Half-Day Big Bend Horseback Lunch Ride
Ride to Indian Head Pictographs and enjoy a trailside lunch
Duration
4.5 Hours
Includes
Guided ride, Lunch
Highlights
Ride horses or mules on a relaxed, nose-to-tail walk to Indian Head Pictographs, then stop for lunch with views into Big Bend National Park. This half-day ride follows beginner-friendly trails with some elevation changes.
- Meet your wranglers at Big Bend Stables at 8:30am Central Time
- Ride at a walk along Old Mine Tour and Ocotillo Mesa trails
- Stop for lunch at Indian Head Pictographs with views into Big Bend National Park
- Follow a gentle route with some sloping terrain and hills
- Bring 2–3 liters of water per rider in handheld bottles
- Plan to tip your wranglers as gratuity is not included
What's Included
- Lunch
- Horse or mule ride
- Wrangler guide
- Saddle horn bag
Things to know
Minimum age is 8 years old and maximum rider weight is 270 lbs. You must be able to mount and balance in the saddle; long pants and closed-toe shoes are required.
Cancellation Policy
Full refund if you cancel 7+ days prior to ride date, or in the event the stables cancels the ride.
FAQs
Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes (required). Skip shorts and leggings. Dress for sun protection, weather, and pokey plants.
Bring 2–3 liters (or 3+ liters) of still water per rider in handheld bottles. Do not bring gallon jugs or backpacks; you get a saddle horn bag.
You must be at least 8 years old and no more than 270 lbs. You need to mount by yourself and balance in the saddle, including on hills and sloping terrain.
Meeting details
BIG BEND STABLES at 8:30am
More about Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park sprawls across more than 800,000 acres of far West Texas, where the Chihuahuan Desert meets the Rio Grande and the Chisos Mountains rise like a ship out of an ocean of creosote and ocotillo. This half day lunch ride on horseback gives you a uniquely slow, grounded way to experience the country bordering Big Bend National Park, trading the windshield view for the rhythm of hooves on desert trail. The terrain here is famously varied, with limestone canyons, hidden springs, sotol-studded ridges, and panoramic views that stretch deep into Mexico, and there is no better pace for soaking it in than from the saddle.
The ride works its way through high desert country that shares the same geology, plant life, and wide open skies that make Big Bend National Park so unforgettable. You will smell the dust and the sun-warmed juniper, listen to the quiet crunch of gravel under your horse, and stop midway for a relaxed lunch out in the landscape, the kind of break that feels earned rather than scheduled. Your wrangler shares stories about the ranching history, the wildlife, and the rugged characters who shaped this borderland, giving context that enriches every later visit to overlooks and trailheads inside Big Bend National Park itself.
This experience is ideal for travelers who want more than a quick photo stop, including couples on a Texas road trip, families with older kids, and anyone planning a longer stay in or near Big Bend National Park who wants a real introduction to the region. Confident beginners are welcome alongside seasoned riders, and the unhurried pace leaves plenty of room for conversation, quiet, and that big desert silence. If you are dreaming of cinematic horizons and a deeper connection to the land around Big Bend National Park, this half day lunch ride is a memorable way to step into the story.
