Looking forward to riding in 2 weeks . I will update my review afterwards! I had owned 3,horses but that was 3 decades ago! I'm much older now and looking forward to a calm scenic ride. Also: 1. For those complaining about not being able to use their phone on a rental trail ride, it's common sense, if you accidentally drop your phone, it holds up the trail line while the trail guide has to retrieve it for you ( not allowed to get on and off a rental horse)!, it may get broken (and who's fault is that?), stopping to click several photos slows down the timed ride for everyone, and when it falls it may spook the horse. 2. So you want to trot, lope or Gallup? Not on these mountain trails with a horse you aren't familiar , with totally inexperienced riders as well as seasoned riders, and children. Just because YOU think you are an experienced RIDER doesn't matter. These are not your horses. This is a business and safety for all comes first along with protecting the horse's safety. A lame horse cannot be ridden and that is costing vet bills as well as a loss of $65. - I'm a very experienced, seasoned rider.and previous horse owner. I'm looking forward to not needing to show off and just enjoying the experience. If it's important for you to move out fast on a horse, or to use your phone on a ride - time to invest in your own horse, or ride in Mexico! - Karen Rowley read more

Sadly, this was not a positive experience for my family. We participated in the one-hour trail ride and, upon returning to the stables, our guide specifically warned riders about the new horses located on the right side of the dismount area. My 12-year-old daughter is an experienced rider and followed the staff's instructions exactly. She waited until she was prompted to enter the designated dismount area, as directed by the staff. Unfortunately, following those instructions placed her directly adjacent to the horses that had been identified as a concern. As she entered the dismount area, one of the horses reached through the fence and bit her on the right thigh. The bite was severe enough that an attendant had to intervene to get the horse to release her. I immediately took my daughter to the restroom to assess the injury and document it with photographs. The bite occurred through her long pants. While I understand that horses are animals and that unpredictable situations can occur, I was disappointed by both the circumstances that led to the incident and the way it was handled afterward. My daughter followed the instructions she was given, yet the responsibility for the incident was ultimately placed on her. Given the prior warning about the horses, it is difficult to understand why riders were still being directed into such close proximity to them. Equally concerning was the lack of follow-up from management. The owner did not speak with us at the time of the incident, did not proactively reach out afterward, and only returned our call after multiple attempts and a more urgent message. Rather than expressing concern or discussing a reasonable resolution, the conversation was argumentative and dismissive. Accidents can happen, and a sincere apology along with an effort to address the situation would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. Between the safety concerns and the poor customer service that followed, I cannot recommend this business to others. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - The injury immediately following the horse bite. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

Great experience coming here, this is good for children and any animal lovers out there (me LOL). I only checked out the petting zoo which was $5 per person! There was a huge rabbit you could pet, and there's also a variety of goats, super kind and calm animals. The employees were also superrr kind, I felt very welcomed here. I will definitely be coming back. read more

See all

Everything was Amazing! This was my first time Riding a horse not just a horse Slingy, was amazing he took good care of me. It was great & amazing Staffs, Thank you so much for our Experience. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - The best Teacher you can ask for.. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

See all

My daughter was bitten by one of their other horses while following their staff's instructions on how to approach the dismount dock: As we completed our ride the guide, Jennifer, warned us to stay away from the horses in the pen to the right as we return to the stables. Little did we know that staying away was literally impossible; the dismount dock was immediately adjacent this pen. Jennifer rode ahead and dismounted her horse, then began putting it away; she did not see the incident. One of the other Baldwin Lake Stables staff, Mike, instructed my 12 year old daughter to ride between the "mount dock" and the dismount "dock". Look at the pictures; this is a a space of about 3 feet wide. My daughter did as instructed, which meant she inevitably rode by the pen of horses that Jennifer had warned about... again look at the pictures, it's the pen where you see the brown and white horse - and this is where the biting horse stood, although this is not that horse.) As she did so, one of those horses stuck it's head through the fence and bit my daughter's right thigh - and held on. Mike jumped in and pulled the animal off of my daughters leg. Through long pants, the skin was (minimally) broken, but the bruise was instant...and, as is typical of a bruise, it continues to worsen. While this was disappointing, what happened from there was worse. They offered us....ice. And said they hoped we had fun. They were apologetic, yes, but that's it. They sell soda at their "general store" - but there wasn't even a "let me get you a soda on the house, dear". Nothing. As a matter of fact, they tried to blame *my daughter*, saying "you were warned to stay away from those horses". Mike called the stable's owner, telling me I could talk to her. He went first...then, I turned around and he was no longer on the phone. I guess she didn't want to talk to me. This became more apparent as I called 5 times over the next 40 minutes, eventually leaving a threatening message. Only then did I get a call back from the indignant woman who stated she was the owner. I asked for a refund. She told me, "your family enjoyed a nice trail ride so why should you receive a refund?" and flat refused. She asserted this wasn't foreseeable. "No? Then why were we warned to stay away from the very horses that bit my daughter?" She couldn't seem to hear that question, and just reiterated that it was unforseeable, and that animals can be unpredictable. She asserted when we signed up we accepted that risk. Yea....but this *was* predictable, it seems. Anyway, look at the picture of my daughter's leg. You can decide for yourself if you think we had a good experience at Baldwin Lake Stables...and if you want to trust their judgement to keep you and your family safe. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - My daughter's leg after being bitten while riding her horse past one of the other horses at Baldwin Lake Stables. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

See all

Escaped on a lil 2 night stay in big bear. Horse riding was at the top of my list and they did NOT disappoint. I was the only rider with a 2 hour block & honestly had the best, most peaceful solo ride ever. I forgot his name already but the main guy was SUPER cool & sweet. Great conversation. All of the staff were incredibly sweet. Their animals looked well cared for & happy. They knew so much about their animals and were so happy to talk about them. I wish i lived closer because i'd absolutely be a regular. This was so dreamy & probs the most peace i've felt in a long time. Beautiful views, beautiful trails & the price was so affordable. I can't wait to come back and bring my daughter! Thank you guys read more

See all

We came today, Saturday 8/16 at 12 pm so our children could ride a pony & pet some goats. The parking lot was completely dead but we just figured maybe it was too hot. It says online that they're opened so we didn't bother to call because it's a Saturday & obviously a tourist/kids attraction so why wouldn't they be opened? We walked past the petting zoo & were greeted by a woman that said they weren't open today because it was just her & that we can walk around & look but not touch any of the animals. Our children were super disappointed so we asked if we could at least pet a horse because we saw a video online of a woman who posted herself petting horses here. The owner drove up & said absolutely not & that we were wrong & there was no way a video like that was online because they don't allow ANYONE to pet their horses. She was so rude about it & told us if that video existed then it had to be a staff member of hers because there was just no way a random person could pet her horse. 0/10 customer service, we definitely won't be coming back ever again. Just because the owner was so rude about it, here are screenshots of a RANDOM woman on a trip with her friends petting the horses IN FRONT of an employee as the employee is feeding the horses by hands. You can obviously see them speak at some point during the video too, so it's not like the employee wasn't aware. Also included is a screenshot of the same video of another hand reaching out to pet the horse. Not sure why our party in particular weren't allowed to pet their horses. read more

See all

Very enjoyable. When I first made my reservations on the phone, the gal Kelly was talking so fast and just seemed very curt and rude so I was a little put off from the start but went ahead with my ride today. Jared was our trail guide and he was just lovely. Fabulous! Couldn't have asked for a better trail guide! Some places I ride, they let me run the horses, this place did not. They are very very strict. I wasn't even allowed to mount my horse from the ground. I understand they're just taking care of their horses and doing their job but they could relax a little. Maybe have a separate group ride option for experienced riders where we can enjoy running the horses a bit? I'm thankful they did not make me wear a helmet. Being over 18 and all he he. The trail he took us on was very nice. We saw beautiful views of the mountains and pine trees & the terrain was not flat so that was a bit more exciting. My horse's name was Moss and he was just adorable. Very agreeable. Got a picture of him sticking his tongue out lol. They don't allow you to use your phone on the ride, which is ridiculous. Beautiful views to be captured. The guide does stop at a clearing to take photos with your phone, but they really should allow the adults to use their phones freely. They've got a lot of goats and a cute big pig, some steer and chickens in their petting zoo. The ride was only $65 for the hour which is very doable. I left Jared a $20 tip. He was worth it. Kelly seemed a lot nicer at the end of the ride. That was refreshing. They seem to take very good care of their horses. All in all I recommend this facility. read more

See all

I love this place! Every time we visit Big Bear we have to come out and ride the horses. The staff is super amazing and friendly. Horses are beautiful, well taken care of, and easy riding. Our tour guide was awesome! I highly recommended this place if you're an animal lover and visiting the Big Bear area. read more

Headed up to Big Bear for the Thanksgiving break and the kids wanted to try horseback riding. Hit up Baldwin Stables and despite it being a busy weekend for them we were able to grab a spot. Kelly helped with the reservation and she was great, I forgot my guides name but we connected right away. Turns out he used to live in Pomona too down the street from us. Nice little ride thru some trails. Nothing crazy, just enough to get the experience. I recommend it. Put your big boy/girl pants on and hit the most cowboy thing to do in Big Bear read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - From right to left... Amigo, Trevor, Maverick, Tripoli, Moss - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

This was our first time ever to experience horseback riding in the mountains. We absolutely loved it! Our horses were well trained and calm and had personalities of their own. Our guide Danielle was great! She was knowledgeable and experienced in all the equestrian stuff. Highly recommend this place!! Enjoy your ride read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

We had such a fun and memorable time at the petting zoo! The highlight for us was the pony ride. My child rode a sweet and gentle pony named Tiger, and absolutely loved it! We also got to pet and feed a variety of adorable animals. A huge shoutout to our host, Luke, who truly made the experience amazing. He was patient and so kind. Thanks again to Luke and the team for a wonderful visit! read more

Finally took the family horseback riding! All first timers, we have talked about it the last few trips to big Bear and decided to go for it this time. We did an hour ride in the evening (5pm) with Jared as our guide. Amanda picked the horses for everyone and all did extremely well on o. Wife was really nervous but the excellent staff and the horses helped to calm her nerves and resulted in an amazing experience. Jared was very patient and attentive, ensuring everyone was having a great time. Answered our many questions, took several photos at the peak of our ride and had a lot of background info on all our horses. Many thanks to the staff and the horses (Dunn, Toby, Maverick, Trevor and Moss) for an unforgettable experience. Will ride with them again on our next vacation. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

Loved my horseback riding experience! The views are amazing! Great tour guide. Can't wait to visit again!

My husband took me to Big Bear for the day. The day, being Father's Day, I just lost my dad. He thought a road trip with a surprise horseback riding excursion (I absolutely love horses) would help. It did not. We got there 10 minutes early and were ignored. We asked the woman taking care of a couple that had just returned where we needed to go to sign in. She just told us to wait, we did. We waited and waited, our 215pm appointment time came and went. She seemed off put at being the one to have to take us and led us to a shack where the I guess the lady in charge was hiding. ..She finally came out and signed us in and again disappeared, we just sat there not knowing where to go or what was going on. She was more concerned with getting the money than actually helping us.. She then came back over and completely forgot who we were! We were the only ones there!!! Then a family came and got her undivided attention. It did not bode well for our cause. So we waited a little bit longer but we still had to drive back home ( a 3hr drive)! So we decided to leave. My husband was furious at the treatment and the lack of organization that ruined a special occasion for me. The worst part is after we got our money back for the disservice they charged the credit card he was required to give to secure the reservation. When he called to question the charge, they had the nerve to lie and say we showed up late and that the horses were ready and waiting. Nothing like that was the case. I don't care about the money, I hope it goes to the horses well being. My anger is how absolutely unprofessional and disgraceful they were to lie about it and make us look like the jerks. I could go on and on about what we were witness to but there is no point. They ruined a special day with their absolute lack of organization. The horses looked well taken care of so that is why they get a star. read more

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our horseback riding experience at Baldwin Lake Stables. Our sweet, attentive guides were Erin and Amanda - they were mindful of the paths we were taking and ensured all in our group were comfortable and enjoying the ride. They shared some info about the houses we passed by and brought us to an area with a beautiful view and took photos for us (like the one included in this review). James was the kind, funny gentleman who checked us in, cracked some jokes, made us feel welcome. We did a 2-hour ride and felt it was more than enough. We will definitely return! read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Our family with horses: Amigo, Maverick, Stella, Triple E - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

We were so excited to go horse back riding . We got there and they are extremely rude and unwelcoming. We almost left but we really wanted to ride. Our guide was rude and there was absolutely no fun in the ride. It was a lot of money for people to treat us like we didn't belong there Don't waste your money. Find a different stable to make your memories read more

We went here over the weekend for an hour trail ride. We had so much fun! The horses were great, our views were beautiful, and our guide was phenomenal! I wish I could remember his name, but he was so entertaining and friendly! I will make sure to book in advanced next time because I'd love to do a longer ride. It was a great experience and I can't wait to come back! read more

See all

I went with my dad and did the one hour cash is 5$ cheaper. My horse was great just a bit slow because he was cautious sometimes and then fast at others. My dads horse was a little more on the tripping over things I think. A lot of peoples horses were scared over some neighbors dogs that was barking at the horses. The route was narrow but beautiful. My horse felt like a mountain goat sometimes. Great photos were taken over 20 I would say. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Horses - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

We had a great time riding horses!! We I went during off season, so it was just myself and my boyfriend and our guide- Max, who did a wonderful job! They pick your horse based on experience and personality. I will say the 1 hour ride is very simple, but we picked that option on purpose- if you're looking to get further into the forest and you've ridden before, definitely go for a longer ride! We'll definitely come back and ride next time we're in Big Bear!! A special thanks to Max, Branigan and Slinky!! read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Branigan - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

See all

My two year old was riding Tiger the pony. So cute! Def a gem with children she loved the petting zoo too but tiger was her love. read more

had a blast thank you . ride was great, just the right amount of adventure for a romantic weekend getaway. we'll be back !

Cute little stable! They offer pony rides for $15, petting zoo for $5 which we did both for our toddler. He had a blast! We first did the petting zoo while we waited for them to prepare the pony ride. All the goats were friendly. There were a few chickens and 1 sweet piggy. I believe it was Dakota who assisted us with the pony ride. He was great and so kind. Please remember to tip the workers! It was a fun experience and our son didn't want it to end! We'll definitely be coming back. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

Unfortunately, our experience was less than favorable. We paid $65/ea to go on a trail ride for an hour. Sadly, the horses were tired, over worked, thirsty and some were yet to be trained on how to properly interact with riders. A few instances of concern were when a female guests horse was unresponsive to commands and had bad vibes with some of the other horses and wanted to nip at them causing the lady who was riding the rogue horse,(who had ridden before and had some experience on how to handle the situation) to express a bit of panic infront of her two small Children who were also on their respective horses. Sadly, my sweet old and very tired horse Beau, was intentionally hit hard in the mouth/nose as a form of punishment, by the woman who was leading the ride and employed by BLS, and it just totally ruined the vibes and broke my heart. Hey lady, don't be a jerk to the horses damn...that was so wrong and just plain mean and you ruined the event for my daughter and I when you did that. Be kind !!! There were also extensive delays and the path where the horses are expected to walk are full of jagged rocks which need to be cleared so they don't get hurt or break an ankle, you can literally see all the horses struggling to walk on these rocks. Please, for their well being your company needs to fix this path and make it smooth, it is inhumane. Also, the riders should be given carrots and sugar cubes after the ride to affirm appreciation to their lovely horses for their hard work. Do better ya'll!!! read more

Came here for horseback riding at the beginning of February, was such a great experience! My boyfriend called a couple days before for a reservation and they had a lot of availability. We ended up being the only two people on the ride and it was so peaceful! Our tour guide was extremely friendly and conversational. He made sure we were comfortable throughout the ride and stopped to take a couple pictures for us as well. The woman that helped us onto our horses was also very kind. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun activity in the mountains! read more

I spent my birthday weekend in Big Bear with friends, and a few of us decided to go horseback riding. My ride with this stable was such a wonderful experience! Our tour guide, Sergio, was the best guide we could have hoped for. We were very beginner riders, and Sergio took his time explaining everything we needed to know. Throughout the trail ride he made sure we were safe and enjoying the experience, even stopping to take a photo for us. The ride itself was beautiful, I only regret that we did not book a longer ride. And the best part was the horse I rode, Amigo. He was so gentle and mild mannered. Thank you for such a great birthday experience! I will be back next time we are in Big Bear. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - What a wonderful experience - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

We had a great ride! James helped us get signed up, and Cheyenne was our guide. We had originally planned to go hiking, but the trails were still closed, so we tried to find something else to do. After a quick search, Baldwin Lake Stables stood out! We tried calling, and the phone didn't go through, so we decided to drive over since it wasn't clear if they were still open or not. When we arrived, they were still getting set up, and they let us know that they don't really take calls until about 10-11am. Reservations are DEFINITELY preferred, BUT they were flexible and were able to squeeze us in! Staff was friendly and helpful, horses were great! Definitely recommend. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Us on our horses, Trevor and Amigo! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

See all

i went on a ride yesterday and like the other poster said, this place does not allow for running the horses yet there was a girl running her horse alongside of us, and i guess was the guides assistant or trainer? so sucks that the guides can but we can't, our guide was Jared, pretty cool dude and made our day special, it was a surprise! but felt that having an employee along for the ride doing things that we aren't allowed to do kind of took away from the ride. and is a double standard! we already had an issue on an earlier zipline experience last month, and then ending with this was a bummer. they should let us at least trot or do what they do she even got to ride up into the trails and terrain that would have been fun but it was a little distracting considering i had a special ride planned. read more

This year, our experience with this place was amazing. Everyone is so friendly and inviting and patient with little kids. Possible new owner/ management made a huge difference. read more

Great place, had a great trail ride, people running it are friendly, highly recommend! Also, some iPhone apps show it closed but it's not.

The wife and I did the two hour ride , and had an amazing time our guide was great was definitely worth the money. Highly recommend nice trails and very obedient horses. Thank you Baldwin Lake Stables! read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Great views!! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

See all

Had a great time with my family at the stables. We did the first ride of the day at 9am for two hours. Beautiful country and cool weather.... Our trail leader was Hadley who was so sweet and knew all about the areas we went through. She partially took us on the Pacific Crest Trail, which was exciting! We utilized the full two hours as well. Staff was friendly and horses were very well cared for and seasoned for the trail and riding in groups. We also got a discount for paying in cash. Even though there was really no competition in the area, you can't go wrong with Baldwin Lake Stables. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

Our experience with this stable was amazing! I read some other reviews saying the people were rude, however that was not my experience at all. The lady greeted us when we got there and helped us get on as quickly as possible. Our two guides were super nice and not strict or anything like a lot of places are. They allowed us to choose our horses as well. I felt like we got our full hour ride in, it was definitely worth the money. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - I rode Amigo, he was great. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

Had a really great time here with my wife. Our guide, James, was a really cool guy. He made sure we knew what we were doing despite it being my first time riding. My horse, Trevor, was super patient and kind. The horses are well-trained. Will definitely come back when we're in the area again. read more

The stars are for the horses and guides. I would've considered giving 5/5 but the customer service was awful. The woman on the phone that you initially talk to for reservations was rude and condescending. She was condescending in person as well. I don't know if she was the manager but I almost hung up and didn't reserve because she was impatient when answering my questions and snapped at me. She spoke very fast and was irritated when I needed her to repeat some info. The guides were friendly and very attentive. They gave me a good horse considering my small frame and lack of experience. Personally, I wouldn't go back to the stables because of the manager alone. I'd rather give my money elsewhere because she should know better. Prices: $60 per person for one hour if you pay in card read more

Went here for the "petting zoo" because I love petting all the cute farm animals, hubby wanted to check out the horses since he trains them and misses his horses. I left in tears, they had a horse in a small paddock by himself, overweight, swayed back and with overgrown hooves but had the sweetest disposition. He came right over when I went near, nuzzling for attention. So sweet however so sad to see such a state. The stable had a large herd of horses in another pen, which we weren't allowed to get near, the lady working there was defensive and somewhat rude, maybe a bad start day? I am not sure what to make of this place but I felt it wasn't right, we left upset. I don't think I can ever visit this type of establishment again it seems wrong to have that many animals and not care for them well. I don't don't recommend this place and I am always for supporting local businesses. This ruin our whole day. I am hopeful that maybe we misinterpreted the situation and there was a better reason for what we were seeing. read more

My teen and I did the 1 hour and 45 min Sunset Ride. The staff members taking reservations and guiding our ride were so knowledgeable and patient. Our horses Maverick and Moss were gentle and sweet. The ride took us past horse farms. a bunker (!), on a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, and along a ridge. The guide takes a photo of you and your party mid way with your phone. We made a reservation 3 days in advance. If you pay cash you get $10 discount per person. Don't forget to bring extra cash for tips because the people working there are volunteers. read more

Baldwin Lake Stables - Sunset Ride midway point - Horseback Riding Near Me - Big Bear City, California

My daughter and I had a lovely 1 hour ride with Lynsey. Our horses were really well behaved. I had previously riden on Western saddles at another place last year and found them uncomfortable. But these saddles were really comfortable. Lynsey was really friendly and chatty and stopped to take our pictures. We will definitely return in the future. read more

We have not rented from them yet, but when two of us called to get information they were extremely rude both times. At least when one of us told them we were locals the attitude changed but it's a shame that people cannot be nice just from the get-go. read more

My partner and I had the absolute BEST time ever here!! I couldn't recommend Baldwin Lake Stables enough! Everyone here is so very kind and our ride was full of so many laughs and beautiful views!!! 1000000/10 experience and we absolutely can't wait to come again!!! read more