What a fun way to spend a weekend or longer camping and riding the trails with your horse. You will find in the table below all the Texas State Parks that have horseback riding trails and campsites for you and your horse.
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Big Bend Ranch State Park has amazing areas which encompasses most of the park to explore on horseback. Mules are also allowed. Some campsites have pens. Agua Adentro Pens is the best base for a horseback trip. |
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There are 13 miles of trails to experience with your horse. Available are 19 equestrian primitive sites located under a grove of pecan trees at the trailhead 9 miles from the park Headquarters. To access the sites you travel 4.5 miles on a gravel road. |
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The equestrian sites with water and electricity have picnic tables, water hook up, electric hook up, lantern post, 10′ x 55′ concrete pad, and 20′ tether cable. The trail covers nearly 600 acres and over 10 miles. |
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There are 10 sites, allowing 8 persons per site, that are equestrian. The sites have water, picnic table, fire ring, grill, and restroom nearby. The restroom does not have hot water or shower. Copper Breaks has a 3.5-mile, round-trip trail over flat, rough, but rideable, terrain. |
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These 6 sites are primitive with 8 persons per site. The sites have non-potable water which is in a horse trough and are located in the Limpia Canyon Primitive Area. Follow the trail from 4,900′ elevation at Limpia Creek to over 5,700 feet at scenic overlook. The area is rugged with beautiful views of the Davis Mountains. |
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They have 5 campsites with water and electricity, picnic table, fire ring, and portable horse pen. Lost Creek Trailway Reservoir is a 10 mile trail winds through the park with many shaded areas of pecan and oak trees and beside the creek. This is a beautiful trail, abundant with wildlife and wildflowers. |
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Hill Country State Natural Area This park has 40 miles of designated, multi-use trails open to horseback riding. The area ranges from flat, broad, creek bottoms to steep, rocky canyons up to 2,000 feet. Well water is available for horses but visitors should bring their own drinking water. The Trailhead campground has 6 sites with picnic tables, fire rings and 9 horse stalls. |
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This site offers five miles of multiuse trails open to hikers as well as riders. The trails pass over grassy, flat terrain. Each of the four campsites has water, electricity, a picnic table, a fire ring, a tie rail and a picket line, a corral,and covered stalls. |
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This park has a 12-mile, multi-use trail for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking with rolling hills and native grasslands, with moderate to heavy tree cover. The trailhead camping area has 20 paved, pull-through campsites with tethering poles, water, picnic tables and fire rings. Each site has a limit of eight horses and people. |
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The area is hilly and rocky at the trail ends, but flat and grassy in between. All paths are multi-use and open to hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. There are 5 primitive campgrounds with individual equestrian sites at their trailheads with hitching posts, fire rings, picnic tables, grills, and drinkable water nearby. |
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The terrain of this 800-acre equestrian area is mostly heavy sand with brush and some mesquite trees. There is no marked trails. A trailer parking area and potable water is available, as well as, three campsites which have picnic tables and outdoor grills. |
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The 10 sites are for campers with horses only, and 8 persons per site. It is an open camping area with picnic tables, fire rings, and two water faucets. Four joined horse pens are first come, first serve. Ride on trails through 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. You can also share two other trails with hikers and mountain bikers. |
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The 10 miles of rugged trail is very rocky with some steep slopes. Experienced riding is recommended with horses that have shoes. You will find water troughs at the trailer parking area and at the midway point of the trail. There is a group equestrian site with a 6 horse limit and 12 vehicles. The site has picnic table, fire ring, 6 horse pens, and well water for horses. |
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This campground is located in the Blue Stem Grove area. Eight maximum per site with picnic table, fire ring and/or grill, and hitching post. The 12.5-mile trail winds through oak and pine trees and passes by the lake, with some hills. |
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The North Concho area have pens and you can tie extra horses to a tree or your horse trailer. The sites have picnic tables, fire pits, grill, water and electricity. There are 10 sites in this area with an 8 person maximum. There is 50 miles of multi-use and divided trails for hiking, mountain-biking and horseback riding. |
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This park has over 3 miles of Gulf Coast beachfront that’s ideal for horseback riding. Enjoy the Beach with your favorite horse located in the East and West Beach Primitive Camping Areas. |
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Thanks go out to Texas Parks and Wildlife for pictures and information regarding equestrian riding in state parks.
Author: Mike Sharp
I have a passion for travel and outdoor activities, and now I'm enjoying retired life. I will continue my traveling, golfing, boating, and enjoying life all across the great state of Texas.
