2026 Marks the 50th Year of XP Rides.

We hope you can join us during our Golden Anniversary Year.

Please read this before moving on: The XP website is maintained by an old man with a fading memory and is subject to many errors. We post any current updates of importance at the top of the Home Page of the website. Below this message is the ride calendar. The home page has been updated and ride dates are current and should conform to the AERC calendar. Below the calendar, we post “Our Next Ride”. If the time of that ride has past, you may assume we are still busy finishing up the clean up and paperwork from that ride. We will get around to updating the information for the upcoming rides as soon as possible. If you find a conflict of information about the XP Rides, whether it be the correct date or something else please contact David or Ann Nicholson before putting anything on social media. We try to correct errors as soon as possible.

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2026 XPCalendar

Picket Post XP	Jan 2-3-4, 2026
Eastern Mojave XP	Feb 6-7-8, 2026
Laurel Mountain XP	Mar 13-14-15, 2026
Cuyama Oaks XP	Mar 27-28-29, 2026
Caballo Sin Nombre XP	April 17-18-19, 2026
Mt Carmel XP	May 7-8-9-10, 2026
Chicken Creek XP	Jun 13-14-15, 2026
Strawberry Fields XP	Jun 26-27-28, 2026
Grand Canyon XP	Sep 3-4-5-6, 2026
Colorado Fall Color XP	Sep 26-27-28, 2025Sep 25-26-27, 2026
Sesenta Años	Nov 7-8-9, 2025 Nov 6-7-8, 2026

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Our Next Ride

THE GRAND CANYON XP

September 3-4-5-6, 2026

Labor Day Weekend

Grand Canyon is an XP Jacket Ride. Any rider who completes four days on the same horse is eligible for an XP Jacket.

KAIBAB PLATEAU, ARIZONA

All four days of the Grand Canyon XP are out of the basecamp located in the Snowmobile Play Area, on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We ride through beautiful aspen and conifer forests and across wide open meadows through the North Kaibab Plateau on the Arizona Trail and the Rainbow Rim trails. Both of these trails offer spectacular views of the Grand Canyon. The trails course along the rim of the canyon but are far enough back from the cliffs that one does not have to a worry about a fear of heights. The beautiful foliage, set against a backdrop of heavy green forests and the colors of the Grand Canyon offers a riding experience of a lifetime. The Kaibab Plateau is quite flat on top and the horses will have few, if any, climbs of significance. Although many of the trails are what you would expect in an alpine forest, there are some sections that can be somewhat rocky. We expect cool, mild days but be prepared for chilly nights. As with all XP rides, free lunches are provide to everyone including the crews.

DIRECTIONS:

The directions to camp are now the same for everyone regardless of which way you are coming from. Take Hwy 89A to Jacob Lake, Arizona. Go south on Hwy 67 approximately 27 miles to Forest Road 22. This turn off is about 1 mile past the Kaibab Lodge and North Rim Store. Slow down as you see the pond on your right and turn right on FR22. Go about 2 miles to the top of the hill where there is a main cross road. You will turn left at this intersection and go 1 mile on FR 270, another major well-maintained Forest Service road. You will see a large sign on the right directing you to the Snowmobile Play area.

The coordinates for the campsite are:

Intersection of FR22 and Hwy 67: 36° 24.069’N x 112° 7.767’W

Intersection of FR22 and FR270: 36° 24.659’N x 112° 8.976’W

XP Campsite in Snowmobile Play Area: 36° 23.880’N x 112° 9.164’W

Cell and internet service is poor to non existent at the ride site. Some Verizon coverage can be found with a booster. There is great Verizon service at the Kaibab Lodge on the North Rim. Emails and text work best but don’t be frustrated by no response as we may have to travel some distance from camp to make contact.

HEALTH CERTIFICATES

Basecamp address that you can use for health certificates: Forest Roads 270 and 22, Fredonia, AZ 86022

Weed free certified hay is required on all public lands in the United States. Weed free pellets are usually available at feed stores in the area.

AWARDS

Individual awards are available for the fastest time and best condition each day. An overall award will be given to the horse and rider finishing in the fastest time for all four days. An overall best condition award for the horse that completes all four days in the best condition will also be awarded. Completion awards will be given to all successful horse and rider teams.

Ann Nicholson, 907-821-1819

Dave Nicholson, 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150

Enter this ride.

Phone 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150 or e-mail duck@xprides.com

Entry Fees

The following is our basic fee structure for 2026:

LD and Endurance Distances are $135.00 / PayPal $140.50

Juniors, Intro riders and XP club riders are $100 / PayPal $104.00

Riders who are not current members of AERC riding an AERC LD or Endurance ride pay an additional $20.00 non-member fee per day. $155.00 / PayPal $161.20

Riders who enter within 4 days of a ride add $10.00 post entry fee

REFUND POLICY

Cancellation Refunds: Ride entry withdrawal requests received via email on/before 1800 on the 7th day prior to the first day of the ride will receive a full refund. There will be an administrative fee for refunds during the week prior to the ride. No refund for withdrawals within for no shows.

AERC has raised their non member fee to $20.00 per day. AERC non members are charged a day member fee of $20.00 to participate in the AERC sanctioned ride. This does not apply to the intro/fun/xp club rides.

Phone 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150 for Dave

email duck@xprides.com

Phone 907 821 1819 for Annie e-mail annie@xprides.com

If you find something confusing or in error in this message please contact me personally and I will clear it up.

For more information contact Ride Manager:

Ann Nicholson, 907-821-1819

Dave Nicholson, 970 880 0150

Enter this ride.