The Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive celebrates the rich legacy of the “Wild Wild West,” with an unforgettable journey through the High Desert.
For five days leading up to the Reno Rodeo, up to 60 guests join a team of volunteer cowboys to drive 300 head of rodeo steers from Winnemucca Ranch to Reno, Nev. Guests travel from around the world to partake in this authentic slice of buckaroo life, many of whom return year after year.
For many, the Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive is more than a vacation; it’s a paradigm shift, a chance to see the world through the lens of a true-blue cowboy. Long, dusty afternoons are soaked up on horseback, navigating short-horned cattle through dusty plateaus and sunbaked sagebrush. Food and supplies are transported the old-fashioned way: in 1800s-style horse- or mule-drawn wagons lugging guests’ gear. Rain, snow, and beating sun are all fair game during the Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive, but they are no match to the sweeping vistas and a profound sense of accomplishment participants experience with the close of each day.
With daylight’s departure comes the time to let loose. Long days on horseback are rewarded with all the well-deserved luxury a cowboy could dream of. Technicolor sunsets usher in evenings laced with laughter and camaraderie. Hearty catered meals and an open bar are welcome staples to nights spent gathered around the campfire singing songs, sharing cowboy poetry and forging memories that will last a lifetime. In the words of past participants, there’s nothing like it.
The final leg of the journey culminates at high noon as the cattle drive makes its grand entrance into Reno hitting the pavement at Oddie Blvd to McCarran Blvd and down Sutro Street. Here the crew is greeted with sidewalks brimming with smiling faces and children hoisted up on shoulders. It’s certainly a sight to behold as the buckaroos navigate 300 rodeo steers through the paved streets of Reno, much to the marvel of those looking on.
The completion of the Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive marks the official start of the “Wildest Richest Rodeo in the West.” Whether you’re participating in the full five-day affair or taking it all in from the sidelines, there’s no denying that this is a spectacular experience that’s not to be missed.
