Website:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/big-bend-ranch

Contact:

Park Office (432) 358-4444

Reservations (512) 389-8919

Mailing Address:

HCR 67, Box 33
Marfa, TX 79843

Location:

Near Presidio TX

Latitude: 29.418054

Longitude: -103.989751

Directions: The entrance to Big Bend Ranch State Park is located at Farm to Market Road 170 and Casa Piedra Road. There are two separate directions you can come from to get to the park entrance.

From Alpine to Marfa to Presidio

From Alpine take 90 west to Marfa. Once in Marfa take 67 south to Presidio.  Once in Presidio take FM 170 southeast for approximately 6-7 miles and then turn left onto Casa Piedra Road, look for the brown state park sign. This is the route we traveled.

From  Alpine to Lajitas to Redford

(I don’t advise going this way when hauling a horse trailer)

Traveling south on 118 from Alpine going towards Lajitas turn right/west on FM 170. Travel through Lajitas and continue on 170.  From Lajitas the park entrance is another 43 miles south on FM 170. This route includes a 15% grade, which is very steep. Climbing and descending the hills on this road with a loaded horse trailer will challenge all but the most powerful trucks and requires sharp driving skills.  Once in Reford there will be approximately eight more miles to go before getting to FM 170. From FM 170 turn right onto Casa Piedra Road. This route is one of the most scenic roads in Texas. Again, I don’t advise hauling a horse this way, but you may want to try and make this drive without your trailer just to take in the scenery.

From Casa Piedra Road

When turning onto Casa Piedra Road from FM 170 it is about a 26 – 27 mile drive on a gravel road which is rough and not well maintained in areas, to get to the park headquarters at the Sauceda Ranger Station. The entrance road starts out as a fairly wide well maintained gravel road, it later narrows and becomes rough, then once closer to the headquarters the road begins to improve somewhat.  Travel approximately 6 miles on Casa Piedra before coming to a T or split in the road, go to the right. Travel approximately 1.5 miles before coming to a split in the road and go left. Travel for 9-10 miles and then you will come to the large park entrance sign (you can’t miss it), continue straight and on the main road. Just after passing the large sign there is a vault (chemical no flush) toilet on the left. Follow the signs and stay on the “Main Park Road”.  A few miles after passing the main park sign entrance look to the right for an extremely large boulder overhang formation.  This is a neat place (Cuevas Amarillas rock shelter) to stop as there are pictographs and maize grinding holes hidden under the shade of this huge rock.   Further down the road you will pass Agua Adentro Pens, an equestrian campsite, on the right, providing another opportunity to use the mural painted restroom (vault toilet) if needed.  On the Main Park Road you will notice mile marker signs which gives you an idea of how much further you have to travel to reach the headquarters.

I recommend getting a map of the park ahead of time to help with navigation.  I like the Big Bend Ranch State Park Discovery Map, it is large, very handy, and even has the electrical lines, railroads, fences, and contour lines, among many other items marked. The road narrows, gets very rough in spots, crosses cattle guards, and inclines/descents which are a bit steep at times but doable. We were in a one ton dually pulling a three horse trailer with an approximate 12 foot living quarters. The speed limit is 25 but you will have to go slower than this, especially if you are hauling a trailer. You will also go over low water crossings which are usually dry.  I noticed on one of the low water crossings the road was eroded away on the right leaving about a one and a half foot drop off on the edge. I would not recommend making this drive in the dark if you are pulling a trailer or unfamiliar with the area.  Pay extremely close attention to the signs and map when entering and exiting the park, as a wrong turn could get you miles off course and you don’t want to haul any further than necessary on these roads.


Getting There:

I highly recommend finding a place to stay with your horse the day before heading into Big Bend Ranch State park and the day after leaving the park.  We stopped on our way in and then on our way out of the park in Alpine and boarded the horses at Big Bend Equine Center – www.bigbendequinecenter.com.  They have a nice barn containing large covered stalls with outdoor runs and if you provide them with your horses feed then they will take care of all their needs. Freddy took great care of Angel and her buddies and the horses got to rest up before the long haul from Alpine to Big Bend State Park.  Big Bend Equine Center also has an arena and round pen. You also have the option to camp out on the center’s grounds in your living quarters trailer, but I don’t believe they have hook ups. We rested up at the Highland Inn for a very reasonable price while the horses enjoyed the equine center.

During this respite we thoroughly enjoyed Alpine; my good friend, an Alpine resident, was happy to give us a tour, thanks Karen!  We especially enjoyed eating breakfast at Bread and Breakfast Bakery & Cafe and shopping at Big Bend Saddlery.  Alpine is a fun city to visit and staying there one night before going in and after coming out of the park is a great way to rest up both you and your horses from that long bumpy haul in and out of the park.  Although Alpine seems close to Big Bend Ranch State Park it is not an easy drive, especially when considering the 26 -27 miles of unpaved park road into Sauceda Headquarters.

On our way out of the park we planned on getting diesel in the nearest town to Big Bend State Park, Presidio, but we had a bit of a scare.  The sign said they were out of diesel and after much searching we learned there were no other gas stations in town that served diesel. We were not sure we had enough fuel to get to Alpine. So we waited, as the store staff explained they should be getting a tanker trailer of diesel in sometime that day but they did not know what time exactly. After explaining to the manager that we would not be able to leave for Alpine until we were able to get some diesel he explained that their tank was not completely out but they closed the pump because once it gets low it pumps very slow.  We explained that we did not care how slow it pumped just so long as we could get some out.  Luckily there was enough to get us to Alpine!  So in retrospect I recommend bringing at least  five to ten extra gallons of diesel on hand when traveling to Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Hours: Sauceda Headquarters hours of operation:  8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily

Facilities:

One of the many perks of this rugged and remote park is that you do not have to rough it if you don’t want to.  Of course there is primitive camping but the comforts of a warm bunkhouse and house are available for reservations. At the park headquarters office, aka, the trading center, there is running water with restrooms and showers.  In the office is a store and a type of mini museum with artifacts and interesting information. Human facilities include primitive campsites, the Sauceda Bunk House, and the Sauceda Big House. Primitive campsites are located all throughout the park and are just that, primitive, with little to no facilities. At some of the campsites there are chemical toilets.

Equine Campsites: According to the state park website there are six campsites in which you can bring your own horses, some of which have a water supply and corrals.

Sauceda Headquarters: If staying at Sauceda Bunk House or the Sauceda Big House you can keep your horses in the corrals located near the barn, which is adjacent to the big house and not far from the bunk house.  This is where we kept our horses while I and my friend Carol stayed in the bunk house.  Our friend, Kelly, was able to plug in her living quarters trailer into the barn outlet and be right by the horses.  However, this was not an RV plug so it did not run everything.  She was also able to run her generator. The pipe corrals were adequate but did not provide protection from the weather.  I also had to move a few items, like metal t-posts and other debris out of the corral, to make the area safe for my curious horse.

Agua Adentro Pens: Located along the 2WD main park road which accesses Sauceda Headquarters, this site consists of three large shade shelters, several livestock corrals with an active water trough, a water tank, three fire rings, picnic tables, and a dry vault toilet. There is plenty of space to maneuver large rigs. Located in the west-central part of the park, the site offers unlimited access to miles and miles of ranch roads and trails to explore.

Escondito Pens: Located near Sauceda Ranger Station, this site is approximately two miles off of the main park road on a 2WD high clearance road. The site consists of woven wire pens, an active spring fed water source, two shade shelters, picnic tables, a dry vault toilet, and two fire rings.

Fresno Campsite: Located in the bottom of Fresno Canyon, this site is accessible by a 4WD road. No horse trailers are allowed. It is necessary to ride to the campsite, but camping gear can be hauled in with a 4WD vehicle. The site consists of 2 hitching rails, 2 picnic tables, and 2 fire rings. There are no corrals at this site. Seasonal water may be located approximately ¼ mile from the campsite where livestock can be watered; otherwise, plan to carry in water for your horses. This site though primitive, will get you near the west side of the Solitario and the historic Fresno Canyon.

Jackson Pens: Located on the rugged 2WD high-clearance road accessing the Solitario area. Check with the park before attempting to drive your trailer down this road. The site consists of woven wire pens, an active water trough, a fire ring and picnic tables. From here, one can ride into the collapsed volcanic caldera of the Solitario

Javelin Pens: Located on the rugged 2WD high-clearance road known as the Madrid Road. Pulling a horse trailer is not recommended. The site has remains of pump jacks and other ranching artifacts, and an operating well. The site also consists of woven wire pens, 2 picnic tables, and a fire ring. Non-potable water is available. The Rancherias trail and the heads of several canyons are near this area.

Comfortable Housing:

The Sauceda Bunkhouse, a former hunting lodge built in the 1960s, is  large with segregated sleeping areas and bathroom/showers for men and women and a central living/dinning space. The sleeping area can accommodate about 60 people and consists of a a hallway with rows of twin size beds on each side of the hallway.  There is some privacy as two twin size beds are in a type of nook or cubicle with a thin wall between the next set of beds. An opening/doorway with no door or curtain and lattice work with a handy high shelf is located above the foot of the bed. There is a light above each bed and one outlet for each cubicle/nook.  This is a small but cozy space.  On one side of the hallway the cubicles have mirrors and on the other side the cubicles have windows. The living area is open to the dinning area.  The living area consists of three leather couches and a large chair with end tables and a coffee table.  There is a large TV on the wall with a VHS and DVD  players. A fireplace is also available for use in the living/dining area, but was not being used during my visit. In the dinning area there are several large tables with chairs, a coffee machine, water dispenser, a microwave oven, and two refrigerators with clear glass doors (this is where guests can store their food). Coffee, silverware, and styrofoam cups are available.  A kitchen is also in the Sauceda Bunkhouse but it is only opened to park cook staff who prepare meals for the guests.  Guests cannot use the kitchen to store food or prepare meals for themselves. Suaceda Bunkhouse also has a large front porch with plenty of seating. Sauceda Bunkhouse is located on a hill and overlooks the park headquarters. Reservations must be made ahead of time at the bunkhouse and the price is very reasonable at $35.00 a night (does not include meals).

 

 

The rustic Sauceda Big House is a unique and historic home built in 1908 and remodeled in the 1940s. This is a three bedroom home.  One room has a queen size bed while the other two rooms each have two full size beds. There are three bathrooms, two of them have bathtubs and the other has a shower. There are several fireplaces throughout the home. Each room can be reserved for $100 a night for one to two people and $50 a night for each additional person (does not include meals). During my stay in the park one family had rented out all three rooms in the Big House and seemed to really enjoy the house and park.  They were kind enough to show me around so I could photograph the home. The home has a working kitchen and dining room. Guests can chose to prepare their own meals or purchase meals ahead of time and dine at the Sauceda Bunkhouse, which is a nice walk across headquarters just up a hill.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are prepared at the Sauceda Bunkhouse kitchen by park staff and are available to guests, but you must purchase the meals ahead of time.  During my stay in the bunkhouse I found the food to be delicious. Breakfast mostly consisted of bacon, eggs, or pancakes.  I did not have lunch because I brought my own food to pack out on the trails for lunch.  Dinner was my favorite meal and ranged from home cooking to delicious Tex-Mex cuisine.  Call the park for meal reservations at 432-358-4444. All meals will be paid in full (non-refundable) by phone prior to arrival. Note: From May 1 to August 31 the kitchen will only open when reservations have been made by a group of 10 or more. For parties of less than 10 persons, frozen microwave meals will be available for an additional charge.

Fees:
Be sure to check with the park for accurate fee information as this is subject to change. Park entrance fees vary depending on if it is peak season.

$3.00 – $5.00 daily park entrance fee

$2.00 a day per horse equestrian fee

$8.00 nightly for a primitive camp site (this allows up to 8 people per site)

$5.00 nightly for back country camping (camping in non-designated campsites)

$35.00 a night when bunking at the Sauceda Bunkhouse

$100 a night for 1 room for 1 to 2 people in the Sauceda House and $50 for each additional person

Dogs:
Dogs are not allowed in the bunk house, the big house, or on the trails.  Please review the link for the park’s policy on dogs: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/big-bend-ranch/dog-policies

Hunting:
Hunting is allowed in the park during certain times.

Cell Phone Service:
Extremely poor to nonexistent. Verizon can get some poor service.  I have AT&T and was unable to make a phone call. I could send a few text messages with difficulty; it is not reliable.

Mileage:
Exact total trail mileage is unknown but there must be over 100 miles of trails in the state Park.  I also heard of a group of men riding their mules from Lajitas to Sauceda Headquarters. They    must have a great deal of experience in back country camping or they may have hired a guide.

Maps:
There are several different maps available at the Sauceda Headquarters trading center.  The map I found most useful is the Big Bend State Park Discovery Map which is about $2.  I also bought the Big Bend Biking Guide for $2 which I found useful for trail riding. Here is a link to one of the basic park maps: Big Bend Ranch State Park Map

Terrain:
The state park offers an eclectic range of easy to extremely difficult and rugged trails.  The main roads are the easiest trails to travel.  The jeep trails offer some inclines and are slightly more rugged, and the one track trails can range from mild to extremely difficult. The dry creek beds or arroyos offer a break from the rocks with fine dark colored sand which is deep in spots. This is a vast mountainous rocky land so shoes/boots are a must for your horse.

Water:
The land is very dry as well so be sure to bring plenty of water along. Ask the park rangers if they know where or if there will be water on the trails you plan to ride for the horses.

Trail Markers:
I was only able to cover a tiny portion of the largest state park in Texas.  But from what I saw the trails markers are placed at main junctions by the main roads or jeep roads and once away from the main cross roads there were no markers.  Bring your map, compass, GPS, or even better book the park guide, Raul.

Trail users:
Trails are shared by hikers, equestrians, cyclists, and motorized vehicles to include dirt bikes and ATVs. However, with the exception of the first day when we saw some hikers high along a ridge line, we saw no one else on the trails – this is a BIG park.

Description/Trail Tale:
We arrived at the largest state park in Texas, Big Bend Ranch, on New Years Eve Day. The trip to this park alone is a another tale. Our friend, Kelley Brough, was a pro at maneuvering her dually which was hauling a fully loaded three horse trailer along the 27 mile unpaved park entrance road while keeping our precious cargo safe. Staying at the cozy Sauceda Bunkhouse was certainly the way to go for myself and friend, Carol Grosvenor; enjoying the comforts of a soft warm bed, soothing hot shower, hot meals, and good company by night while riding through the harsh Chihuahuan Desert by day. Big Bend Ranch offers many accommodations for visitors such as the cozy bunkhouse, the historic Big House, primitive camping, or you can chose to stay in your trailer but there are no standard RV hook ups. We all ordered breakfast and dinner from the kitchen at the Sauceda Bunkhouse and packed out lunch for the trail. Enjoying a warm breakfast and dinner prepared by someone other than myself after a long ride was definitely a wise decision. I loved not having to fuss with cooking and packing lots of food, plus the meals were delicious.

When we first arrived the bunkhouse was packed with off road motorcycle enthusiasts, evidently they plan a yearly get together at the bunkhouse. They were an eclectic group from all over, from Texas to Alaska. This was their last night and fortunately for us only a few were going to be biking on the trails the next day. We made sure to enjoy different sections of the park since horses and motor bikes usually don’t mix so well.  They were a very friendly boisterous bunch and we talked about the trails and got to listen to Brad Collins share some tall tales.  Brad gives motorcycle riding lessons at Hidden Falls, located in Marble Falls, TX. He also describes himself as a professional story teller and “third best liar in Texas”. The yarn he spun about breeding pairs of armadillos that lined danced and dug post holes was my favorite!

The following morning, after filling up on biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs, and canned peaches we celebrated New Year’s Day in the saddle.  From the ranger station we rode west on the main entrance road and turned right at the Cinco Tinajas trail sign. For a short ways we rode  through an arroyo and then  followed a trail to the left curving up a rocky hill and back down into another dry creek bed. To our right the arroyo met its end at the base of a statuesque canyon wall. Curiosity compelled us to ride on to the canyon base, but all three of our horses objected and seemed to believe there was surely a creature of doom  lurking in the shadows.  Looking up I learned what caused our horses’ hesitation, several tiny silhouettes; hikers, could be seen along the lofty ridge. This was the only instance we ran across other trail users during our exploration of the park trails. Hidden in the canyon’s shadow revealed one of the Cinco Tinajas.  A Tinaja is a shaded desert water basin carved out by runoff carrying abrasive sand and rock.  The deepest Tinajas hold water even in the driest times; knowing the location of such a resource was vital in the frontier.  We admired the view for a moment then double backed, following the arroyo and taking a right at the glutch.  Heading in a new direction down the sandy arroyo armed with map and compass we enjoyed the vastness of a 300 thousand acre park.  Getting turned around was a slight concern of mine, but my friends were handy with the their map and compass which showed our path was true.  Navigating the arroyo was a bit tricky, in spots our forward travel was blocked by formations of boulder like rocks, which would have produced little water falls had the creek not been dry. We took our time finding the best ways around or up the rock barricades; our horses did great!  As we went along, my horse Angel alerted me to movement ahead. I caught a glimpse of a Javalina tail disappearing into the brush.  At my second glance he was safely on top of the hill; swift creatures.  The little arroyo lead us to a well defined jeep road leading us back to the main park road and then headquarters. Our trip turned out to be an 11 mile loop ride. To top off my New Years day, my old high school pal, Karen Caswell, and her family stopped by for the late afternoon and hung out with us.  We gave her and her three kiddos a ride on the horses.

The following day we used the “Big Bend Ranch Biking Guide”, which is just as handy for equestrians, and picked out the Chilicote Springs – Sauceda Loop Ride.  This took us on the Llano loop, an easy level gravel road to the Puerta Chilicote trailhead, and then finally to an overlook at Ojo Chilicote, which provided a superb spot for lunch. This ride ended up being just over 12 miles and showcased the parks overwhelming vastness and

rugged country.  The trail itself  was mostly tame two track level dirt to gravel roads. Along this route I saw numerous disturbances in the soil which appeared to be cattle prints.  Big Bend Ranch contains herds of Longhorn cattle; this was the only signs I saw of them.  At one point we halted our horses and kept quiet, drinking in the silence.  Our horses’ rhythmic breathing was all that could be heard.

We decided to use the services of the park’s longtime renowned guide, Raul, on our third day’s excursion. Raul has worked at the ranch for years, is quite the hand, and knows the trails better than anyone.  The weather decided to become unpleasant with strong winds and light sleet. I could not even begin to explain where Raul took us, it seemed more like bushwhacking up the side of a mountain, through deep gullies, across ravines, and zig zagging rocks and cactus. The terrain was rough. Raul said we were on an old coyote trail which has not been used for years. I was thankful to have chaps and a raincoat on. This fair weather rider was happy to have pushed myself to ride in the unpleasant weather, as the views and exploring remote trails was worth a bit of discomfort.

The following day, our last day of riding at the park, we awoke to a winter wonderland.  Snow had blanketed the ranch making for spectacular views.  I was anxious to ride in the snow, something I’ve never done before.  However, my friends’ shod horses were unable to be ridden due to the snow balling up in their shoes and making them look like they were walking on high heals. My horse, Angel, is not shod and I use boots, which preformed well in the snow.  Feeling disappointed for my friends and a little insecure about riding out in 450 square miles of rugged unfamiliar country, I figured I’d just be doing a short ride around the headquarters.  However, I got lucky, Raul was taking a group of three, a friendly women and two teenage girls, out on the ranch horses for a trail ride. I was welcomed to tag along! This last ride was the piece de resistance, riding in the snow covered Chihuahuan Desert, seeing the ominous flat top mountain, La Mota, blanketed with snow, galloping along the deep sandy arroyo, seeing red pictographs along the side of a boulder, and riding to Los Banos De Leyve.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the vast wonderland of Big Bend and look forward to returning to the Biggest State Park in Texas. The rugged trip into the park is well worth it.

 

Link to additional BBRSP photos on WTTA’s Facebook album: 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.459810160747232.103709.158007560927495&type=3

Website:

https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/pace-bend

Location: Northwest of Austin

2805 Pace Bend Road North

Spicewood, TX 78669

Contact: 512/854-7275 0r 512/246-1842

Directions:

From Austin exit 290/71 west, 290 and 71 will split, stay to the right going northwest on 71, turn right on Pace Bend Park Road (RR 2322), this is a lighted intersection and you will see a large Chevron gas station which also has a Grocery Store (Paleface Grocery – a good spot to get ice and what ever else you might need). Pace Bend Park road will dead end right into the gate house of the park (you do not have to turn off of this road which is approximately 4 miles long). Once at the gate house be sure to ask for a park map and trail map. You can also get these maps on-line, see the links below.

Equestrian overnight camping: Allowed

Dogs: Allowed but you must have your pets on a leash and you can’t leave them unattended

Cell Phone Service: Good

Terrain:

Texas Hill Country, rocky, hilly, and flat in some areas – shoes/boots are recommended

Mileage:

Approximately 12 -15 miles of riding combined on the inner and outer loop areas

Map Links:

Trail Map:

https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/images/docs/parks/pace_bend/pacebend_trailmap.pdf

Park Map:

https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/images/docs/parks/pace_bend/pacebend.pdf

Trail users:

Bikers, hikers, and equestrians

Fees: Credit/Debit cards are not accepted. Fees may change or vary so be sure to call the park for the most up to date information.

Day Use: $10 per vehicle and $2 per trailer

Primitive Camping: $15

Improved Camping:$20 (no horses allowed)

Operating Hours:

Day use: Sunrise to twilight

Campers: 24 hours

Quiet Hours: 10pm – 7am no generators, music, etc…

Facilities:

Primitive camp sites (400 sites according to their webpage) are open for equestrian users while the improved campsites (20 sites) with water and electric do not allow horses.  Most of the primitive camp sites have picnic tables, grills, fire rings, and shade trees.  There is no running water at the primitive sites. The park has waterless restroom facilities numbered 1 – 15 throughout the park located off of the paved main loop park road.

Description:

If you enjoy trail riding but also love to kayak, you can accomplish both at Pace Bend Park.  The park is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority and is one of several Lake Travis recreation areas which allow horseback riding. The 1,368 acre park is just a few miles northwest of Austin, tucked into a bend of Lake Travis.  For equestrians the park allows day use and overnight primitive camping.  A seven mile paved roadway loops around the park perimeter. Beach access to the lake is outside of this loop and marked trails are located inside the loop. Horseback riding is allowed in both the interior trails and outer loop areas. The interior marked trails are shared with hikers and bikers.  Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the interior trails, as this part of the park is managed as a wildlife preserve. Some of the trails are marked as “hike and bike only” trails (no equestrians). When first exploring the interior trails, it can get a little confusing and easy to find yourself on a hike and bike only trail, as they are not marked at every intersection. If you find yourself on a trail with lots of low hanging branches then you just might be on a hike and bike only trail. The park is a popular spot for off-road bikers.  During each of my visits we encountered bikers on the trail who were considerate and polite, but seemed surprised to see horses!  Keep this in mind when riding, as it is not uncommon to have bikers come up from behind or in front and they are not necessarily looking out for horses. In fact many park goers seemed surprised to see horses in the park, which made me wonder how often trail riders frequent this area.

The interior trails weave in and out of oaks, cedars, and Texas wildflowers. The ground consists of typical Central Texas Hill Country limestone surface which makes shoes, boots, or amazingly tough hooves a necessity. The interior trails are at a higher elevation and offer some gorgeous Lake Travis views where you can see all the lake action. Riding outside the loop offers almost constant views of the lake, but also puts you in the middle of all the beach activity. A day use area northwest of Mud Cove located outside the park loop road is quieter and opens up into some unmarked trails. Riding along the waterfront or into the lake itself is risky, and when lake levels are low it is just plain not advisable. I’ve heard of some occasions where horses sank in the unstable soil. During my last visit in June, our friends who arrived a day before us experienced this first-hand when their horses sank along the water’s edge, causing one horse to fall. It was a close call but they were all right. Water sources on the trail are scarce with exception to the lake, but as stated that could be dangerous.  I saw only one water source, a water tough, on the interior trails located by a chain link fence near trail #208.

Primitive camping at the park is on a first-come, first-serve basis; reservations aren’t taken.  Make plans for an early arrival to scout out the best spot. Mud Cove, located on the northeast side, is one of the better areas to camp with your horses.  When looking at the Pace Bend Park Visitor’s Map, Mud Cove is near restroom #11, this restroom can also be seen from the main park road. Many campsites have picnic tables, grills, fire rings, and tall shady oak trees.  There are no pens, but portable or electric pens are allowed or you can high-tie your horses but be sure to use tree savers.  No running water is available at the primitive sites; youmust bring water for your horse and yourself. Quiet hours (no generators, music, etc.) are enforced from 10pm to 7am.  Bring your puppies but keep them on a leash per park rules. My dog, LB, loves to accompany us on our camping trips but she did not like our first trip to Pace Bend as the campsite was full of burrs. She would pick up one in her paw and stand still as a rock until we pulled it out.  On our last visit during the Super Moon weekend in June, LB approved the burr-free campsite. We enjoyed a delicious fajita dinner prepared on the grill thanks to Caroline Moody while staring up at the Super Moon, the closest and largest full moon of the year!

Lake Travis is popular for swimming, boating, skiing, and whatever other water activities you can think of. The Park is busy, so if you are looking for peace and quiet or you have a horse that spooks easily then this may not be the place for you, especially on the weekends.  However, there are several benefits to camping with your horses at Lake Travis. You are not limited to just horseback riding, which makes it fun for your non-riding friends as well. Swimming in the lake after a long hot ride is an added bonus to this location. On my first trip to Pace Bend Park, I had the privilege of going horseback riding and kayaking in the same day.  Thanks to Carol Grosvenor who amazingly managed to stuff five kayaks in her truck and trailer, along with her horse and camping gear, several friends and I had our first kayaking experience.  Now I’ve become a fan of kayaking but I don’t have to let that infringe on my riding time by enjoying both activities at Pace Bend.  See you on the trails or in the water!

Description and photos provided by contributor, Lin Sutherland

Website: http://stillwellstore.com/

Contact: 432-376-2244

E-mail: info@stillwellstore.com

Location:

The Ranch is located just north of the Big Bend National State Park.
Map link: Stillwell Ranch – Google Maps

Directions:

The Stillwell Ranch is located on the north-east side of Big Bend National Park about 7 miles from the park’s north entrance known as Persimmon Gap. Drive about 39 miles South of Marathon, turn southeast onto FM 2627 and travel 6 more miles to the Stillwell Ranch.

Camping:

Overnight camping with your horses is allowed.

Facilities:

There are approximately 19 uncovered horse pens.

(approximately 14 horse pens are on one side of the road located by the electric/water/sewer hookups and approximately 4 pens on the other side of the road by the electric/water only hookups)

The Ranch also has shower/bathroom facilities, washer and dryers, and free wi-fi.  The old fashioned  Stillwell Store offers food, drinks, other supplies, and gas (but no diesel). Diesel can be found at the National Park.  Be sure to check out the Hallie Stillwell Hall of Fame Museum.

Fees (rates are subject to change so please call to verify current costs):

Primitive Camping –

$7 adults, $4 children ages 7-11, and free for children ages six and under.

RV hookups –

$19 for rigs under 28 feet

$23 for 29 foot rigs

$26 for rigs over 29 feet

-Stay 6 days and get the 7th free

Pens –

$5 to approximately $10

Map: Call ahead to ask for maps of the ranch area and National Park.

Terrain:

The terrain here is rough with rocks and lots of cacti. Shoes or boots for your horse are essential and long sleeves and long pants (even better, chaps) are recommended for you.  You can ride on dirt or gravely roads or on the trails.  You can find level ground or steep inclines and canyons to explore.  You can gain access to Big Bend National Park from Stillwell Ranch.

Current News:
The Stillwell Ranch is currently for sale with a contract pending. The sale is expected to be closed on in May of 2013. It is believed the perspective new owner wishes to keep the Ranch the same so equestrians may still be able to enjoy the Stillwell Ranch.

Description / Trail Tail by LIN SUTHERLAND:

Jewel and I are crossing the Trans-Pecos desert with a dozen other riders in Big Bend National Park. It is love at first sight for me.  The desert, the river, the mountains – it’s not vast emptiness, it’s a life zone full of animals and plants adapted to this rough and tumble region.

Seventy five riders are camped at Hallie Stillwell’s Outpost, being led by Peggie “Redhorse” Kimberlin – two tough, legendary Texas women. Hallie is here with us in spirit only, having passed away in her 90’s after living in these badlands her whole life. Peggie, a larger than life encyclopedia of information on Big Bend, is leading her 23rd Annual Stillwell Ranch Trail ride.

When you cross this country you wonder how anyone could live here. It is desolate, dry and out to get you. Everything pricks, sticks, stings or strikes you. A tender young bride came here at 19 years old to make a home a few miles from the Rio Grande and the Mexican border – a few years and children later, she lost her husband and was left to do it on her own. She established a store and stopping over place for a lifetime of visitors, taught school and wrote two books, “I’ll Gather My Geese, ” and her posthumously published one, “My Goose is Cooked.” She became the stuff of legends, and her most famous quote is “Trust everyone but brand your cattle.”

Peggie Kimberlin grew up in the shadow of that great tradition. Just like Hallie, she can ride, shoot and tell an exceptionally good story, and does all of those with regularity. She got the nickname Redhorse from the sorrel she rode for years until it recently retired. No doubt it’s odometer had turned over. Now she rides a good looking red and white paint and sits it quite well as she leads us into the Black Gap Wilderness area of Big Bend.

First thing she does is take us “off-roading” up a hill thick with lechugilla, a nasty spiny agave plant with poisonous spikes like daggers, a plant invented by the Devil, no doubt. My sweet magnolia blossom walking mare starts to dance and when I look down I see little ruby droplets on her white legs. Of the many that struck her, one has penetrated her heel bulb and she stops and holds it up to show me. The poison tip stings her flesh, but, there is nothing to do but go on. Like our ancestors who came through here.

We rode about 12 miles that day, flusing out red tailed hawk and mule deer and admiring the great open view of the desert. The next day we rode a total of 18 miles  down a dry river bed into a canyon with 300′ high walls. It was breath taking. If you looked hard you could find a few red petroglyphs from the Indians who beat us to the place. We passed a lady sitting quietly in the canyon quilting.

About a third of the way down, we stopped for lunch in a swirl of sand. Others continued on to the Rio Grande river and Mexico. After a ride like that my riding buddy, and I chose to drive up to the Hot Springs and soak our bones. What a fortuitous lagniappe that is! A big contained area with water bubbling out at a perfect 107 degrees. It sat right on the river, which was running heartily after the rains of the winter. After a good hot soak, I climbed down the rocks to wash my hair in the cold Rio Grande. That’ll wake you up!

The Big Bend ride is something I’ve heard about for years, so it was high time I went on it. But you don’t have to come on an organized  one to ride here…there are 12 or 13 horse campsites you can stay in to ride the beautiful green Basin or surrounds. However, the Stillwell Ranch ride which Redhorse organizes is a plus for various reasons:

* The National Park campsites are dry. Stillwell ranch sites have water and electric. And that was a major help since the nights dipped to 26 degrees. Days were perfect though – 60 and bright blue skies.

* Everything is done for you! Peggie thinks of all the best trails, gets the best band for the dance, and gets the best caterer for the food. And she’s the only one who can lead people into Maravilla canyon.

*The cast of characters. I’ve never met so many odd, interesting, mule ridin’, guitar pickin’, story tellin’ folks. They came from Houston, Lubbock and all inbetween – and Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, Maine and even Canada!

*It’s go great cooking because Wally Roberts and family cater the week. Wally is an expert on dutch oven cooking, and there wasn’t a dish that wasn’t delicious, hot, plentiful and mightily appreciated after a day in the saddle. Wally also does the Billy the Kid ride in New Mexico — I hear that’s something for the not-faint-of-heart. Guess I’ll have to go! Wally Roberts (Dutch Oven Cook) – Billy the Kid Trail Ride …

We camped underneath the uncomparable West Texas black sky with two zillion diamontine stars that led the McDonald Observatory to be here. We listened to the coyotes howl and yip. We laughed and told tall tales and sang and fed the camp poodle. We rode in a wagonette pulled by two elegant, silver-dappled Clydesdales and driven by a Border Patrol agent named Cande, who shared the drover’s seat with two adorable dappled weinie dogs. We made new friends and we saw a unique part of the world from the back of a horse. What better could we wish for in our travels?

The week was so good it even sparked a few romances – after all it was Valentine’s Weekend. Who wouldn’t fall in love with – or in -Big Bend?

TRAIL INFORMATION AND PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CONTRIBUTOR, STEPHANIE HANSLIK

 

WEBSITE

http://indianspiritsprings.com

http://www.facebook.com/IndianSpiritSprings

LOCATION / CONTACT

A&F Farms

4342 Dobrovolny Rd

Bryan TX 77807

979-318-2411

info@IndianSpiritSprings.com

 

DIRECTIONS

Indian Spirit Springs Trails is located in Bryan, TX, at A&F Farms, just 15 minutes north of the new TAMU Health Science Center. From Bryan take Hwy 6, then take Hwy 21 West approx 5 miles. Turn right on Pleasant Hill Road, which is just before a railroad overpass. Travel just over 1 mile and take a left into the ranch entrance on Dobrovolny Rd. This is a gravel road. The ranch entrance has a bright red gate and cattle guard.  There are directional signs once on the property.

OVERNIGHT CAMPING

Equestrian overnight camping is allowed.

FACILITIES

Facilities include, 3 electric hookups, water, picnic table, and two pens. They also have a port-a-john.  There is plenty of parking space.

The camping area is lovely, next to a large lake and groves of beautiful mature trees.

RULES, listed on their website

Everyone who enters the property must sign a waiver at check-in

Please check out when leaving for the day

The ranch is not responsible for accidents to people, horses, or damage to trailers or vehicles

Must have negative coggins

No studs

No riding at night

Children under 18 years of age must wear riding helmet. We encourage that everyone wears a helmet

An adult must accompany anyone under 18 years of age

No glass containers

No guns

No hunting

No dogs. Not all horses are used to dogs

No boats with motors

Life jackets required by anyone in boat

No swimming or wading

Fishing is catch and release

Clean up after yourself; use trash cans that are available

Observe all hazard signs and markings

Stay away from all out buildings and equipment

Respect others and their property

HOURS – They are open 7 days a week 8a to 8p.

FEES

Half day ride $10 per horse
Full Day $20, per horse
Overnight tent/trailer camping is $10 but am (unsure if that includes a electric hook up)
*Prices maybe subject to change, please call before you haul

METHOD OF PAYMENT
They accept cash or checks with appropriate identification.
At this time credit/debit cards are not accepted

TRAIL MAP

DESCRIPTION

The trails are mapped, and they are in the process of marking the trails on the 800 acre ranch.  The terrain is grassy/sandy so no boots or shoes are required.  Trails are a mix of wide open hay fields, pecan orchards, to narrower single file trails through the woods.  There are lots of lakes/ponds, a few water crossings (though the crossings were dry when we visited in December), and gentle rolling hills.

We explored the Northwest section of the ranch and covered about five miles.  After lunch we then rode the only trail marked so far, the Red Trail.  On this trail we covered about three miles, but did not complete the whole trail.

Indian Spirit Springs is a beautiful place to ride.  The owners are very nice and friendly with a lot of knowledge regarding the history of the ranch.

TRAIL REVIEW PROVIDED BY TRACY & LARRY BLACK ON 10/30/14:

A group of us who like to drive went out to check out Indian Spirit Springs based on your recommendation off  WhereTheTrailsAre.com.  We had a fabulous time.   Jackie and her brother were absolutely  the best ranch owners and greeted us as we came in.  We are  a big rig, 66ft long and we had no trouble finding the place or getting in and setting up.   We did call ahead and gave Jackie a heads-up on our size.    Jackie had pens ready for us when we arrived.      The trails are perfect for HyperBikes (what I am driving) and the bigger carriages.      Thank you Tracy & Larry Black!

Hi View Ranch Equestrian Trails

Review and photos provided by Amy Hesselgesser, thank you Amy!

Hi View Ranch has now opened several miles of equestrian trails for bring your own horse trail riding!

Mileage: Unknown at this time, however, Casey will be sending in this information soon. The trails are color coded; green, blue, red, and yellow.

Facilities:Overnight camping with your horses is allowed. The camp ground area is primitive (no hook ups or pens) but generators are allowed. You can tie your horse to the trailer, bring your own pen, or picket them. The campground is by the lake and also has volley ball courts, picnic tables, and you can fish at the lake. The Ranch also has rooms available to rent.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed and can even be off lease so long as they are friendly and don’t cause mischief.

Green Trail

Description: Hi View Ranch is a Christian based facility and working Guest Ranch where you, your family and friends can enjoy a variety of activities such as Horseback Riding, Fishing, Hiking Tennis, Horse Shoes, Volleyball, Walking Trails, Picnic Areas, Camping, Bird Watching, Campfires and more.  The ranch has now opened several miles of equestrian trails for bring your own horse trail riding. There is over 2500 acres of excellent trails, which provide a real open range feel!