Adventure-seekers looking to ride the range and relive the Old West can soon apply to join the 2026 Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive.
Applications open Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. for the 2026 Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive, which will take place June 14–18.
Each year, 55 participants join a group of experienced volunteer cowboys to move approximately 300 rodeo steers through the Nevada desert, ending at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center ahead of the Reno Rodeo.
Over five days, participants travel across high desert terrain on horseback by day and gather around the campfire each evening for meals, live music, and storytelling.
The experience includes horse rental, meals, a fully stocked open bar, and a support team for safety and comfort.
Applicants must be 18 or older and have at least 20 hours of horseback riding experience that includes walking and trotting.
Personal horses, pets, firearms, and outside alcohol are not allowed.
The cost is $3,000 per person and must be paid at registration. Full refunds, minus a $1,000 processing fee, are available until March 15, 2026. No refunds will be issued after that date.
The ride concludes with a public cattle drive through the streets of Reno, where riders and steers travel down Clear Acre Lane, McCarran Boulevard, and Sutro Street to mark the opening of the 2026 Reno Rodeo.
More information and applications are available at RenoRodeo.com. Don’t wait, spots are expected to fill quickly.
