3-Day Bandera Ranch Stay: Horseback Trails, Medina River Rides & Chuckwagon Evenings

The Ranch Stay at a private family ranch just outside Bandera, Texas, is a three-day, hands-on cowboy experience along oak-studded ridgelines and the Medina River. Located at 749 Old Medina Highway, the ranch sits about one mile outside Bandera, the self-styled Cowboy Capital of the World in the Texas Hill Country. Over three days you sleep in rustic guest cabins on 89 acres, ride trails inside Hill Country State Natural Area, and eat by a campfire at a chuckwagon barbecue before heading to 11st Cowboy Bar for Steak Night. Key features include rolling live-oak hills, limestone outcrops of the Edwards Plateau, the Medina River corridor, and sightings of longhorn cattle. Each trail has changing terrain: sandy river bottom, cedar flats, and short climbs that open on wide views of the Hill Country. Guides match riders to suitable mounts and offer options from a leisurely river ride to a sunset loop on higher ground. Day one is check-in at 2:00 PM and a sunset ride in Hill Country State Natural Area, followed by burgers at the campfire. Day two opens with a chuckwagon breakfast, a morning ranch ride in search of longhorns, and an evening ride into town along the Medina River to the 11st Cowboy Bar. Day three offers a final breakfast and a noon checkout. Minimum riding age is 10 with a guardian; maximum riding weight is 220 lbs. This stay stands out because of its combination of authentic ranch living and curated trail time. The cabins are simple but comfortable, meals emphasize Texas barbecue traditions, and the small-ranch scale keeps groups feeling personal rather than commercial. The ranch operates as a working family property, which means hands-on opportunities: grooming, ground-handling, and optional horsemanship lessons for an extra charge. Practical details: the advertised price is $495 plus tax per person with a 20% minimum down payment. Plan for dusty trails and variable weather—wide-brim hats, layered shirts, and closed-toe boots are recommended. Because the ranch is secluded, cell service can be spotty; bring paper directions or a downloaded map. Why go? If you want a short, concentrated introduction to Texas ranch life—with guided horseback rides, river-side trails, a chuckwagon meal under dark skies, and an evening at an iconic cowboy bar—this stay distills the Hill Country experience into three action-packed days. It’s a good fit for families and small groups who want real ranch chores as well as saddle time in classic cowboy country. Reserve early during spring and fall when trail conditions are best; the ranch requests guests disclose weight limits, medical conditions and food allergies at booking, and offers additional horsemanship lessons plus private rides for riders wanting more saddle time or focused instruction with a guide today.