Nampa, Idaho, Is a Hub for Horse Culture
The hit TV show Yellowstone has recently introduced many people to traditional Western-style horseback riding. But horse culture is nothing new for the Nampa region, which has long been much more than a many-horse town.
“There is a type of cowboy culture around here with all the ranches that makes it a hub for equine disciplines,” says Andrew Luther, general manager of the Ford Idaho Center, a multi-event complex that includes a horse park for professional shows and competitions. “What you see them doing on Yellowstone, the reining and the cutting, you see people doing that all the time here.”
Horse culture fills many of the outdoor recreational hours in Nampa, whether it’s riding the trails through the surrounding mountains or kicking back in town and watching the pros put on a show. Here is a look at some of the offerings.
In This Article
Where To Go Horseback Riding
Celebration Park
Though it is located only 23 miles south of Nampa, a ride through Celebration Park takes you further away than that. The 722 acres along the Snake River were established in 1989 as Idaho’s only archaeological park, with rock-carving petroglyphs estimated to be as much as 10,000 years old. From Celebration Park, riders can access the Halverson Bar area, which is designated for nonmotorized uses, or cross the Guffey Bridge to trails on the south side of the Snake River.
Kuna Butte
A 7.5-mile riding trail circles this volcanic-formed mountain, which reaches an elevation of 3,236 feet. There are numerous other trails in the Kuna region, approximately 15 miles southeast of Nampa, including a 2-mile loop at the Hubbard Reservoir Recreation Area.
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1909, Deer Flat is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located along Lake Lowell less than 10 miles west of downtown Nampa with several trails for horseback riding.
Boise Foothills
Travel due east from Nampa and, in less than a half hour, you’ll hit the Boise Foothills, a rolling landscape on the edge of the Rocky Mountains that is filled with trails.
Where To Stay With Your Horse
Sweet Pepper Ranch
Since you can’t exactly parade your horse through a motel lobby, Sweet Pepper Ranch just south of Nampa offers a place to stay for both humans and animals, either at the facility’s horse hotel or through a glamping tent.
“We do boarding and training,” says Alayne Blickle, who owns and operates Sweet Pepper Ranch with her husband, Matt Livengood. “We teach lessons and hold clinics in ranch riding, trail riding and horsemanship. We have an outdoor mountain trail course, an indoor arena and a 150-by-300-foot outdoor arena. We have facilities for people who want to take lessons, we trail ride regularly and we provide a safe, convenient place where travelers and their horses can spend the night.”
Dunn Rite Ranch
In addition to offering traditional vacation rentals, Donald and Joyce Dunn cater specifically to horse owners through Dunn Rite Ranch. Horses can be boarded in a covered stall for a day, week or even month, while the ranch’s 3,500-square-foot lodge accommodates up to 22 people in bunk rooms.
Where To Rodeo
After 110 years in operation, the Snake River Stampede rodeo began looking for a modern home to take it into the 21st century. So with help from the City of Nampa and private donors, the 110-acre Ford Idaho Center opened in 2001. The beloved facility consists of an arena, an amphitheater, horse park and RV lot that can hold approximately 200 vehicles for visitors.
“The center brings in national events with competitors from all over the U.S. and Canada,” says Sherri Boardman, president of the Idaho Horse Park Foundation. “It’s great entertainment for families to come watch these world-class equestrians.”
The center usually hosts 25 to 30 events every year, with each one lasting anywhere from three days to two weeks. Major competitions are held multiple times a year by the Idaho Cutting Horse Association, the Great Western Reining Horse Association and the Idaho Reined Cow Horse Association.
“What began as skills needed for a cowboy to run a ranch has evolved into highly lucrative national competitions,” Luther says. “It fits in well with the Western culture of this area.”
Where To Hike (Without Your Horse)
When you need a break from the saddle, here are a trio of popular hiking trails in Nampa, ID, to explore.
Kingfisher Trail
Lake Lowell provides the beautiful backdrop for much of this out-and-back trail, which runs for nearly 4 miles each way within the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. Bird watchers will enjoy seeing all the mallards and geese that flock to the lake, and otters are frequent guests as well.
Observation Hill Trail
This trail, also within the Deer Flat Refuge, is appropriately named. That’s because the 3.25-mile loop leads to a platform on top of the hill that offers panoramic views of the surrounding Treasure Valley, including the Boise Front mountains to the north and the Owyhee Mountains to the south.
Guffey Butte Trail
More experienced hikers can take on the challenge of this steep, rocky trail that runs 3 miles each way from the Celebration Park trailhead near Melba. The reward is a spectacular view of the Snake River and beyond from a 3,123-foot elevation. Along the way you will see both wildflowers and wildlife, including the occasional coyote.
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