Taking a ride on horseback out on the open plains truly gives families an authentic taste of Texas at Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West. Ranch owner Phyllis Nickum has been taking groups out to ride along the Palo Duro Canyon rim since 2010. The Los Cedros Ranch is a working cattle ranch (since the 1990s), but Phyllis loves to get visitors in the saddle and tell them stories of Amarillo, the canyon and the Native Americans who settled in the canyon first.

She will easily keep kids constant attention as she talks about the history and lore of the Wild Wild West and kids (and adults) will hang on every word all while riding horseback through the Amarillo plains. The photos and stories your family will take away from this experience will be the highlight of your trip to Amarillo. Your kids will surely talk about “their” horse for weeks after!

Tours can last between one hour for younger children and three and half hours for experienced riders. The two-hour tour is the most popular and there are usually two or three tours per day in the summer months. All saddles are western saddles and all of the horses are male.

Hours

Reservations required. Tours occur throughout most of the year, weather dependent.

Age or Height Restrictions

Children younger than 3 years old are not permitted to ride, but children between ages 3 and 7 can ride with a buddy saddle, where a child rides with a parent.

Things to Know/Bring

No riding experience is necessary. Jeans (no capris or shorts), long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes (preferably leather soled with laces and socks) are preferred attire for riding. Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat as well; the sun can be strong on the plains.