Gunstock Ranch

adventure, atvs, Horseback Riding, OAHU

by Mariam Beard • Last Updated: June 2021

---

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which mean that we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase using these links – at no additional cost to you.

In this video, we head up to the North Shore to check out GUNSTOCK RANCH. The ranch had a GORGEOUS horseback ride with sweeping ocean views and a fun UTV (ATV) ride.

Quick Details:

• Island: OAHU
• Activity: Horseback Riding & ATVs

IMPORTANT INFO:

• Age restrictions: ​Varies by tour
• Attire: Closed-toed shoes REQUIRED
• Distance from Waikiki: About 40-miles (64km) via HI-83W (about 1hr 15min) OR about  51-miles (82km) via HI-83E (about 1hr 30 min). Keep in mind TRAFFIC can be very unpredictable to get to the North Shore depending on time of day and rush hour. We recommend 2-hours transit in case of any traffic or wrong turns/directions! 

Our Experience

HOW WE BOOKED
We opted for the Horseback (1hr) at 9:30am-10:30am and the off-road adventure (1.5 hour) with lunch at 2:00pm-3:00pm.

WHY
Ideally, we wanted the horseback in the morning. My friend that I went with plays polo and she had recommended a morning time for the horseback ride. The off-road adventure was a SHADED vehicle so doing that in the afternoon was ok with us. Unfortunately, back-to-back tours were not available so we had a morning horseback ride then headed into Haleiwa for brunch and to meet up with a friend until our afternoon off-road adventure tour. 

Keep in mind North Shore TRAFFIC can get unpredictable so make sure to leave with plenty of time.

Horseback ride

HORSEBACK
We opted for the Horseback (1hr) at 9:30am-10:30am. Make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen as there is minimal shade. The tour had some beautiful scenery. This tour was perfect for beginners (like me). If you are more experienced, check out some of Gunstock Ranch’s other tours.

If you’d prefer a PRIVATE horseback ride option, there’s lots of options! Two popular ones are a PRIVATE horseback ride with a picnic lunch or, if you prefer something later in the day, there’s a PRIVATE sunset horseback ride with a campfire dinner!

Off-Road Adventure

OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE
We opted for the off-road adventure (1.5 hour) with lunch at 2:00pm-3:00pm.  One thing to note: the ATVs are guide-driven (not guest-driven). We made the mistake of not realizing that when we booked & were bummed to realize that it was a guided ATV tour with the guide (not us) driving. Overall, we had a great time! (And the lunch was pretty tasty too!)

How to Get There

What to Pack

• Sunscreen!
• Closed-toed shoes

Yes to Hawaii is an affiliate partner with Hawaii Activities. If you purchase a tour/activity with the links that we provide, we will receive a small commission – at no additional cost to you! We love sharing what each tour is like so you can choose the best tours/activities for you and your family. We love helping take the guesswork out of your Hawaii trip! Booking the tour through our links helps support us bring you free Hawaii and travel content every single week. Thank YOU!