Exploring the Majestic Beauty of Wild Horses in the Pryor Mountains

The iconic stallion Cloud in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range

Imagine traveling to see wild horses in the wild. The Pryor Mountains feral horse herd is one of the most accessible feral horse herds in the United States. Visitors may come to the public lands of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range to enjoy observing these well-known wild horses and are encouraged to do so from a safe distance. 

Comprised of more than 39,000 acres the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range is located in the southeastern portion of Carbon County, Montana, and northern Big Horn County, Wyoming, approximately 50 miles south of Billings, Montana, and 10 miles north of Lovell Wyoming.

The range can be easily accessed via a paved road which parallels Bighorn Canyon, and which provides excellent viewing of the horses. The range can also be accessed from Laurel, Montana, by traveling south on U.S. Route 310 and then taking the Forest Service gravel road to Dryhead Overlook. Some of the range may be accessed via the Crow Indian Reservation. A trespass permit from the Crow Nation is required to cross tribal land or exit a vehicle while on tribal land.

Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center is a public, not-for-profit 501c3 educational institution located in Lovell, Wyoming dedicated to preserving the future of the wild horses of the Pryor Mountains. At the center visitors will learn facts about the breed, such as that their primary bloodlines did descend from Spanish Barbs and the best places to view them. You may arrange for a trip with PryorWild Tours to go to the top of the mountain with an elevation of 8,750 above sea level. Tours are from May 15 through September 30 (email for availability).

Hiking on the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse range is good, but there are no maintained or marked trails. Because elevations range from 3,850 feet to 8,750 feet above sea level, it's good to be prepared with layers and anticipate weather conditions before hiking to the higher alpine elevations. It's common to experience thunderstorms with lightning in the spring and summer months. The area is high in diversity and plants vary with elevation and precipitation from cold desert shrub to sub-alpine forests and meadows. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Field Guide to the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses 10th Edition 2023.

TripAdvisor has a list of accommodations and restaurants reviews near Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center. The Hideout Lodge and Guest Ranch rates well on TripAdvisor and is 35.5 miles from Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center.

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For a recent look during fall 2023 at the mustangs and what it's like to travel to the Pryor Mountain Horse Range, watch this well-produced video on the YouTube channel @loristravels

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Rescued Wild Mustangs Roam Freely at The Wild Horse Refuge

Restoring the freedoms that Colorado’s horses have historically enjoyed for decades.

Wild horses roam freely on more than 23,000 acres at The Wild Horse Refuge near Craig, Colorado

The origins of the Wild Horse Refuge began back in 2020 with the overpopulation of free-roaming mustangs within the Sand Wash Basin (SWB) near Craig, Colorado. The area is officially managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and with nearly 1,000 horses living at that location, a decision was made to round up and remove more than 700 hundred horses.

Once caught and transported to a holding facility near Canyon City, Colorado, the BLM planned to offer the horses for adoption through numerous public auctions. In response to this controversial program, several of the Sanctuary’s supporters began calling and donating toward an effort to save the mustangs.

With the Sanctuary having a 10,000-acre rescue facility located near the town of Springfield, Colorado, the organization was asked to rehome the captured mustangs at that location. In response, dozens of mustangs were immediately rescued, with many more being added in the following months.

A small family of wild mustangs enjoy their freedom

As the number of rescued mustangs began to approach 100, the Sanctuary began looking for additional land to increase its carrying capacity. A large historical ranch was located in northwest Colorado, which ironically, happened to be just 35 miles from the horses’ original home within the SWB.

Offering more than 23,000 acres of lush pastures and wide-open terrain, the Sanctuary purchased the property in January of 2023. As a result, many more rescued mustangs were rescued and now run freely across the same hills and valleys where their ancestors had once traveled. Renamed “The Wild Horse Refuge” additional horses are now able to run free and range naturally at this location.

The Sanctuary has full-time staff living on site to monitor the horses day and night and also sends veterinarians and behavior specialists regularly to ensure the horses’ needs are being met. The organization’s goal is to restore the freedoms that Colorado’s horses #wildhorses have historically enjoyed for decades.

Wild mustangs running freely

Wild mustangs enjoying freedom

Stunning mustang free and wild

Wild mustangs enjoying the sun

Although The Wild Animal Sanctuary #thewildanimalsanctuary happens to be the world’s largest carnivore rescue organization, rescuing Lions, Tigers, Bears and other large exotics, the organization has also rescued horses for all 43 years of its operation. Being avid supporters and knowing the organization’s mission very well, Governor Jared Polis and First Gentleman, Marlon Reis, reached out to the Sanctuary with a request to assist the horses. Their concerns were driven by compassion, but they also considered the mustangs #wildmustangs to be an important part of our Colorado’s history and what many Americans believe to be a strong symbol of the American West.

Two wild mustangs affectionately lean into one another, appearing grateful for their freedom

The Wild Horse Refuge #thewildhorserefuge is asking those who care about these majestic creatures, or happen to be interested in protecting an important part of Colorado history, to go to their website at https://www.WildHorseRefuge.org to learn more. Additionally, for those who would like to tour of the Refuge, the website offers a way for individuals and groups to schedule visits.

Video Gallery

Watch this episode of 60 Minutes which aired January 28, 2024 about the monumental effort by The Wild Animal Sancturay team, including Mr. Pat Craig, Founder and Executive Director and Monica Craig, to rehabilitate and remove animals from the shuttered Puerto Rico Zoo.

60 Minutes

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Equustyle Art & Travel magazine appreciates Mr. Pat Craig, Founder and Executive Director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary, providing us with such a well-written article and beautiful photographs of the wild horses presently at The Wild Horse Refuge. Consider taking a tour of The Wild Horse Refuge to see wild mustangs in the wild. And please make a donation to help more wild horses return to the wild.

All images Copyright The Wild Horse Refuge -all rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced for any purpose without permission from The Wild Horse Refuge.

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