1. The standard day hike gives you an experience of about four hours, including a nutritious lunch carried by the llamas. You may want to enjoy casual conversation or walk quietly, take photos, watch birds, and so on. Or your guides will share information as you go–about llamas, as well as some of the area’s history, wildlife, plants, and uses.

2. You can also request a learn-to-pack with llamas hike/clinic. The clinic runs for about five hours, takes place at our ranch and on the Red Creek Narrows trail (see below), and does not include lunch. Less time is spent hiking than during a standard day hike, but at least two hours of the clinic take place on the trail and the focus is “hands on” all the way through. You can count on learning about care, expectations for a well-trained pack llama, positive training methods, saddling, loading, and handling. You may use our llamas or bring your own. If you bring your own llamas, we will take them as far as we can in the time allotted so the clinic content will vary, depending on the skills your llamas have when they arrive. They will need to be lead-trained to benefit from the clinic. If you have specific skills you’d like to work on with your otherwise trained packers, e.g., water crossing or stringing, we can structure around that, too.

We prefer groups of two to ten people on both standard day hikes or learn-to-pack hikes.

Standard day hikes can be taken in two different areas:

2. Ashley National Forest - South Unit. A number of lovely day hike routes are available in the portion of the Ashley National Forest that is located south of Highway 40, just “around the corner” from Rosebud Llamas Utah. The trailheads for these hikes are from one to two hours beyond our farm and vary in degree of difficulty, so there is a hike for everyone.

ABOUT LLAMAS

Llamas have been the helpful companion of man and woman for over 6,000 years and are believed to be one of the first species of animals domesticated. Their ancestors originated in the Midwestern United States before they migrated south during the Ice Age into the areas that are now Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. They played a critical role in the economy and religion of the Inca Empire and, over the centuries, mountain peasant communities have relied on and revered them as their sole resource for transport, as well as source of wool for clothing.

They are intelligent, curious, and have a naturally gentle nature. Pack llamas generally weigh from 300-400 pounds and, once lead trained, are responsive enough to be handled by a child. Although instinctually flight animals like other herbivores, when startled they tend to “keep their heads,” adding to their reliability on the trail. Having evolved in the Andes Mountains, they are sure-footed and agile enough to go almost anywhere humans can go without the use of their hands. Llamas’ soft, padded feet make them easy on the environment.

Besides their historic use as pack animals, llamas are also used as sheep guards against coyotes and many llamas have fine wool used for spinning and weaving. They can be taught to pull carts and to negotiate stairs, elevators, and other indoor obstacles to visit and bring joy to school children, hospital patients, nursing home residents, and so on. (Our llamas host numerous visits every summer from people with disabilities involved with some of Utah’s independent living centers, as well as groups of children and seniors.)

LOGISTICS

You won’t need much gear–just what you’ll want to have handy for the hike. Typical or recommended items include a camera, sunscreen, binoculars, a hat, insect repellent, sunglasses, raingear, a jacket, a notebook, a one-quart water bottle, and perhaps a field guide or two. Most people prefer to carry these items in a day pack, but the llamas will carry the lunch and can also carry your personal effects, if you would like.

When you book a trip, we’ll send you detailed instructions on how to get to Rosebud Llamas Utah or the trailhead for your hike, if in the Ashley National Forest. If you’re coming into the area from someplace distant and would like help finding lodging, please ask us for information. We’ll suggest some possibilities.

CHILDREN

Children are welcome on our trips. We know children are individuals and the minimum age at which a child has the stamina and interest to take a day hike like this varies. In deciding whether the time is right for your child to take a day hike with llamas, there are a couple of factors of you should be aware. First, we can tailor a shorter hike, but our standard day hike is around five miles and most of the trails we use include at least some elevation gain. We cannot allow our llamas to be ridden for liability reasons. Second, children must be willing to take direction from the guides, especially related to safety and effective and humane animal handling.

DOGS

We love dogs and our German Shepherd female, Danke, is a regular part of our crew. She is friendly to both people and other dogs. If you would like to bring your dog, too, please let us know right away so that you and we can talk over some very important factors in advance and come to some agreements designed to prevent difficult “animal business” that could jeopardize the safety of both humans and animals.

WHAT IS “LEAVE NO TRACE” BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL

The beauty of spending time in the backcountry can and will be spoiled if those who visit leave behind signs of their passing. The Leave No Trace (LNT) Program is a national effort designed to help people know how to be in and enjoy the backcountry and still preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. Rosebud Llamas Utah is a LNT corporate partner. Here are the basic principles:

§ Plan ahead and prepare

§ Travel and camp on durable surface

§ Dispose of your waste properly

§ Leave what you find

§ Minimize campfire impacts

§ Respect wildlife

§ Be considerate of other visitors

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO SERVE YOU

Food is an important part of any day hike. We aim for meals that are nutritious and tasty. Please inform us of any food preferences or other dietetic needs you may have. If you have children going on your trip, we will talk with you about their likes and dislikes as we plan the lunch menu. We have a vegetarian menu available.

Other special needs, such as health conditions, can be managed wisely on a day hike, but we recommend that you consider sharing with us any conditions that could come into play under those circumstances. The high altitude in Utah can cause some problems for “flatlanders.” The routes we take are relatively moderate, but if you take medications or have health conditions that are affected by exercise or altitude or both, let us know. Some of our routes involve some degree of exposure in places. Please feel free to discuss your hiking abilities with us.

RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS, PAYMENTS, CANCELLATIONS, AND REFUNDS

Our day hikes are priced as follows:

Standard day hike

Red Creek Narrows Ashley National Forest

Adults $60/person $65/person

Children under 13 $45/person $50/person

Learn-to-pack with llamas hike/clinic

Red Creek Narrows

Adults $70/person

Children 8-13 $35/person

Reservations and a deposit amounting to 40% of the total cost for your party are necessary to book a trip. The balance, along with a signed Acknowledgment of Risk form for each member of your party, must be received 15 days prior to the date of your trip. Please complete the reservation form included in this packet and send it with your check or money order to:

Rosebud Llamas Utah

P. O. Box 270090

Fruitland, UT 84027-0090

If you must cancel a trip, we will work with you to reschedule. If that is not possible and your cancellation is postmarked, emailed, or called in 15 days before your activity, we will refund whatever you have paid so far. If notice of cancellation is postmarked, emailed, or called in between 15 and six days before your activity, we will refund 50 percent of your payment. We are unable to give refunds for cancellations postmarked, emailed, or called in six or fewer days before a scheduled hike. We will give no refunds for “no shows” or if you withdraw during a hike in progress.

Rosebud Llamas Utah will meet commitments for scheduled trips with pleasure and diligence. However, we reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any trip for any reason we deem an emergency or if weather conditions appear likely to make travel the hike dangerous. If we must cancel a hike, we will try to reschedule the trip. If an alternative date cannot be found for a trip we cancel, all prepaid fees will be fully refunded. We also reserve the right to change a trip itinerary at any time, including during a trip in progress, for reasons of safety or the well-being of guests or animals.

Thank you so much for your interest.

We hope to meet you soon for a day hike with llamas!

GUEST INFORMATION