6 Of The Best Places to See Wild Horses in the US

Lately, I have been thinking about taking a vacation and one item on my bucket list is to see wild horses.  There is nothing better than seeing horses in their wild habitat, and wild horses are truly a stunning thing to view.  While this used to be commonplace in many areas of the world, now, wild horses are much rarer to view.  Below are some places in the United States where you can travel and enjoy not just beautiful countryside, but also the beauty of horses out in their natural habitat.

Best Places to See Wild Horses in the US

So, what could be better than combining a vacation with seeing wild horses? That got me thinking about where I could go to accomplish that. During my research, I came up with several great options for to view wild horses in the US.  I live in the middle of the country, so this was ideal for me to find options all around me, on both coasts, and throughout my own region.  

If you've thought about going to do something like this, make sure you read up on what to do when viewing wild horses.  Your safety as well as theirs is most important.  These tips protect both of you.  There are many different things to consider when viewing wild horses, and one of my favorite parts of this is that their safety and preservation are so important.  We've shared about different ways to save wild horses in the past, and this is just another way to drive that home. 

Outer Banks North Carolina

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a vacation spot I have heard of many times and while beaches are the normal reason to visit, my biggest draw there is to see the Corolla Wild Horses that roam around that area. It’s estimated that around one hundred of these wild horses are in the area and can be seen on the northern beaches of Carova or Corolla. You can even take a guided tour to help you spot one of the magnificent horses.

We've even shared a story of a foal born in the Outer Banks before.  This area is one of the most popular, but also one of the most beautiful to view horses and the world around you. 

Assateague Island Virginia and Maryland

The wild horses of Assateague were made famous in the late 1940s when Marguerite Henry wrote the book Misty of Chincoteague. This book helped more people know about these horses and made this area become very popular with tourists. The over 300 horses are divided into two herds the Maryland horses, and the Virginia horses.

We've even written about the lady author of Misty of Chincoteague fame.  You'll love reading this story, and might want to check out these other books horse lovers should read.  So many wonderful ways to explore the world of horses!

The Pryor Mountains Montana and Wyoming

The northeast region of The Pryor Mountains is home to around 160 wild horses. These wild horses are unique in that they have distinctive markings of a long dorsal stripe along the back and zebra-like coloration on their legs. Also, these horses are smaller than the average wild horse. The uniqueness of these horses makes this a must-see on the list of places to see wild horses in the US.  

Here are some more places to see horses in the US to consider when planning your trip. I love the idea of spending a summer just driving cross country to view and photograph wild horses. 

The Virginia Range Nevada

Something I learned while doing research is that Nevada is home to almost half of the wild horse population in the United States. Most of those horses are part of the herd called The Virginia Range herd. If you want to increase your chances of seeing these horses, then you will want to plan to hike the trails east of Reno. They can usually be spotted near a watering hole off the trail.

I love seeing a place in a more desert region featuring horses.  So often we only think of wild horses as being nearby to waterways or in the mountains.  This is a lovely place that is in Nevado not far from Reno.  Take a trip to see the horses, then take in a few casinos for a little more fun before you head home.

For more views of these horses and others, check out this photographer's take on wild horses.  So many stunning images to choose from!  You may see these and want to make a wild horse your own, but remember that these are wild animals.  While some have been domesticated, these should be left alone and just viewed from the outside. 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota

Visiting all the National Parks is also on my bucket list so when I discovered that between one and two hundred wild horses live in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, I got excited. Why not mark off two things at once? Located in the Dakota Badlands, the recommendation by the park is to find a higher spot like Buck Hill to watch for and observe these horses.

Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area Colorado

About 80-150 wild horses live in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area in Colorado. Since the weather especially in winter can be so extreme, this may be a place best suited for the adventurous among us. It’s an area of 36,000 acres and a rugged landscape so it’s advised to try to see these horses by biking, horseback, or hiking trails. The wild horses you will see here do have some genetics of Indian ponies owned by the Utes who lived in this area at one time.

I also love this Colorado sanctuary for wild horses as another destination.  Nearby, still in Colorado, this is a beautiful place and you are sure to love visiting these horses too!

My hope is to eventually visit each of these locations and see as many wild horses as possible. But for now, I will just be happy to visit one place, have a nice vacation and see these beautiful horses.