Horseback Riding in Scottsdale: Top Ranches for Trail Rides in Scottsdale

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the authentic “Wild West” experience in the Sonoran Desert? If so, you can’t miss the opportunity to book scenic horseback riding in Scottsdale, Arizona!

The following ranches in Scottsdale, AZ, and the surrounding area offer premier horseback riding experiences that will make you feel like a true cowboy in the desert. So, round up your friends and family for a trail ride, and head to one of these places to go horseback riding in Scottsdale.

Where to Go Horseback Riding in Scottsdale

1. MacDonald’s Ranch

MacDonald’s Ranch, located in North Scottsdale, is the perfect place for visitors to North Scottsdale or Kierland to go on a trail ride. This ranch offers group and private horseback riding experiences for adults and children ages six and up, as well as moonlight horseback rides on select days. You can view the pricing structure for rides on their website.

MacDonald’s Ranch also offers stagecoach rides, cowboy cookouts, and seasonal events like a pumpkin patch for Halloween. Whether you’re visiting to join the horses on a trail ride or for another personalized experience, MacDonald’s Ranch will surely provide a memorable day “out in the country” (without being too far from the city!).

2. Cave Creek Outfitters

Cave Creek Outfitters, located in North Scottsdale on the edge of Tonto National Forest, offers memorable desert experiences for the whole family. These include ATV rides, old-west entertainment, cowboy cookouts, cowboy games, and, of course, horseback rides!

Cave Creek Outfitters offers group trail rides for 6–12 people with beautiful views of the Sonoran Desert and Tonto National Forest. A one-hour trail ride costs $60 per person (plus tax) and departs at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM in the winter, spring, and fall, and a ride time of 1.5 hours costs $85 per person (plus tax) and departs at 9 AM, 1 PM, and 3:30 PM.

Trail rides in the summer depart early in the morning and at sunset to beat the heat in Scottsdale. Cave Creek Outfitters also offers private trail rides — visit their website for more information.

3. Arizona Horseback Adventures

Arizona Horseback Adventures, located in Cave Creek (just north of Scottsdale), offers horseback rides through miles and miles of the scenic Sonoran Desert. Guests can observe gorgeous scenery and native wildlife, such as deer, owls, coyotes, bobcats, and roadrunners, while riding a horse with Arizona Horseback Adventures.

Arizona Horseback Adventures offers shorter, family-friendly trail rides, gorgeous sunset horseback rides, and adventurous trailblazer rides that last three or four hours. In addition to these group tours, Arizona Horseback Adventures also offers private custom trail rides. Visit their website for more information about pricing and availability. 

4. MTM Ranch

MTM Ranch, located adjacent to the Spur Cross Conservation Area in Cave Creek, offers several private and semi-private rides through their scenic 1,200-acre MTM Ranch.

Join a wrangler on the one-hour Buckaroo Ride for beginners, the 1.5-hour Ocotillo Ride for panoramic views of Tonto National Forest, or the two-hour Vaquero Ride, the ranch’s most popular ride with gorgeous desert views and potential wildlife sightings. The Saguaro Vista Ride, Red Dog Ranch Ride, Silver Spur Mine Trail Ride, and Petroglyph Tour are longer, more challenging, and designed for confident riders on a horse — but if you’re an experienced rider, they are a great way to explore the Arizona desert!

Visit the website for more information on the different trails offered by MTM Ranch, the pricing structure, and details on how to book a ride.

Channel Your Inner Cowboy on a Scenic Western Horseback Ride in Scottsdale, AZ

If you’re traveling to Scottsdale, don’t forget to book a horseback ride for an authentic desert experience in the Valley of the Sun! And remember to book a vacation rental with Stay With Style Scottsdale. Many of our rentals in Kierland are a short distance from the ranches and horseback riding experiences in North Scottsdale and Cave Creek.

Browse our properties to find the right “home away from home” for your upcoming trip to Scottsdale!