rock creek pack station

While spending a extended weekend at Rock Creek Lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. My daughter and I decided to go for a little horse back ride. Rock Creek Lake Pack Station was fantastic. The ride was 6 hours long and took us up over 10,000 ft elevation to Dorothy Lakes. Our guide Silvana was awesome, the horses did great and were friendly. The price point was amazing $80.00 per person and they provide you with a sack lunch.John & LynNita Ellis

I have just returned from my second trip with Rock Creek, and it was great, just as last time. They really have this down to an art. It is so nice to be able to be in the back country without having to carry all your supplies, and being catered to with great meals, and any other needs. Being an experienced horseman, I'm very impressed with their care and management of the stock. The wranglers are very good horsemen, guides and hosts, and also very adept at efficient, safe packing. The horses and mules were very trail-wise and adapted to the varying terrain very well. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who wants to be in the back country without massive output, even if you're a beginner or non-rider. The fees are about the same or less than you'd pay for a hotel room and all meals on a regular vacation, but this is so much nicer!

I went on a 6 day horse pack trip into the Mono Creek area. There were seven of us, close family and friends. The horses were well taken care of and so were we. Our meals cooked by Adele were delicious. The wranglers, Tyler and Brad were dedicated hard workers. All three were fun and hard working individuals. I am a "green horn" when it comes to horses but they made my riding experience safe and exciting. The trails were well maintained but rocky with very steep terrain. If you don't like to trail ride, trudging along in a line, then this is not for you. We also did some fishing in the lakes and creeks. The fish were fun to catch but a little small to keep. All in all, this was a fabulous way to vacation, and appreciate the true altitude of the Sierras.

A great site for the on the fly fisherman who wants to have accommodations ready, no worries about getting your hotel and finding a great spot , they do it all from breakfast to dinner some packages include all the accommodations at economic levels and higher. Great for out of towner's or folk all over the country.

I went on the 7 day Lake of The Lone Indian ride with my Grandma,70 for my birthday (my 13th) and it was AMAZING! I am a serious horse and animal lover. The terrain is rocky and hard and quite trecherous but the horses and mules were so well taken care of and trained and adapted to this i wasn't worried. Most of it is cliffs. The horses and mules had no problem! I would say if you are nervous about the horses losing their footing and you getting hurt, ride a mule. The mules are more sure-footed and have more traction than horses. I recommend Cindy and Jigs. I rode Stumpy and Washo and my grandma rode Cindy and Cindy took good care of her. Stumpy is an amazing horse for anyone who doesn't mind a slow horse up an incline and please DO NOT kick if your horse stops before a big step or rough terrain. He is calculating where to put his feet so he can keep you safe. And PLEASE don't make the group stop for a long time or multiple times to take a picture of the terrain. It takes longer than you think. The food was AMAZING! We had steak cooked to perfection and scalloped potatoes and fish, and lots of other DEEELISH foods. I do wish the staff had First Aid Training for later reasons,and be more prepared for emergency overnight stays, and also have a satellite phone for emergencys. Bring orange bandanas and a mirror. and a water filtatration stytem. and a sat phone if you have one.We had a few difficulties on this tripThe first day a man was escorted back to the Pack station because he was overweight and diabetic and could obviously not go any further,but he was hard headed and didn't listen to Craig that he couldn't do the trip and there was NO refunds. He did go back but not without arguing.The staff was still very kind to him insisting he not go further.The second day a man decided he wanted to hike the rest of the trip and not ride and he was always at camp 3 hours before us riders and he kept in touch with our trail boss Renea. He had no problems!The third day a man was bucked off his mule because a hiker jumped out the brush. He fell and got an immediate concussion and fractured his collar bone. Renea jumped into action and tied up all of the stock safely and they waited patiently, she was very calm as you have to be with horses or they will sense your hostility and act up. She didn't have a satellite phone and she was the only leader for our 6 people.Luckily one of the guys on our trip had a satellite phone and called the police and a helicoper landed 30 minutes later and rushed him to the hospital,he was treated and released the next day.We got to camp at almost dark and everything was set up,tents and all with our bags in our tents and the privy set up and dinner ready as the mule train and the cowboys Brian,and Jordan were there before us with a lady who rode up to camp to help the mule team and let them know what happened when the accident took place. The horses didn't panic and neither did we thanks to Renea.The last day, my birthday,as horses are completely unpredictable my horse Stumpy meant to kick a horse who was right up in his space biting his butt and by accident kicked Hoovers rider Tiprin in the ribs. She stumbled back short of breath and stayed there with directions from Jordan,Renea and Bryan. Renea put medical tape around her ribs to ease the pain and gave her 3 ibuprofin to help the pain which she had with her. She rode back safely and was fine but was urged to go to the hospital the next day. She did and all she had was bruising.I didn't mean to scare you with this but please know that you are safe with Rock Creek Pack Station. AND. They made me 2 pumpkin pies for my birthday (: I RECOMMEND!

Last summer our family took the Parent/Child trip to the Hilton Lakes. The scenery was breathtaking and the horses were amazing. I didn't know horses could go over such rocky and rugged terain! What an adventure! We had such a great time. Since that time I have been recommending this outfit and this trip to all my friends. Ivana was our guide and Debbie was our cook. They were awesome! The horses were well treated and safety was always first. Great trip and a great outfit!

My daughter and I recently took the Mustang Trip to get a glimpse of the wild horses in their natural habitat. Our trip exceeded expectations in every way. The food was delicious, wholesome and down-home good, thank you Gene. The staff was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We came across a lone stallion and were able to get fairly close without spooking him, an experience of a lifetime. Ivana, who can put into words her wealth of experience and stories that she is happy to share by the campfire at night or over a cup of tea or coffee with the early risers? You'll have to meet her for yourself. My daughter, 19, and I went not knowing how we would do as there are some long days on horesback. She constantly thanked me for bringing her on the trip, we had no difficulty with the daily rides. There are a few other reviews I've read here about the horses stumbling, people will be hiking on their own, etc. Glad I didn't see them till after we experienced the trip first hand. We rode in the 'wilderness', there are many rocks, the horses and mules were fine. I'm glad the unhappy people will be hiking on their own, more room for us! I own two horses in Hawaii, the horses were treated well and even given the day off when needed. We saw this first hand as we offered to help with them. I''m looking forward to bringing the rest of my family as soon as possible to the next trip. LOVED it!

My husband and I enjoyed the trip of a lifetime in late August. The entire crew took incredible care of us, shared the beauty of the Sierras and their knowledge of the region. The food (cooked by Gene) was great and plentiful. We took day trips each day to a different valley or mountain lake. We had time to ourselves and time to share stories around the camp fire. Ivana was our wrangler - she made sure that we were able to see what we wanted to see as well as what she knew would be special. She took time to point out great locations for photos and certianly to always be sure we felt safe and comfortable. We hadn't been on horses in years - she alleviated any fears we might have had. I woul highly recommedn this trip for anyone who wants to see the Sierras and even if you never knew that's what you wanted - go there!

I attended Rock Creek's spring horse drive and can honestly say that it was the best four days of my life. I have been riding horses for about 12 years and was afraid that I would be stuck on a typical "business trail horse" where all I do is sit. However, I was Pleasantly surprised when the pack station had horses for every level. They had the autopilot horses for the nervous beginner all the way up to the spirited expert horses. The days were filled with about eight hours of riding each day. At the end of each ride I would dismount and find my face plastered in dirt. I just thought of it as a complementary mud facial! Luckily most of the camp sites are next to a stream where you can wash off. One of the sites actually had showers. The staff was absolutely wonderful and could not have been any more nice. The camp they set up is wonderful. The tents are in wonderful condition and are set up ahead of your arrival at camp. The cook staff is excelant, they cook wonderfull meals to fit your needs. If you love horses, great people, tasty food, and beautiful scenery than this is the trip for you!

From the service and the food to the beautiful horses and views, my trip with them was SO MUCH FUN and exceeded my expectations in every way. I went on their Spring Horse Drive and it was a blast.

I've gone on a number of trips with Rock Creek Pack Station. While I would love to have the freedom of wandering the Sierras with a backpack, my knees and back won't let that happen, so I now hike with the pack animals carrying my gear. Rock Creek is considered the best pack station in the eastern Sierra. They offer traveling trips which has allowed me to see the Sierra from as far south as Horseshoe Meadow near Mount Whitney to as far north as Twin Lakes near Bridgeport. The food is what I'd call straight out of the 50s. They typically barbeque chicken, pork chops, steak, etc. or bake a roast. The vegetables are fresh and salads crisp. Breakfast is either eggs or pancakes/french toast with bacon, ham, or sausage. Fresh fruit is offered for breakfast and lunch. Come comments indicate bland and skimpy food. I've never seen them run out of food although I've heard of times when a guest might load up a plate with more food than they could eat so others had to skimp. I've never seen it happen. The traditional menu is a bit bland, but the cooks are always open to suggestions on jazzing things up. The pack station seems to be very flexible. If you are a group that eats a lot, let them know and they'll take more food. If you let them know about food you don't eat, they will modify the menu to deal with the group needs.I've also noticed comments about the limit on campsites. This is absolutely true. They have to camp where there is grass and water for the stock and are often limited by the forest/park service on which meadows are open. That said, almost every campsite I've stayed at with them has been lovely. The few that weren't, well we moved on the next day, so it didn't really matter. Yes, the crew does get a bit dirty working with the animals. They start their day when it is barely light, by rounding up the stock that has been grazing all night and then brush them down, give them grain, and saddle them. They stop for breakfast and then start loading the animals with our gear and the kitchen equipment. They then ride for miles, unload the animals, dig a latrine, gather wood, set up the kitchen, cook dinner, wash up, doctor the animals, check the tack, and finally get to bed around 10 for some sleep before the cycle starts again. They actually do clean up every day, but the work lays it down again quickly.I was thinking about the number of meals I've had with Rock Creek. In all, I've probably been out with them over 100 days. I've never gotten sick. They are very careful how they handle the food. For example, the dishes are rinsed in water with bleach. The meat is kept frozen until it is used. Bottom line, the Sierras are magnificant. If you can't backpack and love to hike or ride, this is the way to go. The crew will take great care of you and hiking the backcountry with a day pack allows you to move farther and take side trips that most backpackers never see.

Some of our group were worried that they were not fit enough for a backpacking trip, so we thought that having our gear carried by mules would be perfect. The problem was that the group had to stick to the packers schedule and get to the group campsite. We had some slower hikers due to the altitude and could have camped at one of the many beautiful lakes that we passed if we had been on our own. But we had to keep on going to meet the group.Plus, the places where the packers camp are not as pretty since you have to stay where the horses can spend the night. And those camps smell bad had have ground up horse xxxx everywhere. The packers are nice, but they are dirty from being with the horses all day. The food was fine, but I was afraid of getting sick.We should have just carried our own gear and food, it turns out it would not to be very hard to do. We could have stopped when we wanted and camped at much nicer campsites. And it would have saved the thousands that this trip cost.

In Sept. of 2011 we were scheduled to do the end of year horse and mule round-up with Rock Creek Pack Station. This was to be our third year riding with Rock Creek. My husband and I are both very experienced riders. Given the terrain covered by the rides from Rock Creek it is advisable that you be VERY experienced. About six weeks prior to our scheduled trip I took a serious fall while jumping a horse and badly injured my back. When (three weeks before the trip) it became apparent that I would not be in any shape to make the trip I contacted the Pack Station. I was informed by the assistant manager, who knew us from previous rides that she was sure (given the circumstances) that we could apply the money toward next years ride. This was because we were repeat customers.However, she did state that Craig London, the owner would have final approval. Long story short.........there are NO REFUNDS, NO USING THE MONEY TOWARDS NEXT YEAR....simply a letter stating that "our cancellation policy is totally unflexible no matter what. You should have bought trip insurance". Needless to say there will not be any more repeat business to Rock Creek, nor will I recommend them to friends. I don't think this is how you treat fellow horse people who are repeat customers and have a legitimate emergency which prevented participation. Also, I think it is important to note that while their guides are experienced horsemen and women, they are NOT trained in first aid. In the back country there is also no cell phone service and they do not take a satellite phone on any trip unless it is one of the long 3 week trips. According to Craig......"it would ruin the back country experience". Had my husband and I not had a satellite phone along (because of a sick relative at home) 2 years ago, they would have had no way to call in a helicopter evac for another rider who had been thrown from a horse and seriously injured and who could not ride out. On the positive side, the horses and mules are well fed and well cared for. Also, the food on the trips is excellent and they do a great job of meeting dietary restrictions or catering to you if you are vegan. So, if you are going to ride with Rock Creek Pack Station......be sure you are an experienced rider, take your own satellite phone in case of an emergency and BE SURE YOU TAKE OUT TRIP INSURANCE as well as making sure your first aid card is up to date. If you abide by those tips you'll have a great time.

We expected a western wilderness trip like in the movies, but real life turned out to be much different. First the good things: Sequoia NP is spectacular and any visit there is definately worth it (we will go back, just without the horses); the packers themselves were good guys (just dirtier than in the movies) and tried to be helpful. But, watching those horses carrying all of our heavy stuff, stumbling and tripping over big boulders, through creeks filled with rocks and struggling up steep, loose trails just so that we could have chairs to sit on and a bunch of stuff that we never ended up using.. was just sad. My girlfriend kept pointing out every scrape, scratch and rubbed raw spot on the mules and (I have to admit one of the cuts was pretty bad) she ended up just feeling guilty the whole time. I've got to admit that it does seem cruel to drag those mules through that rough terrain just so that we can have a bunch of unnecessary luxuries in the wilderness. Plus those animals were covered with flies and the camp always smelled like horse poo.Next time we will go out on our own, carry our own stuff, enjoy the wilderness without the crowd and save ourselves two thousand dollars.

I took this trip thinking it would be a great family adventure but it almost turned out very badly. We had terrible weather with a flash flood (I don't blame them for that) and the stream we were supposed to cross was a raging torrent. The packer was advised by two different local authorities to camp at a different safer spot and to wait to cross the river until it was safer, but Mark (the lead packer) wouldn't deviate from his schedule. He convinced us to cross a log above the river and if we had fallen it would have meant injury and maybe death. I didn't feel comfortable with it but we were pressured to go ahead or hold up the rest of the group. I will never take a group pack trip again and especially with this outfit. Another guided hiking group that was in the same situation changed their trip and didn't cross the river - their guide didn't think it was worth the risk and I certianly agree. Our guide was an argumentative tyrant and wouldn't listen to anyone - he thought that he knew it all.Even when the weather was good, the trip was bad. After wrangeling with the dirty horsesand gear all day they then cook your food - which was skimpy and bland. I would have rather had those freeze dried backpacker meals. Plus the horses/mules are bug magnets (that's why they call them horseflys!) and you are always walking around and smelling their poop. Forget the horses and just carry your own stuff. If you need a guide you can get those also in this beautiful area. We will never go on one of these expensive horse trips again.Be aware that Rock Creek Pack Station also goes by the name of Mt. Whitney Pack station. Why do they need to use two names?