Guided ride on rugged desert trails with sweeping canyon and Mexico views
3 Hours
Walking ride, Safety instruction
Ride from Lajitas Stables up Contrabando Mesa on a guided, walking horseback tour. Tackle rugged, technical desert trails with sweeping canyon and Mexico views.
Minimum age is 12; maximum weight 250 lbs. You must be athletic and able to mount without assistance; trails are steep, rocky, and along cliff edges with no shade. Bring 2–3 liters of water in handheld bottles, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and arrive 30 minutes early.
Cancel at least 7 days before the ride for a full refund. Full refund if the stables cancels.
If you consider yourself adventurous and athletic, then yes. These are rugged trails and not recommended for those with vertigo or fear of heights.
The trails are technical, steep, and rocky with drop-offs, which may make kids nervous. Every rider must be comfortable controlling their animal up and down the mountain.
LAJITAS STABLES on FM 170 30 min before ride
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