Cooper Lake
72 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
When complete, will impound the South Sulphur River in Delta and Hopkins Counties.
Outdoors
Horseback riding near Tyler
Trails and recreation areas near Tyler open to horseback riding, including horse camps.
13places to ride horses
72 mito the closest
October–Maybest months
Good to know: Check trailer parking and stock water at the trailhead, and whether certified weed-free hay is required.
Closest picks
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
74 mi southeast · USDA Forest Service
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Waxahachie Ck
81 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
Waxahachie Creek Park is on the western shore of Bardwell Lake, less than an hour south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in north-central Texas.
Map of all 13 places
Map of 13 places loads as you scroll.
30 to 75 miles (2)
Cooper Lake
When complete, will impound the South Sulphur River in Delta and Hopkins Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
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- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Off-highway vehicles
75 miles and farther (11)
Waxahachie Ck
Waxahachie Creek Park is on the western shore of Bardwell Lake, less than an hour south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in north-central Texas.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
Lavon Lake
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Wright Patman Lake
Wright Patman Lake is located in the beautiful piney woods of northeast Texas. The lake includes about 30,000 surface acres of water and 50,000 acres of land.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Bayou Bodcau Reservoir
Bayou Bodcau in LA and AR is a flood-control project with no permanent pool. A major waterfowl management and upland game management area is located here.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Off-highway vehicles
- Picnicking
Grapevine Lake
Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Lewisville Lake
Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
A 114,000-acre lake in the Big Thicket country of Texas, with native flora including orchids, insect-eating plants and scores of animal species.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Hugo Lake
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation manages over 18,000 acres of land and water, which is open to hunting along with an additional 8,000 acres managed by the Corps.
- Boating
- Camping
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Ray Roberts Lake
This 29,350-acre rural lake is just a few minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is a great place to get away from city life.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Whitney Lake
There are 10 Corps of Engineers parks, one state park, and three additional parks managed by Hill County or private individuals. Equestrian riders have a great place to explore rolling hills and woods in the McCown Valley Equestrian Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Tyler. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Tyler
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Day Trip to Tyler
A full episode of The Daytripper exploring the Rose Capital and its rose garden.
Watch on YouTube ↗
A WALK AROUND TOWN
A Walk Through the Tyler Rose Garden
A tour of the Tyler Rose Garden in full October bloom, shared by Visit Tyler.
Watch on YouTube ↗More outdoors near Tyler
Questions
Where is the closest place for horseback riding near Tyler?
Cooper Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 72 miles north of Tyler as the crow flies. Next are National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (74 mi) and Waxahachie Ck (81 mi).
When is the best time for horseback riding near Tyler?
Based on Tyler’s average highs, October–May. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.