Cofran's Texas . . .
Hill Country Portal

class="floatR6" Dude ranches are special places where adults and children alike can experience something of the cowboy life. The Hill Country has a few notable dude ranches where you can partake in this life on a guest basis, and typically enjoy horseback riding, hiking, camp fires, outdoor cooking, clean air, beautiful starry nights and a simpler, quieter, less rushed atmosphere. Here is our list of guest/dude ranches. The emphasis usually is on a family vacation with a combination of organized and informal activities in a multi-family setting.

Dude ranches tend to have more organized activities with most everything done at their ranch, while guest ranches tend to have less organized activities where you make your own plans and arrangements. Both have full lodging accommodations.

Be sure to check out the detailed profile page in this Portal site for each town to see their event calendar and more detail on fun things to do in the area.

Best to check their web site or call them to get the latest details.

If you are in to horses, check out our focus page: Horses & Riding in the Hill Country, and water recreation at Tubing & Paddling.

And, be sure to check out our focus page on historic dance halls that favor Country Western music, at:
Country Western Dancing.








BAR M RANCH: 830-796-9096; 2569 RR 1077 W, Bandera, TX 78003. bar-mranch.com. Not a dude ranch but we are listing it here anyway. Bar M specializes in unique Hill Country trail rides on private lands where you'll see no other humans or constant signs of modern civilization. Their trails offer all the terrain the Texas Hill Country has to offer and are mapped to delight you with constantly changing scenery. Overnight stays available at a cabin. Hiking trails along creeks. Only one private group at a time, maximum of 3 riders, with each ride tailored to the skills and interests of the group and guided by an experienced, professional wrangler. "Hands-on" horse handling by prearrangement. Free basic initial instruction plus coaching on the trail. Well-trained, mannerly and responsive horses. No personal horses or horse camp arrangements. Age 12 and up. 2 miles from town.

DIXIE DUDE RANCH: 830-796-7771; 800-375-9255; 830-796-7771; 833 Dixie Dude Ranch Road, Bandera, TX 78003. dixieduderanch.com. Traditional dude ranch wiht 20 units in cabins and lodge. 725 acre working stock ranch. Longhorn breeders. Horseback trail-riding, advanced rides, and arena for lessons. Pool, hot tub, fishing, playground, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, hiking and nature trails. Cowboy breakfasts, bonfires, cookouts, hayrides and Western entertainment, authentic ranch experience. Overnight trail rides and Native American spiritual/vision quests. Historic barn and Range War cemetery. Bandera's oldest since 1937. Full American Plan.

(THE) FARM COUNTRY CLUB: 830-589-2276; NW of Bandera, between Hwy 16 and Hwy 173 on FM 2828. farmcc.com. 365-acre Texas Century Farm. Working/entertainment ranch for group excursions. Day or evening functions. Domestic animals, abundant wildlife horseshoes, washer toss, bean bag toss, rodeo roper, pool tables, ping pong tables, swimming pool, basketball, tennis court, volley ball, hiking. By special arrangements, BBQ, Western bands, trick roper, hayrides, gunfighters, ranch work demonstrations, and use of large pavilion. Companies, reunions, convention groups can create their own private affair.

FLYING L GUEST RANCH & RESORT: 830-460-3001; 800-292-5134; 566 Flying L Dr, Bandera, TX 78003. flyingl.com. 86 Texas-sized suites and condos, many with fireplaces. Hill country cuisine in a western style resort. Horseback riding along San Julian Creek and through the hills. Family activities include fishing, hayrides, swimming, tennis, basketball and 18-hole championship golf course with driving range. Petting corral, playground. Campfire and s'mores each night. 3-acre water park, fitness center, and putt-putt golf course.

HALF MOON RANCH: 830-796-8577; 4423 FM 2828, Bandera, TX 78003. Horse boarding and training on 33 acre ranch, with 34 covered stalls, round pens, close to state park and trails, full/part/overnight boarding, temporary trailer parking. Special "Cowboy Town Campfire Series", with chuck wagon supper, campfire, live music, poetry, stories, equine entertainment, trail rides, emporium & cantina, and more. No web site.

HILL COUNTRY EQUESTRIAN LODGE: 830-796-7950; 1580 Hay Hollar Road, Bandera, TX 78003. hillcountryequestlodge.com. Luxury accommodations in secluded cabins with limestone fireplaces. Overnight boarding for guest horses. Private rides and riding instruction available on lodge's horses. Clinics. Adjoins Hill Country State Natural Area. 6,000 acre ranch. Wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking. 10 minutes from golf, shopping, dining and entertainment in Bandera.

LH7 RANCH: 830-796-4314; Hwy 16, Bandera, TX 78003. Just E of town. lh7ranchresort.com. Nine limestone cottages with Heat & AC, equipped kitchens on 1,200 acre working longhorn ranch. Lodge with fireplace, pool. 14 RV hookups/electric & water. Primitive camp sites lakeside and riverside. 50 acre fishing lake for guests. Bring your own horse. Longhorn Ranch Tours for groups and individuals. Birding Tours available. Group picnics, celebrations and weddings.

MALCOLM OTTO TRAIL RIDE: 325-247-4028; Llano, TX 78643. Beautiful Hill Country scenery, friendly worldwide riders, and an evening of dancing is time well spent. The price of the meals provided and opportunity to meet other trail riders is a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

MAYAN DUDE RANCH: 830-796-3312; 350 Mayan Ranch Road, Bandera, TX 78003. mayanranch.com. 68 rooms in cottages or lodges, some with fireplaces, VCR's & microwaves. Full American Plan. 350 acres, Medina River for swimming, fishing, tubing. Morning and afternoon trail rides along the Medina River and surrounding hills. Pool, tubing, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, nature trails, barbecues, hayrides, steakfrys, cowboy breakfast cooked on the trail. General Store. Conference Center. Children's activities during summer & holidays. Golf nearby.

MEDINA RIVER RANCH: 832-262-2805 or 210-683-1121; 1515 Old Castroville Rd, Bandera, TX 78003. medinariverranchresort.com. Rustic Texas ranch style accommodations in four cottages for hunters, vacationers, and corporate groups. Full amenities. Year round exotic game hunting, fishing, wildlife safari, horseback riding, skeet shooting, wave runners, pontoon boat, ATV's. Hunting and leisure packages available.

PURPLE SAGE RANCH CONFERENCE CENTER & RETREAT: 800-373-0931 or 830-796-7703. 756 Purple Sage Rd, Bandera, TX 78003. purplesageranch.com. 500 acre corporate conference and meeting facility with over 3,000 square feet of meeting space complete with conference tables, ergonomic chairs, audio/visual equipment, meeting supplies, continuous beverages and snacks. Suited for corporate outings up to 100 with lodging for 60 in 8 cabins and 2 lodges. Customized menus. Pool, exercise room, horseback riding, skeet shooting.

RANCHO CORTEZ: 830-796-9339; 866-797-9339 or 830-796-9339; 872 Hay Hollar Road, Bandera, TX 78003. ranchocortez.com. 15 deluxe suites and bunkhouse with porches, 2 RV spaces, pool & outdoor spa, lodge, and dining room. Adjacent to Hill Country State Natural Area for trail rides. Guests can choose between ranch packages and fitness packages. 40+ miles of trails. Rides can be scheduled for one to two hours or longer. Riding lessons.

RANCHO CORTEZ: 830-796-9339; 866-797-9339 or 830-796-9339; 872 Hay Hollar Rd, Bandera, TX 78003. ranchocortez.com. 15 deluxe suites and bunkhouse with porches, 2 RV spaces, pool & outdoor spa, lodge, and dining room. Adjacent to Hill Country State Natural Area for trail rides. Guests can choose between ranch packages and fitness packages. 40+ miles of trails. Rides can be scheduled for one to two hours or longer. Riding lessons.

RUNNING-R GUEST RANCH: 830-796-3984; 9059 Bandera Creek Rd, Bandera, TX 78003. rrranch.com. 14 western-style cabins and a bunkhouse. Horseback riding for beginners and advanced riders from 1 to 5 hours, direct access to 5,500 acre Hill Country State Natural Area, arena and riding lessons. Guests may also bring their own horses. Pool, bar-b-ques, campfires, cowboy breakfasts, hayrides, biking, hiking. Lodge with open fireplace, TV/video and pool table. Breakfast & lunch served. Hiking and mountain bike riding. Birding. Call to inquire about meal and ride combinations.

SILVER SPUR GUEST RANCH: 830-796-3037; 9266 Bandera Creek Rd, Bandera, TX 78003. silverspur-ranch.com, silverspurranchweddings.com. 300-acre dude ranch with 15 western style rooms & cabins. Junior Olympic-size pool, hiking trails, hay wagon rides, campfires and s'mores, meals. Spacious lodge for family reunions, business retreats, weddings and receptions, dances and special events. Next to the Hill Country State Natural Area with 5,500 acres for horseback riding. Day visitors for horseback riding at hourly rates. Ride/meal combinations.

2E TWIN ELM GUEST RANCH: 830-796-3628; 810 FM 470, Bandera, TX 78003. twinelmranch.com. 21 rooms in cabins and bunkhouses.
250 acres on the Medina River. Full American Plan. Horseback riding, meals, pool, hayrides, hiking, wildlife viewing, fossil hunting, campfires, games, river swimming and tubing. Rodeo held every Sat night in the ranch arena during the summer. Meeting facilities. Golf nearby.





B.R. LIGHTNING RANCH: 830-535-4096; 800-994-7373; 818 FM 1283, Pipe Creek, TX 78063. lightningranch.com. This is a dude ranch but not overly regimented - pick and choose what you want to do. Family owned and operated working ranch. Has 7 cottages, 1 & 2 bedroom. Trail rides, hay rides, camel rides, exotic animals, and barbecues. Meeting/party room will accommodate up to 85. Chuck wagon dinners available. Rodeo every Friday night during the summer. Horseback riding available by the hour, 2 hours, half-day with lunch, and overnight with all meals & camping equipment included. Riding and roping lessons. Equine facility with boarding, lessons, training, breaking, arena, round pen and miles of trails. Nightly and weekly boarding. Pavilion with a dance floor, yard games, pool. Great for kids, very family oriented. Near Bandera.

CHALK BLUFF PARK: 830-278-5515; 1108 Chalk Bluff Road, Uvalde, TX 78801. chalkbluff.com. A 400 acre multi-use, family playground destination located on Nueces River S of Camp Wood. With upwards of 1000 guests in the peak summer period you won't be lonely! Features a 300' superb cliff near the water and lake frontage. Rentals of canoes, tubes, kayaks, bikes, fishing poles. Shuttle service for tubing or paddling down the river. Store, fishing, trails for hiking and mountain biking, boats, putt-putt golf, yard games, arrow head hunts. Animal menagerie. Pavilion with cooking facilities. 60 Cabins with bath and AC. 40+ RV sites with full service hookups. Primitive camping. Horseback rides (1 hour with 3 river crossings) and hayrides provided by neighboring outfitter. Horse camps with prior arrangements. Round pen. Fall hunting (deer, hogs, birds).

COLBERT RANCH: 512-355-2444/3225; 2505 S FM 1174, Bertram, TX 78065. ridecolbertranch.com. 250 acres of diverse terrain, seasoned American quarter horses, hayrides, meals. On South San Gabriel River. We accommodate groups from 2 to 150 people and beginner to advanced riders. Wide variety of activities fit for entire family. From single session trail rides to horseback riding groups for any age, equine experiences to fit every ability level. Pavilion, horse petting/brushing, arena riding. Hiking. Corporate meeting space and special events.

DOUBLE B RANCH & RESORT: 830-990-9500; 800-830-5008; 225 Living Water Ranch Rd, Harper, TX 78631. Dude Ranch. Camping, hiking, catch and release fishing (perch, bass, catfish and trout), swimming and riding. Lodge rooms and one, two and three bedroom cabins, and tent camping. 1,100-acre ranch is located outside of Tivydale, S of Fredericksburg.

FLYING M RANCH: 512-355-9492; 1335 CR 264, Burnet, TX 78605. flyingmtexas.com. Working ranch offers riding lessons for children and adults. They will train both you and your horse. Trail rides. 2 mi from Bertram.

HOMER MARTIN GUEST RANCH: 325-347-6852; 10022 Simonsville Rd., Mason, TX 76856. Camping, horseback riding, hiking, birding. Has cozy, air-conditioned cabins, and a main Lodge House with fully equipped kitchen, dining room, social room and game room for cards or dominoes.

OL' CACTUS JACK: 512-263-2388; 13433 W. Hwy 71, Bee Cave, TX 78738. Close to Lake Travis. Horseback riding.

POST OAK FARM & GUEST RANCH: 512-756-4647; 1019 Hoover Valley Road (CR 116), Burnet, TX 78611. postoakfarm.com. Offers ranch rides, riding lessons for all ages, horsemanship clinics, horse boarding and training. 1.5 hour trail rides. They will let you ride out in the pastures range-style instead of having to ride in-line like most places do. Lodging. Advance reservations are required for all riding. No web site.

SCENIC TRAIL RIDES: 830-597-6400; Camp Wood, TX 78833. Horseback riding facility located in Nueces Canyon area. Rides arranged via Clear Creek Outfitters.

7 CANYONS RANCH: 830-562-3333. Seco Pass Rd, Tarpley, TX 78883. 7canyonsranch.com. Dramatic Texas Hill Country Ranch with cattle baron style hunting lodge. Specializing in Corporate hunts for Trophy Whitetail, Axis, Blackbuck and more. Available for retreats and reunions.

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