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Wild Horse Warriors Tours
CLOSED FOR THE 2024 SEASON
Please watch for opening dates for the 2025 season.
With the opening of The Wild Horse Refuge just west of Craig, Co, you now have two amazing wild horse areas to visit in Northwest Colorado.
When you book a tour with Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin plan a second tour with The Wild Horse Refuge where you can see Michelangelo and many other Colorado wild horses that have been adopted / rescued / purchased by The Wild Horse Refuge.
The Wild Horse Refuge is open to the public by guided tours only.
In the information below you will find a link to book a tour with Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin and a link that will take you to The Wild Horse Refuge for information on how to book a tour with them.
Each tour must be booked separately.
To ensure we have availability please make your reservations at least 3 days in advance.
All tours will start at the Kiosk in Sand Wash Basin.
Please be sure to be there at least 15 minutes before scheduled departure time.
There is limited cell service in Sand Wash Basin.
The Maybell General Store has fuel and snacks.
Allow 1 hours from Craig, Colorado to arrive in Sand Wash Basin, excluding any stops.
A portion of the proceeds from the Sand Wash Basin Tours are donated to
Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin.
The proceeds in prior years have been used to purchase fuel for the generators that were needed at Lake Draw and Sheepherders Pond, the algae reducer that is used to prevent clogged connections and any promotions that for donations for Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
MEET YOUR TOUR GUIDE
Cindy Wright
Founder / Owner of Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin
Cindy is a native of northwestern Colorado.
In 2017 she and her sister, Aletha Dove, created the non-profit Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin. In 2018 Cindy opened Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin. Opening the tours was her way of sharing the Magic of Sand Wash Basin with visitors while having open conversations about the needs of the wild horses and balancing the requirements of a multi-use Herd Management Area. She believes the wild horses belong wild and free yet understands the need to conserve the land. To have healthy wild horses you must have a healthy range.
Cindy is currently serving on the Colorado Wild Horse Senate Bill 23-275 Wild Horse Working Group. Colorado Department of Agriculture was appointed to mange the funds appropriated by Colorado State and to help facilitate the meetings. The goals of all involved is to put together a proposal for the State of Colorado and the Colorado Bureau of Land Management with ideas that could lead the way to major changes in management of the Colorado Wild Horses. Colorado State also allocated $500,000 for Colorado Fertility Control and $500,000 for range improvements.
Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin will use their funds to make repairs to CoffeePot Spring, SheepHerders Spring and SheepPen Pond.
Cindy is very excited to be involved with a Pilot Program that is working towards positive changes for the wild horses of Colorado.
What is a Tour of Sand Wash Basin?
We hope that taking a Tour with Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin, will be one of those days you never forget.
Your Tour Guide knows the basin and the wild horses well. She has spent many days in the basin documenting the wild horses and the conditions of the range.
The tour is yours and we try to let you guide the tour. We will always have suggestions on where the wild horses were last seen, and where we would like to go, but it's your nickel and your tour.
We do not have a set route and we do not normally follow the same route two days in a row. The wild horses move around and therefore so do we.
We know the landmarks and lots of the history of the Basin and love sharing that information with you while we drive through the Basin.
Seldom do we set very long at a location, unless the wild horses continue to appear.
The Basin is 225 square miles and we try to show you as much as we can.
Sand Wash Basin is so much more than just the wild horses. To really understand the challenges the wild horses face it is important to see first-hand what those challenges are.
We provide water and some snacks.
Wild Horse Warriors Tour Schedules and Waiver
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General Tour Information
All tours are reservation only.
“All or part of this operation is conducted on Public Lands under special permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management”. Permit #CO-1000-19-128. Issued by The Little Snake River Field Office.
We will be offering:
Individual, 6 hour tours, Family, Group or Custom Tours.
All tours will be 6 hour tours, unless you book a custom tour.
Spring/Summer Tours would run from April 1st to Nov 1st.
Winter Tours from Nov 1st -March 31 and are by appointment only and dependent on the weather.
All tours will be dependent on weather and road conditions. You will receive a full refund if we have to cancel due to weather.
All tours will meet in Sand Wash Basin at the first Kiosk on County Road 67. At the completion of the Tour we will return to the Kiosk.
Wild Horse Warriors Tours will provide snacks and bottled water. Please advise
us of any allergies to food products, or special diet requirements.
The Basin is a “Tread Lightly No Waste Left Behind” recreation area. Each person will be asked to bring a Zip-lock bag for their own personal “paper products” and a back pack or fanny pack to carry their own out. Wild Horse Warriors will provide a shovel if it is needed for solid waste to be buried.
Wild Horse Warriors Tours will have a garbage bag available for all carryout trash, to be dispose of out of the Basin.
There will be no tours starting before 9:00am, unless it is a custom tour.
Liability Waiver
Liability Waiver
Waiver of Liability
This agreement releases Wild Horse Warriors Tours, from all liability relating to injuries that may occur during your tour in Sand Wash Basin and/or Vermillion Basin. By signing this agreement, I agree to hold Wild Horse Warriors Tours, entirely free from any liability, including financial responsibility for injuries incurred, regardless of whether injuries are caused by negligence.
I also acknowledge the risks involved in touring the wild horses of Sand Wash Basin. These include but are not limited to, injury by the wild horses, rattlesnake bites, stepping in a badger or prairie dog hole, or other natural wildlife. Sand Wash Basin, is at least 2 hours from any medical help. Please bring with you any medications that you could need if there is an extended stay in Sand Wash Basin, caused by uncontrollable circumstances, vehicle break downs or weather. Flat tires are common and could prevent you from returning at a scheduled time. Please do not tour on a day that you have scheduled other activities that you could miss in the event of a late return from Sand Wash Basin.
I swear that I am participating voluntarily, and that all risks have been made clear to me. Additionally, I do not have any conditions that will increase my likelihood of experiencing injuries while engaging in this activity.
Sign here to acknowledge you have read and understand the above procedures.
________________________________________________________Date________
_____ On the day of the tour I agree to take my temperature today If I have a fever I will cancel the tour for a full refund.
_____I have not had contact with anyone known to have Covid-19 in the last 14 days.
_____I do not have any other Covid-19 Symptoms.
By signing below, I forfeit all right to bring a suit against Wild Horse Warriors Tours for any reason including, but not limited to contracting Covid-19. In return, I will receive a tour of Sand Wash Basin and/or Vermillion Basin. I will also make every effort to obey safety precautions as listed in writing and as explained to me verbally. I will ask for clarification when needed.
I, _________________________, fully understand and agree to the above terms.
I, __ Do ___ Do Not consent to my photo being used by Wild Horse Warriors Tours.
(Participant)
Date
What You Should Bring
Be prepared for quick changes in weather and dress is layers. Mornings can be cool and the high for the day could be over 100 degrees.
Please do not pack a suitcase, a backpack should hold all you will need, except your camera equipment. Storage space will be limited.
Sunscreen
Hat
Insect repellent
Car charger for your cell phone
Camera
Binoculars
Rain coat
Medication, bring at least one day of extra meds in the event we are stuck in the basin flash flooding.
Snacks
Drinks
Do not wear sandals , wear comfortable shoes that you can walk in
Snake Guards if you have them
Emergency Information
Emergency Plan
Wild Horse Warriors Tours guides are not EMT’s and medical help is at least 2 hours away. Please bring any medication you made need for an extended stay, in case of an unexpected stay in the Basin. Please see the Liability Waiver
Wild Horse Warriors Tours will have basic medical supplies, band aids, ice packs, along with extra sunscreen, insect spray and a fire extinguisher.
Wild Horse Warriors Tours will stay in communication with someone, either within the Basin or outside or the Basin, via cell phone. Each car will have a cell phone with charger. We may also use a walkie talkie if that has more coverage. Each phone has installed emergency numbers for the fire department, Moffat County Sheriff, and The Memorial Hospital.
Wild Horses Warriors Tours will carry an emergency “box” in each vehicle which will include: CPR supplies, flashlights, rain jackets, emergency rations, ie protein bars, jerky and blankets.
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Directions to Sand Wash Basin
Sand Wash Basin, Colorado.
Take HWY 40 west, from Craig, Colorado to Maybell, Colorado.
You will turn onto 318 just west of Maybell. Taking 318 about 16 miles to Ct Rd 67, Sand Wash Basin Entrance. About 1 1/2 mile into the Basin is the Kiosk where you will leave your vehicle and ride with us. Just before you reach Sand Wash Basin you will see two State CDOT signs letting you know you are approaching the entrance.
Allow 30 minutes from Craig, Colorado, to reach Maybell, Colorado.
Maybell has the last fuel, snacks and public restroom. It's another 20 minutes to the Kiosk where you will leave your vehicle, and ride with us.
Pay For Your Sand Wash Basin Tour Here
6 Hour Tour
6 Hour
175.00 per adult.
12-18 with an adult $25.00 for each child.
12 and under are free.
You must provide your own car seats.
If the date you are wanting to reserve is already booked, please contact us to see if we can work to accommodate you.
All tours will start and end at the Kiosk in Sand Wash Basin Colorado.
Reviews
I have had the privilege to tour the basin 3 times. Meeting Cindy the first year was a blessing and spending time with her the other visits made me want to write this. Her knowledge of the horses and the area is amazing. She taught me so much about the herds and the land. When you have a passion for something it shows. Cindy is passionate about the health of the resources in the area and the multiple uses of the Basin and how they work together. It is this broader scope of vision that I believe is the best champion for the wild ones. If you are lucky enough to experience the Sand Wash Basin with this wonderful woman ...you will come home with a new appreciation for all that this vast area has to offer...and...GREAT Horse stories and Pictures!!!!! wild horses tours mustang horse
We had an amazing experience! Thank you for the work you do!
We just arrived home with wonderful memories of Sandwash Basin and the stunning horses!
Cindy's tours are amazing, we saw 100's of horses each day, and her knowledge of the area from a geologic and archeologic standpoint is also amazing. It's not only action packed, but also educational. You get a full understanding of living wild and free. You can't go wrong with this investment, most of your cost goes back to helping the horses too. My experience was life changing and plain and simple a life event.
Ron Baker Thanks to our horse whisperers, Cindy and Aletha.
I was amazed at the number of wild horses that we viewed on our visit to Sand Wash Basin. We covered an amazing amount of territory and saw over 254 wild horses including around 20 goals. Two of which were newborns, viewed for the very first time.
Our hosts were not only knowledgeable, but truly devoted to the bands of wild horses that they chose to monitor.
These wild horses are carefully monitored and protected within the confines of Sand Wash Basin by the Bureau of Land Management and wild horse warriors for Sand Wash Basin.
Our docents, Cindy and Aleta, went above and beyond the call of duty, providing a professional yet down to earth narrative about the Basin and its residents. The lunch was unexpected, but most welcome.
These warrior princesses, are excellent advocates for the natural preservation of the Sand Wash Basin and its resident band of wild horses.
LynandMargaret Merrick For all who are interested. To book the jeep tour with these ladies is in my opinion the very best way to see this area. They tell you about the Indians, geology, history of the area as well as the horses who all have names and they know approximate ages. It was a wonderful experience and worth more than they charge. They went out the day before and found where most of the horses were. Service way beyond what I expected
My husband and I did a tour with Cindy on 08-23-19 and it was fantastic! We had driven through the basin twice before by ourselves but decided to do a tour to see what we would learn and see. Cindy took us to places we wouldn't have thought of going to on our own and taught us a lot about the land and the horses. We saw many more horses with her than we did on our own and she was very accommodating to our needs and wishes. I highly recommend going on a tour with Wild Horse Warriors!
We had a tour today of the Sand Wash Basin and got to see tons of wild horses. The founder of Wild Horse Warriors, Cindy, was our guide and she was just fantastic. If you get close you have to go see the horses and hear their story.
Sean
My friend and I took a tour with Cindy last Thursday, I cannot say enough about how wonderful and knowledgeable Cindy is. We saw many different bands of horses as well as learning about the work that goes into preserving the herds as well as the of the land. I came away with a better understanding and appreciation of both the volunteers as well as the governments efforts to maintain as well as preserve both equine and land. As a amateur rock hound it was very exciting for Cindy to share her knowledge of the stones that we saw. I highly recommend her tour both for the opportunity to see as many horses as possible as well as the knowledge I came away with.
Marilyn and Jill
Parker and I took the all day tour run by Cindy, Manager of the Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin and our tour guide for the day was Meg Frederick of Meg Frederick Photography who is very knowledgeable about the SWB and the horses. We had the best time with Meg! Horse lovers or photographers if you're ever in Colorado I suggest you visit the SWB and take the tour. These ladies know the basin and the horses. You will not be disappointed. These ladies go above and beyond for these horses. They document the daily goings on of the horse herds, report to the BLM on injured horses, truck in water when the ponds go dry. These ladies are the guardians of these Beautiful Wild Horses.
There are more Warriors working behind the scenes to keep these horses healthy and I thank All the Warriors for what they do.
Statement of Transparency
Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin operates under the 501(c)(3) of The Community Foundation of Northwest Colorado, as a part of Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin. The Foundation is our fiscal agent.
As a non-profit we operate under different guidelines and rules than a for profit business. We are not allowed to price with a profit. Our pricing is to cover our costs.
The cost of our tours is laid out below
Tour guides will be reimbursed for their time and expenses.
Each Tour Guide will also be required to carry emergency supplies which will also be paid for by Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin.
WHW Tours will also provide a t-shirt to our guides to help insure you they are authorized by WHW Tours to be your guide.
We are required to carry Liability Insurance for our Tours.
Wild Horse Warriors for Sand Wash Basin can not by law spend any of the money donated to them for anything that is not included in the request for donations. Wild Horse Warriors has not used any of the donations received to fund Wild Horse Warriors Tours of Sand Wash Basin.
Donations to Wild Horse Warriors are not built in to our pricing.
The cost of your tour is not tax deductible.
If you would like to donate you may donate here.
If you would like to send a check please make it payable to
The Community Foundation of Northwest of Colorado
PO Box 653,
Craig CO 81626
Please add Wild Horse Warrior in the memo box.