Specials
Saddle up for Fun
by Sarah Show
Colossal Cave Mountain Park Stables
Long before ATVs and Hummers blazed their trails through this rugged, scenic country of ours, pioneers and settlers got around on horseback. Life moved at a slower pace in those days, and while it took longer to get where you were going, the ride and the view from the saddle were well worth it.
So when was the last time you got a little closer to nature and took in some of our pristine valleys, canyons, and mountains from horseback? From Flagstaff to Phoenix and Apache Junction to Tucson, there are many riding stables and working ranches that can set you up (see listing in right panel).
One of the great things about Arizona is its amazing diversity of landscape and history. If there's a favorite place you would like to explore from horseback, choose a ranch or stable that covers that area. For example, Colossal Cave Mountain Park Riding Stables is located at the historic La Posta Quemada Ranch near Vail, Arizona. It has been a working cattle ranch since the 1800s and still has around 100 head of cattle roaming its land. Today, trail guides take riders through the foothills of the Rincon mountain range and up the Agua Verde Canyon. They're quick to share tales of the old west when the stage line from Wilcox to Tucson ran through these canyons. Encounters with javelina, deer, and other Sonoran desert wildlife are common, and you'll likely discover a wide variety of cactus you've never before seen.
Most stables and ranches offer a wide variety of horseback riding adventures, ranging from a leisurely one-hour trail ride to the more rigorous all-day trip with meals. Some outfits offer stagecoach, wagon, or hayrides for the more passive western enthusiast. Sunset rides, cookouts, and may other packages are available.
Riding Experience, skill level, and age are generally not an issue, but check ahead of time when you make your reservation. For the expert equestrian, there are companies like Windwalker Expeditions who cater to the accomplished rider. Whether you're a novice or old hand at riding, there's a great view from the saddle!
Riding Stables
Apache Junction
OK Corral Inc.
480-982-4040
Cave Creek
Cave Creek Trail Rides
623-742-6700
Windwalker Expeditions
480-585-3382
Flagstaff
Flying
Heart
928-526-2788
Fountain Hills
The Stables
at Ft. McDowell Adventure
480-816-1513
Gold Canyon
D-Spur
Ranch
480-983-0833
Mesa
Dewitt Stables
480-835-9689
New River
Krazy Horse
Ranch & Polo Club
823-374-9810
Phoenix
Ponderosa
Stables
602-268-1261
Prescott
Granite
Mountain Stables
928-771-9551
Tempe
Papago
Riding Stables
480-966-9793
Scottsdale
MacDonald's
Ranch, Inc.
480-585-0239
Sedona
A Day in
the West
928-282-4320
Trail
Horse Adventures
928-282-7252
Tucson
Arizona
Horseback Experience
520-883-6807
Cocoraque Ranch Cattle Drives
520-682-8594
Colossal Cave Mountain Park Stables
520-647-3450
Pusch
Ridge Stables
520-825-1664
Spanish
Trail Outfitters, Inc.
520-749-0167
To report broken links, please contact our webmaster EagleCrest-Apts@VanishingClouds.com.