Ride the Study Butte Mercury Mine on a relaxed 2-hour horseback tour
2 Hours
Guided ride, Horse or donkey
Explore the ruins of the Study Butte Mercury Mine on a relaxed, nose-to-tail ride at a walk. Follow your wranglers along sloping terrain with elevation changes, looping back to Big Bend Stables.
Minimum age is 6; 6-year-olds ride a donkey led by a wrangler. Max rider weight is 270 lbs, and you must be able to mount and balance in the saddle.
Full refund if you cancel 7+ days prior to ride date, or if the stables cancels the ride.
The stables generally ride in most weather conditions, but they will not ride in unsafe weather or when trail conditions are unsafe. If the stables cancels, you receive a full refund or a re-schedule if possible.
Yes. Adults must read and fill out their own waiver. If a minor is accompanied by an adult who is not their legal parent or guardian, a legal parent or guardian must complete the waiver before arrival for the minor to ride.
No. Bring about 2 liters of still water in handheld bottles. Do not bring gallon jugs or backpacks/camelbaks; you get a saddle horn bag for your water.
BIG BEND STABLES at 9am!
The guides here are a genuine highlight, with Duck, Evo, Shelby, and McKenzie each earning enthusiastic praise by name. They bring real knowledge of the area's history and landscape, keep things fun and relaxed, and have a knack for making first-timers feel at ease. Families with young kids seem to have a particularly great time, and the horses are consistently described as well-behaved and well-suited for the rugged terrain. The sunset and morning rides draw the most love, with beautiful views and a memorable way to experience the desert landscape. One reviewer noted dusty trail conditions and proximity to an old mercury mine as concerns, so that's worth keeping in mind if those things matter to you. That said, it reads as an outlier against an otherwise overwhelmingly positive track record. If you're passing through the Big Bend area and looking for something beyond hiking, this is the kind of experience people say becomes a trip highlight. Ask about horse availability too, one reviewer was pretty insistent about requesting Tulsa specifically.
Duck our tour guide took us on an gorgeous sunset ride. We enjoyed Duck’s knowledge about the local nature and history. The horses were well behaved and sweet.
Celia Leung
May 22, 2026
Duck our tour guide took us on an gorgeous sunset ride. We enjoyed Duck’s knowledge about the local nature and history. The horses were well behaved and sweet.
Celia Leung
May 22, 2026