What to expect when renting pack llamas

You do **not** need prior llama experience to rent from **Shining Mountain Llamas**. Our llamas are among the best-trained in the country and are known for being calm, reliable, and easy to handle.

Once your reservation is confirmed, we will schedule a **required 1–3 hour orientation**. Orientation is scheduled for a day prior to your rental, and for expirienced renters it could be the day of your rental. This hands-on session ensures you feel confident and prepared. During orientation, we will cover:

* Catching, handling, and leading llamas
* Saddling, haltering, and proper packing techniques
* Loading and unloading llamas from the trailer
* Stringing (daisy chaining) llamas on the trail
* Navigating obstacles in wilderness terrain
* Understanding llama behavior, physical needs, and capabilities
* Handling emergencies (animal-related or environmental)
* Answering any additional questions you may have

Transportation Requirements

After completing orientation, you’ll need a **capable tow vehicle** to transport the llamas to your trailhead.

We offer two trailer options:

* **3-llama trailer** → Requires a vehicle capable of towing ~3,000 lbs
* **8-llama trailer** → Requires a vehicle capable of towing up to ~6,000 lbs

Both trailers use a **2-inch ball hitch and a 7-pin connector**. Please ensure your vehicle is properly equipped before arrival.

Packing & Weight Guidelines

Your rental includes panniers (llama-specific saddle bags for carrying gear).