Recreation ~10 mi from Anchor Inn ~15 min drive

Chisholm Trail Rides

Authentic Texas horseback rides on a 1,000-acre private ranch — private, customized trail rides for couples, families, and small groups just 15 minutes from Anchor Inn Marina

About Chisholm Trail Rides

Chisholm Trail Rides is a family-run horseback riding ranch in Quinlan, Texas, just a short 15-minute drive from Anchor Inn Marina & Resort. The ranch offers private, customized trail rides on up to 1,000 acres of Texas ranch land — not the nose-to-tail, every-30-minutes group ride format you might remember from a vacation pony camp, but small, personal outings designed around who you bring and what you want to see. Rides are available for couples, families, friend groups, and special occasions, and every ride is crafted to fit your group rather than the other way around.

The ranch runs what they call "True Pleasure Horses" — calm, sure-footed animals matched to riders of varying experience levels, making the ranch accessible for first-time riders as well as experienced horse people. Riders go side-by-side rather than in a single-file line, which keeps conversation flowing and turns the ride into an actual shared experience instead of a chaperoned march through the woods. Options include standard trail rides, sunset rides, starlight rides, and a popular 3-hour guided adventure with an optional picnic stop along the way.

For Anchor Inn guests looking for a memorable land-based outing to balance out lake days, Chisholm Trail Rides is one of the best-reviewed activities in the area. The ranch is roughly 10 miles south of the resort, making it easy to fit a morning or sunset ride into a weekend without sacrificing boat time. Booking is direct — call or visit the website to customize your ride. Dress for weather and terrain, arrive about 15 minutes early, and prepare for the kind of unhurried, authentically Texan experience that tends to become the highlight of a Lake Tawakoni trip.

What to See & Do

Private, fully customized trail rides — you ride with your own group, at your own pace, with routes tailored to your experience level and how long you want to be out
Up to 1,000 acres of Texas ranch land with scenic countryside views, wooded trails, and open pasture — an authentic ranch setting, not a themed tourist attraction
Side-by-side riding rather than nose-to-tail group formation, so you can actually talk to the people you came with
Sunset rides and starlight rides available for couples and special occasions — ask when booking for current availability
Popular 3-hour guided adventure with optional picnic along the trail for a half-day outing
Matched "True Pleasure Horses" suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike — no prior horseback experience required

Visitor Information

: Hours
Open daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (per their website; call ahead to confirm)
: Fees
Varies by ride length and group size — call or text to customize and quote
: Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall for comfortable temperatures; summer mornings and sunset rides to avoid peak heat; book in advance for weekends and holiday periods
: Address
15422 County Road 335, Quinlan, TX 75474
: Phone
(469) 652-9849
: Website
Visit Official Website →

Get Directions from Anchor Inn →

Getting There from Anchor Inn

~10 mi

Distance

~15 min

Drive Time

From Anchor Inn Marina (800 Tomahawk Drive, West Tawakoni), head east on TX-276 briefly, then south on TX-34 toward Quinlan. Follow signs to County Road 335 — the ranch is at 15422 County Road 335. The drive is approximately 10 miles and takes about 15 minutes depending on traffic through Quinlan.

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Why Stay at Anchor Inn

Anchor Inn Marina is the closest lakeside lodging to Chisholm Trail Rides — 15 minutes gets you from your cabin porch to the saddle, then right back to the boat ramp for an afternoon on the water
Build the perfect Texas weekend: sunrise fishing from the dock, a late-morning trail ride at Chisholm, lunch at the marina, and an evening campfire — all from one home base on Lake Tawakoni
Families can split the day: horseback in the morning when kids have fresh energy, then swimming and tubing on the lake in the afternoon. Chisholm's private-ride format means no one is stuck behind a slower group
Book a sunset ride at Chisholm and pair it with a late dinner at one of the restaurants in Greenville or Canton — or just bring takeout back to the resort and eat lakeside. Either way, you are not sitting in Dallas traffic after dark