*Registration DATE CHANGE*
If you are interested in attending the 2027 Cattle Drive, please check back here on Tuesday September 1 2026, registration opens promptly at 10:00am (PST) and is first come first serve. We hope to see you in 2027!
The Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive celebrates the rich legacy of the “Wild West,” with an unforgettable journey through the High Desert.
For five days leading up to the Reno Rodeo, 55 guests will join a team of volunteer cowboys to drive 300 head of rodeo steers from Winnemucca Ranch to Reno, Nevada. 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. Guests will also enjoy and witness first-hand the 1800s-style horse- or mule-drawn wagons on the trail and will have the option to ride in a wagon on a certain leg of the drive. 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 Clear Acre Ln 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, bringing them right into the outdoor arena where the Reno Rodeo will be taking place that evening, 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.
Cost:
The cost for the 2027 Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive is $3,400 per person. Included in the price will be a 2027 Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive belt buckle (valued at $250). Prices are subject to change.*
*Pricing is all-inclusive. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Confirmed reservations will be on a first come first serve basis until the guest list is full. Payment in full must be received online at the time of application.
Horseback Riding Experience:
The cattle drive is a very physically demanding experience. You MUST be physically fit, should be comfortable with the walk and trot, navigating varied terrain and riding outside an arena. The cattle drive will involve navigating hills, dry creeks, rocky ground, hillsides, roads and pavement, in addition to encountering unexpected situations. You will be riding out in the open, with no mounting blocks available, therefore you must be able to mount a 15 hand horse from the ground without assistance. Unless you ride regularly for multiple hours at a time, you WILL hurt and be sore, guaranteed!
This cattle drive takes place in the high desert where conditions and terrain will vary greatly and is physically demanding. Before signing up for this experience, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Can I climb a few flights of stairs without shortness of breath?
- Can I lift 40-50 pounds?
- Can I mount and dismount a horse without physical assistance?
- Can I walk 1-2 miles comfortably?
We DO NOT recommend this cattle drive for people over the age of 75, heavy smokers, the obese, people with heart or lung conditions, major medical conditions, or anyone who may have trouble breathing at over 6,000 feet in elevation. Honesty about your physical fitness and riding ability is essential for a positive experience. Please contact the Organizer if you have any questions about your suitability for this experience.
Refund/Cancellation Policy:
We are unable to roll over funds for the following year. If you are unable to attend the drive, you have until March 15th of the same year you are signed up for to request a refund. The refund request must be in writing. We will refund your fee minus a $1,000 processing fee if request is made before the deadline. A doctor’s note will not waive the processing fee. We will not process refunds after March 15th and your full payment will be forfeited if you do not attend.
Rules of the Cattle Drive:
- No guest will be allowed to bring his or her own horse on the drive. No exceptions.
- Riders must be 18 years of age to attend.
- No dogs or other pets are allowed.
- No alcoholic beverages will be permitted while riding. The bar remains closed until every guest is safely back in camp and no other riding is planned for the day.
- No firearms allowed. No exceptions, even CCW carriers.
- Willful disregard for the rules or acts of disorderliness will not be tolerated. In the interest of the safety of the guests and to ensure a pleasurable experience for everyone, the Trail Boss or Cow Boss may remove a guest at any time from the Drive who demonstrates these characteristics. Any mistreatment of persons, animals or public drunkenness will be cause for removal.
- Any guest may be removed and/or placed in a wagon at any time during the ride if they are determined to be unfit for riding due to lack of physical ability or a medical condition that prevents them from participating.
Please refer to the four-page document below of What to Wear and What to Bring to get an idea of what is required for the drive.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Interested in becoming a Cattle Drive sponsor? Please see below for available package opportunities:
– Announcement during drive
– Banner on drive/on wagons coming into town
– Logo on water bottles
– Logo on shirts or vests for committee
– Friday matching shirt
– Logo listed and hyperlinked on Reno Rodeo websiteFor more information regarding sponsorships please contact Kari Lepori Cordisco at [email protected] or via phone at 775-721-8198 or Tonya Marini Backlund at [email protected] or via phone at 775-336-8387.

