Ride forested mountain trails to views of the Spanish Peaks
1.5 hours
Horse, guide, park admission
Explore a guided mountain horseback ride through shaded pine and aspen forests. Climb toward views of the Spanish Peaks while taking in the natural rhythm of the trail.
Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather.
Ride at a walk or at a pace agreed with your guide.
You will be asked whether you approve public sharing of photos of you and your group on Instagram and Facebook.
Spring Creek Trail Head, County Road 423, La Veta, CO 81055
At Hill Country State Natural Area, the landscape opens up into rolling limestone ridges, cedar-dotted slopes, and clear, shallow creeks that have shaped this corner of Bandera County for centuries. The air carries the scent of juniper and dry grass, and the silence is broken only by birdsong and the soft crunch of caliche underfoot. Hill Country State Natural Area invites you to slow down and move through a landscape that feels genuinely wild.
Tom, Harriet, and their team have built something genuinely special out in the Texas Hill Country. Guests consistently rave about the warm, family-like atmosphere, the well-trained and well-loved horses, and the freedom to be as hands-on as you want, grooming, saddling, and feeding included. Chef Robin's chuckwagon meals get their own spotlight in nearly every review, with dinners featuring steak, grilled chicken, and all the fixings leaving people happily stuffed. The rides themselves cover impressive ground, from river crossings and historical sites to sunset views in the state preserve. Options range from a simple one-hour trail ride to multi-night stay packages, so there's something for different comfort levels and schedules. Guides like Tami and Emily are frequently praised by name, and the cabins are described as clean, comfortable, and well-stocked. International visitors have also had great experiences here, which speaks to how welcoming the whole operation feels. If you're weighing a longer stay, reviewers pretty unanimously say the two-night or extended packages deliver the fullest experience, giving you time to connect with both the horses and the people. This place seems to genuinely over-deliver on expectations, and repeat visits are a common theme in the reviews.
Bandera Historical Rides So glad we found Bandera Historical Rides when we were in Texas visiting family. We booked the 1 hour river ride and had Tami as our guide. We were riders of all different levels of experience and she made it great for all of us! Thank you Tami for the great memories. We will be using Bandera Historical Rides again on our next trip to Texas!
Kimberly Runyan
June 22, 2026
Bandera Historical Rides So glad we found Bandera Historical Rides when we were in Texas visiting family. We booked the 1 hour river ride and had Tami as our guide. We were riders of all different levels of experience and she made it great for all of us! Thank you Tami for the great memories. We will be using Bandera Historical Rides again on our next trip to Texas!
Kimberly Runyan
June 22, 2026
Explore rolling hills and pastures on a guided ride, with options to learn grooming and saddling
Ride a horse at sunset on Hill Country State Natural Area trails
Ride along Medina River trails at Bandera City Park
Ride along the Medina River into town with a guide
Ride 40 miles of trails across Hill Country State Natural Area
Ride the ranch, then eat a chuckwagon cowboy breakfast by the fire