Absolutely the most fantastic experience! We live about 45 minutes from Chanslor Ranch and have now been twice since our first visit. The people are very nice and the horses are very well cared for. An amazing opportunity to have a horseback ride so close to the Pacific Ocean and memories that will last forever. read more

I would recommend Chanslor Ranch to anyone and everyone. I came with a group of 9 and we had an incredible time. Many of us were beginners and they catered to our fears perfectly. We were all paired with a horse that matched our personalities; despite only having met everyone on the ranch a couple minutes before the ride they read our personalities effortlessly. The views were amazing and the experience was unmatched. Our guides also MADE the experience. 10/10 would recommend. read more

2nd Update: after speaking with manager and her agreeing to mail me a check for a full refund, I waited a couple of weeks and when I never received anything in the mail I left a voicemail on her cell and sent her a text. It's now been over a month and I still haven't heard from her again or received my refund. My one star review remains. Super disappointed. UPDATED ONE WEEK AFTER POSTING REVIEW: Mercedes, the manager, contacted me after reading this review and offered to personally take us on a ride again or give us a full refund. I was impressed with the way she immediately reached out and made it right after our terrible experience. Thanks Chanslor Ranch! Seemingly inexperienced guide and frighteningly (to say the least) unsafe horses. After making the ranch aware that we were 'beginner' riders, we expected some sort of orientation or how-to discussion. No such preparation took place. I was more than a little uneasy when we watched the crew try to put the horses into the trailer before we drove to the rendezvous point. We watched as the horse fought with the crew. After reaching the rendezvous point we still received no preparation of any kind and were put on the horses with nothing more than a brief introduction to our guides. This was my first time being on a horse in my life so I was quite nervous. After beginning down the trail our guide decides that we are ready to have the horses begin RUNNING on the trail. Not the scenic beach horse ride I was expecting. I had no idea how to ride a walking horse, certainly not one that was running. At this point I was scared for my safety. When we finally got to the beach immediately one of the horses begins to roll around in the sand. If it was not for our guide shouting out to jump off the horse, it's rider would have been horribly injured. Later on the guide mentioned that horse has done that before. Why were we not briefed on what to do if the horse lays down? The entire time were on the beach I felt very uncomfortable and uneasy. All of the sudden my horse took off running down the beach. While I pulled on the reins, the horse did not stop. When our guide caught up to me I told him I had to get off the horse. We decided that him and I would switch horses. On our way back to the car from the beach we lost the trail and had to ride the horses up and down dunes, running up and down steep inclines. I would expect the guides to know the trail and terrain well. Next, OUR GUIDE FELL OFF HIS HORSE when running down a hill where the horse had to stop abruptly at the bottom, the same horse I was on at the start of the excursion. In short, this was a terrifying experience that was no where near the leisurely beach walk that is advertised. NOT FOR INEXPERIENCED RIDERS. EXTREMEMLY UNSAFE. read more

Definitely one the best trail ride experiences I've had in a long time! I've tried many places but found this to be the better of them. Me and my boyfriend went on their hour and a half ride to the beach with our guide Charles, who was great in making the experience even better. We were both advanced riders and make sure you get the right kind of horse for the amount of experience you have. I recommend both the place as well as our guide Charles! read more

Chanslor Ranch - Guest Houses Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

Great experience-horses are great, helmets included, super fun and safe. Ride on the beach, over the dunes very beautiful.

This was a birthday getaway which my husband had booked to surprise me due to there website it seems a little deceiving we thought they had friendly lamas, pigs and all sorts of animals to enjoy welllll the pig is in the freezer and the lamas are wild on the hill and you can go and get your fresh eggs from the chicken coop just hope the crazy rooster doesn't attack you (talking from experience) we had the ocean view room which is attached to a main home in which someone who works there lives in so every word they say to flushing toilets and making coffee you hear on a good note the bed is comfy just remember there is no tv in the room you can have a fire outside really pretty it was cute and clean it's a ranch house not the Hilton we went horseback riding and the horses are amazing it was gloomy and cold so we canceled our stand up paddle board session overall great memories and a neat experience... we actually booked two nights but left the 2nd day and only spent one night couldn't really sleep with all the morning commotion next door decided to go home ... one night and horseback riding recommended enjoy read more

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Best experience ever! We have been coming here for 3 years each time our experience keeps getting better and better. Wonderful sceneries and trails to experience. Hikes to the beach. The staff are the best, very welcoming and helpful. KATIE best person ever thanks again for all your help. we can't wait to come back. read more

We stayed at this campground for the first time we used our trailer with electric and water hookups. This is a very well equipped and beautiful spot to camp in the Bodega Bay if you want and oceanview but not necessarily right on the water. Staff is friendly and it's nice to have clean showers as well. Horseback riding is a nice day excursion. We will be back. read more

I made horseback riding reservations for two adults and two kids who had very little riding experience. When we arrived at the ranch, there were four horses already picked and being saddled up. Tina, the manager, asked about our riding experience then placed us on the prepicked horses. My 11 year old sons horse was high strung to say the least as it continued or bite the guides horse and was essentially uncontrollable. Ultimately, my sons horse had to be pulled along by the guide as we rode the trail. About halfway through the ride, I saw my son start leaning to one side as if he was going to jump off. By the time I realized that his saddle was slipping and was nearly sideways, he had already fallen off the horse. Fortunately my son fell into some grass and was otherwise uninjured. After the guide resaddled the horse, my wife rode it back to the barn. About a quarter mile from the end, the saddle started slipping again to the point the horse couldn't be ridden. The horse was led back to the barn where Tina was awaiting our arrival and told what occurred. With an indifferent attitude at best, she said something to the effect of, "At least you'll have a good story to tell." Apparently a needed pad wasn't placed on the horse before it was saddled allowing it to slip. The experience wasn't all bad as the scenery was beautiful and Autumn (our guide) was pleasant and helpful. I feel like we dodged the proverbial bullet as my kid didn't fall in the pond, culvert, or other hazard that we passed along the ride. The most angering part was the lack of concern for my sons safety or care about our lack of satisfaction. I would highly question the safety of a trail ride at this location given my families experience, and recommend some other alternative activity. read more

I think it helps to know what you're getting into. This is marketed (and priced) as "glamping" (glamorous camping) of the sort you can do at Treebones or Costanoa. But it's not even close. It is just regular camping, which in my experience is always kind of dirty and gross. They should just lower the price and go with that. We booked a teepee, which was a mistake. The teepee is not enclosed at the bottom, and it had mouse/rat feces all around the edges -- someone had clearly just gone in and swept all the poop out edges, but didn't really finish the job. The mats we were supposed to sleep on smelled like sweat/pee/beer. Not very glamorous. So I complained, and we ended up getting a tent site instead (I had brought my tent as a backup). Our tent site was the one right next to the horse stables, and it was also pretty bad, as it was mined with horse poop and smelled like horse pee in the morning. Did I mention that the birds in the tree above the site also pooped on us? NOW THE GOOD PART. The property itself is large and gorgeous, and located near the water and the lovely town. If you can avoid the teepees, tent cabins, and the poop-covered tent site right next to the stables, you'll be fine. The people who drove away from the office and down towards the water to camp had world-class sites and views. If you or your kids are into horses, it's awesome to have them so close. Everyone was friendly. We'll going to try it one more time (in a tent, away from the horses). read more

Best experience ever. Anyel was the best guide.they did a great job matching my wife with a great horse, she was very afraid because of a bad experience as a teenager. Very professional and friendly. I would recommend this ride for anyone looking to ride horses at the beach. We did the ride through the dunes to the beach. read more

Did a private beach ride. It's more like a dunes ride with ten minutes at the beach for a photo and little more. Riding a horse through dunes is not comfortable and not a very nice view either. Felt like I was riding behind a bunch of houses rather than a wide-open beach. I can't stress this enough - it's NOT a beach ride! Over-priced ride. Should have done a trail ride inland instead... at a different ranch. The horses are tired, beat up looking, and not very cooperative. The guide was nice and professional, but that was the only thing good here. The main facility is a bit too unkept and "rustic". Even for a horse ranch. The place didn't instill confidence. The manager complained about an employee behind their back, but in front of us, and it was actually a minor issue that the manager herself was guilty of; not the employee. Ignorant. And can you keep those dirty, mangy dogs from bothering your guests? I love dogs, but if you're going to have your dogs run around the guests with mud all over them, getting them trained would help. Lastly, a lot has been said about the previous owners, and how this place is so much better now. Truth is, we rode here many years ago. Back then the horses looked better (We compared pics of both rides), and they were better trained. Maybe we were lucky then and not so lucky now, but we can't recommend this place for a beach ride. read more

The owner of this ranch has some serious road rage. Not something you want to be around when hauling horses. She called me a small dick mother f***** for driving my truck next to hers while parking in a parking stall and honked her horn multiple times at me. She was very irate and I plan to never do any kind of business with her or the ranch. Surprised she is still in business with her attitude. read more

My go to trail ride place in California! The horses are well cared for and they even offered to watch my dog for me while we rode! Our trail guide took toms of pictured for us and was very sweet and knowledgable in the area. All around the best day, only way to have made it a better day was if I was riding one of my own horses! read more

Chanslor Ranch is a California dream! The beach ride is living art, the horses are amazing, and Devon is one of the best horse guides ever! This is an equestrian experience you won't want to miss and Bodega is breathtaking. read more

Chanslor Ranch - Amazing beach ride with Devon! - Guest Houses Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

We booked this beach ride as a bucket list ride. Our guide was excellent. She was knowledgeable about the area, she was extremely personable and kept us engaged the whole ride. The scenery was breathtaking. read more

Chanslor Ranch - Guest Houses Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

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This was the best beach horseback riding we have ever had. The horses were responsive and very gentle. Marie was a fantastic, personable guide and so knowledgeable. It is the quintessential california experience not to be missed and was exactly what we hoped for! read more

First time my friend and I stayed here for a girls get away. Super cute room. Very clean for a ranch. We where able to enjoy yoga in a barn with the ocean breeze and horses. Nice relaxing getaway read more

Chanslor Ranch has improved tremendously since new ownership has come aboard. The staff is very friendly, horses are well taken care of and the beach ride is so much fun. We had a fabulous "girls day" riding with Devon. We have been on several rides with her now. She is super fun and it's like riding with a friend, not a guide. Loved the gentleman that got our horses ready too with his horse trivia questions. Funny nice guy ! We will definitely be back! read more

Chanslor Ranch - Guest Houses Near Me - Bodega Bay, California

I spent two nights at the ranch over Memorial Day weekend with my family. When we arrived on Friday we were pleased -- the staff was friendly, we had a fairly private spot and there were plenty of clean bathrooms with showers. By Saturday night the owners had admitted so many walk-in campers that there were long lines for the bathrooms, a crowd of cars, and tents jammed into every available space. The music from the large group of campers nearby went on until after midnight. I felt like I was at an all-day, all-night tailgating party rather than on a camping getaway. I realize it was a holiday weekend but it seemed like an attempt to capitalize on the part of the owners that resulted in the discomfort of those guests who had paid $65 and up to have a comfortable quiet camping weekend. I think the ranch is under new ownership so hopefully this will serve as a lesson for future holidays... please don't sacrifice the comfort of the campers who made reservations and paid top dollar to accommodate way. too. many. walk-in campers. read more

WE reserved 3 horses a week in advance for 4:30 pm on a Sat afternoon at the Chanslor Ranch Stables. Ron took our names, when we arrived we filled out paperwork and our niece got to wear a helmet. Our horses were perfectly chosen to our personalities. She got a Black horse named Pudgy Bear. I had a white Appalooza named Tinkerbell and my boyfriend had a horse named MAJOR. All three of us were happy and more than satisfied with the one hour ride for $60 ea. We were with one other couple and we had WOMEN wranglers in front and behind us. At the conclusion of the ride we were helped down and the horses bits were taken out and we got to walk, and feed the horses APPLES we brought from home. The trails were beautiful, around ponds filled with bird life, and turtles and a fern traiL that ran up alongside SALMON CREEK, pristine in August 2011. Go there, take your family and friends. We want to do a 3 hour ride next time and eat a BBQ on the trail. We are going back very soon. WE ARE LOCALS from Sebastopol, and don't know why it took us so long to get out there. BEAUTIFUL, FUN, WORRY FREE. safe & sane TRY IT. Everyone that works there looks healthy and happy. We had Constance as our guide. She was a JEM! read more

This was my first time horseback riding, and I'm not entirely sure that I'm hooked. We did the 1.5 hour beach ride hour trail, but spent maybe about 10 minutes on the beach and the rest of the time went into getting there and getting back. I was a total beginner, so I didn't mind too much that most of the ride was slow, plodding walking - the guide has us trot every now and then, but I near about fell out of the saddle every time. That said, an hour and a half of just sitting on a walking horse can get kind of tedious. The staff seemed knowledgeable and comfortable with the animals, but there wasn't anything all that exciting about the horses. They're trained to lead these things with their eyes closed (as the bf noted, his horse would have given the exact same ride, regardless of what he did with the reins), and basically just do what the horse in front of them does, whether you spur them to go faster or not. But the area itself is quite spectacular, and the horse trails give some amazing views of the hills, the sand dunes, and the beach. The day we went out was particularly chilly and windy, though still sunny, so that might have accounted for the shorter time on the beach, although, again, given the amount of time needed to actually get to the beach, I'm not sure that the weather had that much impact. I would probably still recommend this place as an alternative to hiking in the area, but I wouldn't spring for the beach ride next time. read more

My husband surprised me with a trip to this ranch for some relaxation and horse back riding. We stayed in one of the rooms at the ranch. The setting is gorgeous. We could see the ocean from the room. It's far off but still visible. The room was perfect for us and there was even a fire pit outside our room. You need to bring your own wood or buy theirs at $1 a piece. It was fun to walk around and pet the horses. The day we arrived we got to see a one day old little black lamb. So cute. There are a few teepees you coild stay in and many camping sites and RV sites. It was a relaxing time and just what we needed. The only negative was poor Internet and cell service which just meant more quality time with eachother. You must check it out. read more

Edit 8/2015: I have been notified that the person I was dealing with no longer works at this business. I will write an updated review after I try this ranch out again (i was 16 last time I rode with them and it was magical)! I thought I was dealing with the owner originally...that is NOT the case. My apologies. Changed to 2 stars since someone addressed the issue. This shows me responsibility and care. Thank you for caring Chanslor Ranch. :) Another edit 10/2015: I emailed the person who reached out and seemed very friendly and helpful in the message. But, I have received no response about scheduling a ride in the past month. My hopes were up once again...oh well, my bad for allowing these hopes. I'll call again, even though my experiences have been upsetting and update if I talk to anyone and successfully schedule a ride. Original review: If you can get past the unbelievably poor customer service at the stables, maybe you will have a nice ride? 15 years ago, this was an experience of a lifetime. 2015 true colors of people who are miserable and take it put on others is showing. I refuse to give my hard earned money to any unethical, rude, antagonizing, belittling and beyond poor customer service establishment. I support local and buy local...This is one I will not be supporting. My experience: A very grumpy Dan answered the phone and literally made me feel like garbage. I'm honestly shocked. Do these people want business? Because when attempting to book (I was interested in the eagle and the beach ride, both 90 minutes) he told me the times (same as the website 10am, 1pm etc) and then when I said 10 is great or what do you think would be the best time for the experience...He replied (the whole time in an angry and belittling tone) that he needs to feed the horses, he needs to do this and that (not my concern), so he couldn't take me until 1130. I still agreed. Lol! Silly me. I run this show, as this is my choice, my life and my money. Then after agreeing I was then told I would have to pay extra only because I chose the beach ride and that is more work for him. If I chose a ride on the ranch, then he would let me have the advertised rate. What?? Is this ethical? I don't believe so. If the advertised rate is not the rate and it is in fact more, this is what I call false advertisement. I do have to say that Alicia, from Sonoma concierge, was extremely helpful when she doesn't even work for the horse stable part of this establishment. This review is solely on my experience with the horse stables. I am looking forward to this beautiful day and will not allow some miserable person ruin my day. It is not my fault or concern about their business and how they have none today. They almost did! ;) read more

What a way to get away from it all! The most important thing about this place, the horses are well taken care of. The stables are clean and you can tell the people really truly love the horses. read more

We rented the barn at Chanslor Ranch for our wedding welcome party, and the space was absolutely perfect. Our family and friends from the east coast family loved the rustic coastal vibe and the weather was perfect- you could see clear to the ocean.They have a proper bar, which makes the space ideal. There's also a stage for a small band. (we hired a gypsy swing band, which was perfect for the setting). Swing the barn door open and invite the breeze and sweeping views of the coastline. Small fireplace and seating area for ambiance-- bathrooms too. Alicia was easy to communicate with and the barn was exactly as promised. Even hayrides! Great spot for a large party! read more

Boyfriend and I went on a ride there a few weekends ago. I'd ridden a bunch of times and he'd never ridden. They were very accommodating and even helped with local restaurant recommendations. Our guide was very helpful when my lovely horse was more interested in eating grass than going on our ride. We loved Samson and the little barn kittens! read more

Just got home from Chanslor Ranch and can't wait to go back!!! We brought our OWN horses on vacation to Bodega Bay with us and they stayed for 2 days at the ranch. The overnight paddocks are VERY NICE! More spacious than others of their kind we have used. The water trough was spotless, and I mean spotless. It's clear they clean it after every guest. Horse safety was clearly in mind with the individual paddock gates opening into a small arena, instead of the outside should a horse escape. The staff was AMAZING! The owner saw one of our horses weaving (she does this when she is nervous) and even gave her a ball to play with. When I (like an idiot) bent my trailer jack, one of the staff gave me a cinder block to jack my trailer onto. Yet another staff member gave me directions to the beach trailhead. There are also miles of trails right on the property to explore, which we did, that were PHENOMENAL. All in all a very pleasant experience. I am VERY picky about my horses and felt they were very safe here. The ranch's guest horses looked fat and happy as well. read more

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Writing this review to thank Simone and Malia ( sorry if I'm butchering the spelling ) again for being the best. My friend and I decided to book a last minute stay here over the weekend, camping in our own tent one night and then staying in one of the Teepee's our last night. First off, there was a bit of a confusion with our camp spot, and the office lost power as well which added to the confusion. BUT Simone, the most amazing camp host, came and sorted everything right out! Her and her friend, Malia ( who didn't even work there ) made sure we were happy and taken care of. These two girls made our stay well worth it and I would 100% come back because of them! The ocean views, proximity to the beach, and even local farmers market, restaurants, cafe's, ect were all just an added bonus. read more

My daughter and her friend had a fabulous beach ride with Charles Perkins last weekend! They are both experienced riders and he definitely let them ride to their ability. Charles clearly loves horses and loves sharing that with those he takes out on trail rides. The horses are well cared for and the place feels good. I highly recommend Chanslor and especially Charles as a guide! read more

We had the most amazing visit ever! I've lived around this area for over 25 years and driven past this ranch so many times and always wondered about what the experience was all about. I finally had the opportunity to visit and I certainly will be back! Our guide Jesus was friendly, kind and patient with us as we were a little slow going at first. He made the experience memorable and we felt comfortable and safe as he helped us create memories that we'll never forget. The owner was also so friendly and kind. She was so personable and fun to chat with. In all honestly every staff member we came into contact with was this way. We can't wait to come back and visit again. This time were booking and overnight where we can hopefully spend more time with everyone. Absolutely worth the money!!! read more

Best trail ride experience we've had. Wonderful, remote and scenic trails, excellent horses and warm, professional gracious staff. They made it a great part of our trip. We were an extended family group of ten; six kids from 4 to 13 and four adults. Guides were personable and professional and they made custom rides that suited our timing and skill levels. It's hard for a riding stable to stand out and these folks did. We highly recommend Chanslor Guest Ranch for your beach or ranch trail ride experence in Sonoma.. read more

Loved it!! Had a big ear-to-ear grin on my face the whole time! Even when I thought that I had lost my phone, my lovely guide Charles calmly walked us back and forth to find it. Then on over the dunes to a great empty beach, any speed I felt like, over driftwood, close to the waves. Amazing experience- and such beauty. Charles was super, the horses happy and healthy- calm but with plenty of get'up'n'go, even at the end of the day (my ride was at 3pm...). Do it! read more

Wonderful! We had our whole family go on a beach ride the day after Thanksgiving. Beautiful, well cared for horses and passionate staff.

Amazing experience! They were patient and courteous, and the Trail itself was stunning. Highly recommended!

Beware. Accomodations look WAY more glamorous on their website than they actually are. The two stars are for the incredible coastal views and the fact that they accomodated us without a reservation at one of the overflow spots. Otherwise I say try walking up to a spot at Bodega Dunes just down the road. Its cheaper and cleaner. read more

A friend of mine invited me to go horseback riding on the beach.. something I have wanted to do my whole life!! living only in marin and never knowing it was so close in bodega bay,I was so excited!! It was even cooler then I expected! Right from walking into the really cool barn/office and the friendly staff greeting us I knew it was going to be a great adventure! They showed us the horses when everyone got there and gave us a little history on them and their names and different sizes to specially choose the right horse for each of us. Sarabeth was awesome! They were all very knowlagable and friendly.I got to ride sugar. We got Frederick as our guide he was great! Took us down to the beach, around some trails and was very helpful, he even took our pictures on the horses on the beach! thank you so much for an amazing adventure we will definatly be back again soon! read more

Came here on the 4th July weekend with my wife. The entire staff was very friendly and made us feel welcome right away. They were extremely accommodating and went the extra mile to fit us into the day's last ride. Our guide, Dave gave us an awesome tour of their stunning grounds and was even our private photographer! Our horses were gentle and quite compliant to directions. Best horseback riding experience I've had yet. Highly recommended. read more

Awesome place to camp. Dog friendly and the views and sound of the ocean was fantastic.

My sister and I went on the 1 1/2 beach ride yesterday. We have ridden at rental stables for over 60 years. It was the best! Our horses, Rocky & Zipper, were easy to ride, loved to go through the sanddunes down to the ocean, along the coast. Couldn't be better! read more