Big Bend Stables

Trip Highlights

A delicious lunch -- no sandwiches here!

Well-trained & surefooted mules and horses!

Mountainous Views!

Description

Combine our 2hr mine tour with our own Ocotillo Mesa trails, ending up at Indian Head for lunch.

Wait until you see what a wonderful meal we can pull out of a pair of saddlebags.
- this trail is catered to beginners, and those with kids as young as 8. These trails include elevation gain.
- If you are an adventurous beginner or are an experienced rider, check out our adventurous rides out of our Lajitas Stables!

Itinerary

Expand all

Check-in at Big Bend Stables @ 8:30a

This time is for paperwork, a safety talk, and getting a brief individual riding lesson. Please prepare ahead of time & be on time, if not a little early! Arriving late and/or unprepared will affect the length your ride.

Tour Info

Duration

4 to 4:30 hours

Group Size

At least 2

Price starts at

$125

Why take this tour?

Take our Ole Mine Trail and climb up onto what we affectionately call "Ocotillo Mesa", and walk across above Rough Run Creek over to Indian Head for lunch. Larger than life boulders offer some cool shady spots for lunch...smoked chicken, imported cheeses, "cowboy caviar", etc...

This ride is catered for beginners/first-time riders, and those with kids as young as 8. This ride includes elevation gain.
If you are an adventurous beginner or are a rider with previous experience, check out our half-day ride out of our Lajitas Stables!
Please let us know any dietary restrictions so we can prepare the right amount of food

Included

We rides horses, donkeys, & mules!
A safety-talk & individual riding lesson
A walking trail ride

Excluded

Water -- each rider needs to bring their own!

Frequently asked questions

I'm by myself and it says I need two to book?

Call the office if you are a single adult rider & we can add you to an existing ride

Is this ride okay even if I've never ridden before?

This ride is beginner friendly! We ride for a couple of hours, dismount for lunch, and then remount and mosey on back to the stables. Riders should be in good physical health.

Is this ride in Big Bend National Park?

No, riding outfitters are not permitted to operate inside BBNP, but we ride along the boundary

How fast do we go on this ride?

All of our trail rides are at a walk

Things to know

Cancellation Policy

7 Days. We ride rain or shine

Bring water!

Each rider is responsible for bringing their own water on this DESERT ride

Long pants & closed toed shoes

Required!! We recommend lightweight longsleeves for sun protection. Our trails are filled with pokey desert flora and fauna

Age Requirement

8yrs & up

Location, location, location!

Big Bend Stables is at the junction of HWY 118 & 170, near the Alon Gas Station

Riding Exp

Beginner friendly, no experience needed!

Weight

270lbs max. Riders must be able to mount/dismount with little to no assistance. Riders should be in good health & be able to balance properly in the saddle going up and downhill. Your horse/mule is balancing themselves while also balancing you!

Time Zone

Big Bend Stables is on Central Time--make sure you are too so you don't miss you ride. Many phones auto switch to MT down here due to our proximity to the border

Reviews 21 Verified reviews

John S

28th December 2025

The ride from the Terlingua location was breathtaking and the experience created a lifetime memory for our family. Makenzie safely led our group of beginners through a 1/2 day spectacular experience. ...

The ride from the Terlingua location was breathtaking and the experience created a lifetime memory for our family. Makenzie safely led our group of beginners through a 1/2 day spectacular experience. The views of the mesa, the mountains, and abandoned mines were a favorite. Experience Big Bend by horseback is a must. Ask for Makenzie, you’ll be in great hands and you’ll learn a lot about the history.

Rob McLellan

23rd December 2025

Had an AMAZING time and mackenzie was so good she made sure to get all of our names and remember us and tell us all stories of the land and made sure to take our pictures and ask for the horse selfie! Definitely would book again.

ChrisandLoriann

28th November 2025

Great guided tour through rough terrain. The guide was friendly, the horses were gentle. The trail was often rocky and steep, so a bit jostly. Be prepared to be saddle sore afterwards.

Sarah Burke

26th November 2025

What an experience! My husband, 2 children and I took the 1/2 day trail ride and it was breathtaking! Full of history, flora & fauna as well as a delicious lunch! Makenzie, our guide, was informative,...

What an experience! My husband, 2 children and I took the 1/2 day trail ride and it was breathtaking! Full of history, flora & fauna as well as a delicious lunch! Makenzie, our guide, was informative, safety minded and so friendly. We highly recommend taking this ride and Big Bend Stables. They’re a great outfit!

Dan H

12th September 2025

Great ride, Armando our guide was excellent. Half day ride and lunch was perfect. I can highly recommend this to anyone as part of a complete Big Bend experience.

MSE

30th June 2025

If you want the best big bend scenery in the cowboy experience way, this is the place. Don’t worry if you’re scared of horses, these horses/mules are very well accustomed to the trials. Went with ...

If you want the best big bend scenery in the cowboy experience way, this is the place. Don’t worry if you’re scared of horses, these horses/mules are very well accustomed to the trials. Went with my wife and my parents, guide was great, this was our second time, would use again the next time we are in big bend!

Marnie T

1st May 2025

We had a wonderful time. The guide was great and the horses were well cared for and easy to ride. I would definitely recommend.

Dean Peterson

20th March 2025

Our family booked the 2 hour sunset ride. The guides Shelby and Armando were great. The horses were well trained and easy to ride. They even paired our six year old with a very nice donkey that the gu...

Our family booked the 2 hour sunset ride. The guides Shelby and Armando were great. The horses were well trained and easy to ride. They even paired our six year old with a very nice donkey that the guides led for the ride. This excursion is great for first time riders - they pair you up with a suitable horse, help you mount, then provide a mini riding lesson before you leave. Since the ride is the horses at an easy, single file walk, you really don’t have to do much except enjoy the ride and scenery. Do be sure to wear jeans and boots, as you’ll pass by brush and cactus. Also be sure to bring at least two liter sized bottles of water and sunscreen. It’s easy to get dehydrated and burned out there.

Lauren S

17th March 2025

This was a great ride with scenery. Guides were knowledgeable about the area and horses and talked with each guest. Lunch was not just sandwiches, but smoked chicken, bean salad, and various accompani...

This was a great ride with scenery. Guides were knowledgeable about the area and horses and talked with each guest. Lunch was not just sandwiches, but smoked chicken, bean salad, and various accompaniments. Each person has their own saddlebag to carry water, extra clothing, camera etc.

Big Bend Stables – Half Day with Lunch

Trip Highlights

A delicious lunch -- no sandwiches here!

Well-trained & surefooted mules and horses!

Mountainous Views!

Description

Itinerary

Tour Info

Big Bend Stables

Why take this tour?

Included

We rides horses, donkeys, & mules!

A safety-talk & individual riding lesson

A walking trail ride

Excluded

Water -- each rider needs to bring their own!

Frequently asked questions

Things to know

Cancellation Policy

Bring water!

Long pants & closed toed shoes

Age Requirement

Location, location, location!

Riding Exp

Weight

Time Zone

Reviews <img style=" width: 18px;" src="https://lajitasstables.com/wp-content/themes/gondola-wp/resources/assets/images/verify.png" alt="verify"> 21 Verified reviews

John S

Rob McLellan

ChrisandLoriann

Sarah Burke

Dan H

MSE

Marnie T

Dean Peterson

Lauren S

Check Availability

Why book with us?

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Reviews 21 Verified reviews

Other Big Bend Stables Rides