Lajitas Stables

Trip Highlights

A delicious lunch served out on trail!

Sweeping Views into Old Mexico

Well-trained & Surefooted mounts!

Description

**March 2025: DUE TO WATER LEVELS UPSTREAM, we are currently unable to offer Saddle/Paddles. We still have plenty of room on our 1/2 Day Rides and we'd love to have you! If you're still interested in a river trip, PLEASE contact a river company separately as there are still parts of the river that are paddle-able downstream!**
For the adventurous!! This is an athletic activity.
- Our route climbs high into the rugged mountains and mesas that frame the Rio Grande, and the spectacular vistas into Mexico make this an unforgettable ride. Our famous saddlebag lunch (smoked meat, imported cheeses & crackers, fresh fruit, and other goodies) is served in the shade of a hidden canyon. After lunch we wind our way back down the Mesa, enjoying more dramatic views across the Rio Grande.
- When we return to Lajitas Stables, you'll have time to change from jeans and boots to shorts and sandals, before your river guide arrives to shuttle you to the river’s edge. Depending on the water level in the Rio Grande, you will board rafts or canoes for the second half of your all day adventure.

Itinerary

Expand all

Check-in at Lajitas Stables @ 8:30

For paperwork, a safety-talk, and a riding lesson before hitting the trail

Hit the trail & have lunch out on trail

Get mounted up and enjoy the delicious lunch we provide

Arrive back at the stables

You'll have time to change into what you want to wear for the river

Get picked up by the river company

The river company provides dry bags & water. The river portion is about 3hrs depending on your group and water levels

Get dropped back off at the stables after the river

And then you'll be free to go on your merry way!

Tour info

Duration

6 to 7 hours

Group Size

At least 2

Price starts at

$193

Why take this tour?

March 2025: DUE TO WATER LEVELS UPSTREAM, we are currently unable to offer Saddle/Paddles. We still have plenty of room on our 1/2 Day Rides and we'd love to have you! If you're still interested in a river trip, PLEASE contact a river company separately as there are still parts of the river that are paddle-able downstream!

This combo is the best of both worlds -- experiencing the Big Bend on horseback & then gently floating down the Rio Grande River(the US/Mexico border!) We follow our 1/2 day with lunch riding itinerary before you are picked up at the stables by our river company partners for the river portion of this all day adventure. This trip can be done from our Big Bend Stables for those uncomfortable with the steep trails at our Lajitas location. The river portion is a gentle float suitable for everyone.

Our trails at Lajitas Stables are most comfortable & enjoyable for:

- Those who consider themselves adventurous beginners and/or riders with previous experience

Included

We ride horses, donkeys & mules!
A delicious lunch! Let us know about any restrictions or allergies so we can accomodate you where possible!
A walking trail ride
A safety-talk & individual riding instruction

Frequently asked questions

Will we be in a raft, kayak or canoe?

All depends on the river level! Usually Winter-Spring you will be in a canoe, as water levels are typically lower

Age requirement says 12, how flexible are you on that?

If you have a 10 or 11 yr old, please give us a call. Due to the technicality and steepness of our trails and per our insurance, we do not have younger kids on these trails

I'm by myself, 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

I've never ridden before, is this combo okay for me?

Adventurous & athletic beginners are always welcome--it's a long day of physical activity so be prepared!

Things to know

Cancellation Policy

7 Days. We ride rain or shine!

Ages

12yrs+. If you have a 10 or 11yr old, please call us.

Weight limit

250lbs. All riders should be in good health and be able to mount/dismount with no assistance!

Bring water!

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

Location!

Lajitas Stables is in Big Bend Ranch State Park on HWY 170. Be aware phone maps & cell service are not always reliable out here!

Riding experience

Beginner friendly, but most comfortable for those who consider themselves adventurous & athletic

Required Attire

Long pants & closed toed shoes. We strongly recommend a lightweight long-sleeve shirt & secure hat for sun protection! Our trails are filled with pokey desert flora and fauna.

7 Reviews Verified

Fatima Rodriguez

29th November 2024

We loved our horse back riding 🥰 our guide Shelby was very friendly, knowledgeable and gave us great suggestions about what to do in town! The ride was beautiful with some great views. A must while you’re visiting.

Rachel Andersen

29th February 2024

What an experience! Definitely an adventure to remember for a lifetime. Be sure to bring lots of water, wear sunscreen, long sleeves, long jeans (no shorts), and closed toed shoes. Our guide, Evo, was 5-stars!

Gary M

31st December 2022

My wife and I had an awesome experience at Lajitas Stables on December 30, 2022. We booked the Saddle and Paddle and highly recommend it. Armando was our Guide and Leader and Lajitas Stables and was a...

My wife and I had an awesome experience at Lajitas Stables on December 30, 2022. We booked the Saddle and Paddle and highly recommend it. Armando was our Guide and Leader and Lajitas Stables and was an absolute gem! Neither my wife nor I had any horseback riding experience and Armando put us both at ease and paired us with excellent horses that were just great. The ride was spectacular. We wrongly presumed that because we were truly beginners the trails we would explore would be flat and unexciting! Boy were we wrong. The horses know the trails so well we soon found ourselves overlooking amazing vistas and really getting the full experience by going up advanced trails and exploring really interesting terrain. Highly recommend Lajitas stables and if your lucky Armando will be your guide!

Rick M

4th January 2019

We chose a Saddle/Paddle Tour in which Lajitas Stables partners with Big Bend River Tours. We spent the morning into early afternoon riding horses, then a canoe trip down the Rio Grande. I highly reco...

We chose a Saddle/Paddle Tour in which Lajitas Stables partners with Big Bend River Tours. We spent the morning into early afternoon riding horses, then a canoe trip down the Rio Grande. I highly recommend this package. It gives you just enough of a taste of both to satisfy. Now, for the review of the Stables. Janelle and Hailey were the best guides we could have asked for! Both were VERY NICE, INFORMATIVE, AND EXPERIENCED. They take you on a wonderful ride where you climb to beautiful views of Big Bend Ranch State Park, The Rio Grande River, and surrounding areas. The horses are well trained and a pleasure to deal with. I will admit...This was the highlight of my trip and unforgettable!

Lindsay G

23rd April 2018

We booked the Saddle Paddle Combo, and it was a highlight of our week-long trip! Our guide, Kellie, was fantastic. I was very impressed with her attention to the safety and comfort of both the riders ...

We booked the Saddle Paddle Combo, and it was a highlight of our week-long trip! Our guide, Kellie, was fantastic. I was very impressed with her attention to the safety and comfort of both the riders and the horses. We were well-matched to our horses, and we appreciated her orientation before we hit the trail (covering safety, basic riding instruction and a little bit about our horses' personalities). She was friendly, easy to talk to, and very knowledgeable about local wildlife, plants, and history. The scenery was rugged and beautiful, with mesas, canyons, and views stretching as far as the eye can see. I'm including a few photos, but they really don't do it justice. If you appreciate the beauty of the high desert, you'll love this ride. Kellie did a great job pointing out plants and wildlife. We saw a horned lizard, a collared lizard sunning on a rock, and numerous little whiptail lizards.We stopped to eat lunch in a scenic box canyon. Horses and riders both got a break from riding, and lunch was set up in a shady section of the canyon. The food was delicious, especially after a morning of riding! For me, the most important aspect of a trail ride is, of course, the horses. I won't ride anywhere where horses appear to be unhealthy or mistreated. All the horses at Lajitas Stables appeared to be fit and healthy, with shiny coats and bright eyes. My horse was quite a gentleman, very sure-footed and a pleasure to ride. All the horses on our ride handled the rugged terrain with ease.Once we got back to the stables, the transition from saddle to paddle was seamless and easy. The river guides picked us up and took us to a boat launch upstream. Despite a headwind and a low river, we had tons of fun. Canoeing the Rio Grande was a great way to see unique scenery that isn't accessible by car or on foot. After we landed and the guides loaded up the canoes, we were dropped off back at the stables. All in all, we had a wonderful time and would love to do this again someday!

NixBC

30th August 2014

The Saddle Paddle tour was an amazing experience for our family. First we spent the morning at Lajitas Stables where we saddled up for a great adventure. Janelle was wonderful and full of knowledge. M...

The Saddle Paddle tour was an amazing experience for our family. First we spent the morning at Lajitas Stables where we saddled up for a great adventure. Janelle was wonderful and full of knowledge. My 12 yr old could not get enough about the plants and animals in the area. Lunch was wonderful and a pleasant surprise with the spread that Janelle presented. When we got back to the stables we found Mark pulling up for the paddle adventure. Mark was very fun and had 30 years of knowledge to share. He knew the area well and had lots of history and stories to tell.

jgpn

1st January 2014

We did the Saddle and Paddle package on Saturday 12/28/13 and absolutely enjoyed it. The first half of the day was the horseback ride in the State park. Our guides, Janelle and Carl, were excellent. W...

We did the Saddle and Paddle package on Saturday 12/28/13 and absolutely enjoyed it. The first half of the day was the horseback ride in the State park. Our guides, Janelle and Carl, were excellent. We rode up into the mountains and got great views of the Rio Grande and the Sierra del Carmen mountains and canyons. The lunch was good and the kids enjoyed every minute. Definitely wear long pants since the trails are narrow and there are several thorny shrubs and cactii around. The afternoon was a short raft trip down the Rio Grande. Our guide, Jason, was well-informed and answered all our questions. The river level itself was low and a couple of "rapids" were quite minor. We enjoyed it nevertheless, getting to see the mountains and scenery from a different point of view. If you have a couple of days, float trips down the Santa Elena canyon are amazing, we heard.

Lajitas Stables – Saddle and Paddle Combo

Trip Highlights

A delicious lunch served out on trail!

Sweeping Views into Old Mexico

Well-trained & Surefooted mounts!

Description

Itinerary

Tour info

Lajitas Stables

Why take this tour?

Included

We ride horses, donkeys & mules!

A delicious lunch! Let us know about any restrictions or allergies so we can accomodate you where possible!

A walking trail ride

A safety-talk & individual riding instruction

Frequently asked questions

Things to know

Cancellation Policy

Ages

Weight limit

Bring water!

Location!

Riding experience

Required Attire

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

Fatima Rodriguez

Rachel Andersen

Gary M

Rick M

Lindsay G

NixBC

jgpn

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Why book with us?

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7 Reviews Verified

Looking for something else adventurous?