This is a bit of an overdue review, but I had such an amazing time horseback riding! I hadn't…read moreridden since I was about 5 years old, so I was definitely a little nervous going into it. I'm not sure it's exactly like riding a bike--but Karen made me feel completely at ease from the start. Kiwi, my horse, was incredibly patient and gentle with me. I swear she knew I needed a little extra TLC! It made the whole experience so enjoyable and stress-free. I even got to do a tiny bit of trotting, which was such a fun bonus. Overall, it was such a great experience, and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking to try horseback riding or get back into it!

We've been here a few different occasions already, and each time has been a special experience! My…read moredaughter first visited when she was 3 years old, and now she is 6, and still loves it. Susie is always very kind and welcoming, and patient with our daughter. She even let us visit the chicken coop, let my daughter pick a few eggs and feed the chickens just for fun. The animals on the farm are all so sweet and calm too. We're very thankful for this business, great memories made here!

She is great with my kids and so knowledgable about horsemanship. My kids had such a great time and…read morelearned so much. I would definitely recommend!

My granddaughters ( ages 6 and 8) have really no experience horse back riding but wanted to try…read more Ryan could not have been more kind and patient. She was generous with instructions and praise. The girls brushed the horses and helped saddle them up. The horses were well trained and gentle. Such a great first experience they are ready for more. Highly recommend her as an instructor that works well with children.

OMG! What an experience this was. First off.... the staff were amazing. So friendly and…read moreaccommodating. We were a little late but thank God they weren't upset.... At least they didn't show it . The price ($200 pp) was reasonable considering we rode the horses for an hour and a half. We went horseback riding through the Indian Canyon. Beautiful views around the palm trees. I even wanted to get off the horse and hike around LOL. They do ask for your height and weight when you fill out the agreement form. The guides will match you with a horse that is obviously suited for you. I was apparently matched with the grumpy one LOL. Still a cutie pie! I was definitely nervous since it was my first time riding a horse. Our guide was super sweet and very helpful so that helped ease my nervousness a bit and It turned out to be an amazing experience and I'll definitely do it again!

I took my 2 year old dog to SMOKE TREE STABLES in PALM SPRINGS because I try to introduce her to…read moredifferent experiences. When I got there, I asked if I could come in with my dog. They asked me if she was a barker and I said "no", keeping my fingers crossed. They allowallowed us to go in. It was fantastic! So many different scents and sights for my dog. She was mesmerized. My point to this review is to say the people that run this place are super nice even for someone like myself that didn't ask to go riding. We're going back again in the fall. Oh.. she didn't bark!

Tracy is the trainer for my girls and she is amazing! She is so patient, kind, and knowledgeable. I…read moream so glad we found this place!

My daughter has been riding at CLF for nearly 18 months. Tracy and her staff have been the best…read morething to have happened to us in the last 5 years. My daughter went from having never ridden a horse to being able to show in a year. More importantly, she made friends there because Tracy encourages a nurturing atmosphere. My daughter came out of her shell and has flourished here. As a rebuttal to the one negative post on this site, I have observed Tracy with students of all ages and backgrounds (note: we are not Caucasian) and there is not one ounce of bias from her towards anyone. Tracy is patient and kind, but is stern when the circumstance requires it. She is truly an empathetic and caring person, who is a consummate horseperson. All I have seen is what a great role model she is for the many kids that she teaches.

This is one of my go-to spots when I want something simple but still feels like real nature. The…read moretrails are fun, not too hard, and good for families, but still enough hills to keep it interesting. Not ideal for strollers unless you've got something built for rough terrain. The oak trees are a huge plus. There's actual shade here, not just a few patches, which makes a big difference in this area. If you hike out far enough you'll find old abandoned houses and structures, which is honestly one of the coolest parts. It gives the whole place a bit of history and something extra to explore. Also great for horseback riding and a solid spot to bring food and picnic without dealing with crowds. Simple, quiet, and worth going back to.

Water canyon trail - No shades Several trail no shades…read more Lots of horse tail grass not good for dogs Dirt roads/ pebbles and incline. Don't know what I was thinking, woke up and dragged my husband and my daughter on the hottest days to decide to hike lol!!! Be sure to wear a hat and bring water , this particular trail is my least favorite. I don't recommend to bring your fur baby , if you do. Please be careful this area has lots of over grown horse tail grass, it is so harmful to your fur babies. I would recommend to come during winter and cooler temperatures.

Temecula is already a beautiful city escape in Southern California. There are so many ways to…read moreexplore this city: hot air balloons, limos, old town frontier ambiance, wine tasting, jeep wine tours, trolleys, etc. One way I've never thought to try was by horseback, until now. It is THE best way to see this area, in my opinion! For those concerned about social distancing, Western Skies offers small private tours. My ride was for myself and my immediate family. Their tours are up to 4 guests only at this time. I am lucky to have come across Western Skies Horseback Riding through family and friends on Facebook. At the moment, they're available on instagram @westernskieshorsebackriding and Facebook. I immediately reached out to them on FB and Kristen responded promptly. She is so helpful and welcoming. For the first time rider, we chose an hour tour and Kristen *and Scott, guided us attentively throughout the entire ride with their expertise and encouragement. They offer one hour or two hour rides. Initially I wanted the ride closer to sunset, but it worked out anyway even with an earlier time. We got lucky with the beautiful clouds and breeze. Either time you choose, I'd give some leeway on time (an additional 15-30 min or so to consider, in case the ride doesn't end precisely on the hour. I didn't realize it until afterwards, and I'm so thankful, but Kristen didn't rush our ride back and our tour was a little bit longer than I expected. What a treat!!! Kristen went above and beyond for us!!! She and her staff are wonderful and knowledgeable. Hospitality is exceptional and so sweet. Thank you for the perfect afternoon. FYI, there are safety concerns so age/weight may be a factor to consider for comfort during this activity. For instance, anyone under 18 yrs must wear (their) helmet provided. Weather is also a factor, so if it's too hot, be wary of hydration and comfort, but luckily, we had amazing blue skies and a breezy day. They kindly offered us water when we arrived, as well. Kristen suggests jeans/long pants and boots/close-toed shoes. My family took me there for my birthday and it is the best birthday I've had (in such a long time), thanks to Kristen and her beautiful horses. My family and I are very inexperienced riders (son is a teenager), as we've only ridden horses a handful of times while on vacations. My family and I felt comfortable immediately. Her horses are so docile and mannerisms are so gentle. Kristen even allows guests to ride around their corral to ensure rider is more confident, before hitting the trail. There are small slopes and dirt/pavement along the ride. Our ride had the most beautiful scenery, with some unique sightseeing landmarks, so you'll really enjoy the views. She and her staff took photos for us along the entire ride. I didn't anticipate that, so I did take my phone out on occasion, and it still allowed me to enjoy the experience and be present in the moment. Next time, I know I can disconnect entirely though because they capture wonderful photos for me to have (they will airdrop to you if it's an iPhone) I won't reveal too much, as this is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, but I hope my notes help and offer suggestions to explore this beautiful area. Great family excursion, or even a romantic date idea! I have not seen my boys laugh so much and enjoy an activity together like this! Maybe we are going stir crazy from the quarantine, I don't know, but I can't imagine a more memorable way to spend an afternoon. Side note: It is such a fun workout! I didn't realize this, but if you plan this excursion, and not always athletic, keep in mind to keep your activities mellow after your ride. We loved the entire experience, and will do this again, definitely. We do feel a little tender and sore, similar to how I feel after a very long bike ride, but it just lets us know another way to enjoy a fantastic workout. Thank you again very much, Kristen. It was so great to meet you and your family. We hope to see you again soon.

I can't rave enough about how much fun my family and I had last evening with Kristen & her riding…read morecounterpart! More fun than what I hoped for and the setting was a 10/10! We rode at sunset and Kristen allowed us the flexibility "to be" with our horses. If we were comfy trotting, we could trot, if we wanted to canter, we cantered. Absolutely wonderful horses that were completely well-behaved, gentle and still could do more than just walked if asked. The scenery and landscape was to die for. Thank you Kristen for giving me and my family the best time EVER!!!!!

I visited Lost Creek Canyon Ranch with a group of friends and my six year old son. I was not sure…read morewhat to expect, but my goodness, our experience was incredible. This ranch is absolutely breathtaking and the rich history Linda shared with us was fascinating. I could've spent days exploring the area! I was a little nervous that my six year old would get restless as he was the only child in our group. Linda did an amazing job of finding ways to include him and even gave him a little activity bag to keep him busy while my group did yoga. The thoughtful ways she made him feel special and included really made the day for us. We really enjoyed meeting all of the animals- I know this was by far the best part for my son. I appreciated that my son was allowed to interact with the animals and was taught how to do so in a way that prioritized his safety and the safety and well-being of the animals. I can't say enough about our experience. Lost Creek Canyon Ranch will be a go to for me whenever I have visitors in town and I look forward to going back. Thank you to Linda and her team for such a wonderful experience!

Fantastic experience. Linda, the owner, gave us a fabulous tour. We saw the ranch animals, mountain…read morescenery, the historic buildings, and their citrus grove. Linda shared stories of the ranch's history and explained the water system still in use where water can run uphill! Linda was friendly and happy to answer questions. We got to pick as much citrus as we wanted to take home and were even given a couple dozen fresh farm eggs. A beautiful place and a fun tour if you want to do something a bit different and still be a short drive from downtown Palm Springs.