offer a great trail riding experience that's safe (a quick riding lesson and safety instructions are mandatory) and absolutely breathtaking. Because they're located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park there's always the chance you'll have a close encounter with some form of wildlife. This past summer while we were waiting to get on our horses, a buffalo family walked right past the corrals and across the parking lot. Intimidating, yes. But incredibly exhilierating!Although their website suggests making a reservation, we've never needed one. Beware in the hottest summer months that they sometimes only ride in the mornings.

Horseback was the best way to experience Theodore Roosevelt National Park! The staff was very informative and helpful for this family of novice riders. The horses were calm and well-trained. The ride included a variety of terrain and views. There were a couple of places where the trail was briefly on the edge of bluff - just have to trust the horse. This hour and a half was the best part of our vacation and we will definetely return to Peaceful Valley Ranch!

These guys will actually take your height into consideration when they pick a horse for you, and they give you a quick tutorial on how to ride a horse before you hit the trail. The other place doesn't do that. Also some of the trails you get to ride on are much more scenic.

The horses and trail ride were great for novice riders. The staff is super friendly and we loved our guide. The views on the ride were awesome!

Our family has ridden through the TNRP many times, so when we decided to have our Nicol Family Reunion in Medora, a ride through the Park was a must. Not having enough horses, we went through Peaceful Valley located in the Park & wasn't disappointed. I've rode my whole life, & in the Park many times, so thought about not going on the trail ride. I'm so glad I changed my mind. Each person was fit with a horse for their experience level, and it wasn't boreing for those of us who have rode our whole life or even in the Park before. Thank you Neil for a great time.

A wonderful experience . Neil and Laura are the real deal !!!!!!!!!!!!!! A part of the true west. The trail ride is a great way to see the badland s. I have enjoyed riding there for many years. Donna from Minnesota !!!!!!!!!!!!!!