Cross Country Arizona Ride
From the Mexican border to the Arizona Desert
- A two week cross country ride -

This trail is for experienced rider only. Due to the nature of the terrain as well as the length of the daily rides riders must have trail and mountain riding experience. This trail will lead us through major mountain ranges on scenic mountain trails across Arizona. We will start out on the Mexican border and follow the original Arizona trail over 200 miles north towards the Grand Canyon. From charming high Desert with its variety of cacti and native wildlife to sub alpine mountain regions covered with pines and fir trees you'll experience fascinating Arizona. 
Comfortable sleeping arrangements in spacious tents with foam mattresses (some cots are available). Fresh food brought into camp daily and cooked over the fire to your satisfaction are just a few amenities to help you endure life in the wilderness. Wine and other drinks are included.
Because we keep our groups small, we are able to make your experience a very unique and  individual one. 
The presence of a passenger van in camp provides us with great mobility. We are free to go exploring anytime we have a few hours to spare, especially on the weekends when we try to catch a local rodeo or other festivity.
A friendly team of capable hosts and guides are looking forward to giving you a lifetime experience!

RTAZ15-CC
Rates include all meals, spacious tents and sleeping cots, last night in hotel
8 days/ 7 nights  
- 6 riding days     
Arrival: Week 1: Tucson Week 2: Phoenix  
Dept:     Week 1: Tucson Week 2: Phoenix  
2008 Dates      $ 1,350
11/15-11/22  (week 1)   11/22-11/29  (week 2) 
2009 Dates      $ 1,550
03/07-03/14  (week 1)   03/14-03/21  (week 2) 
11/07-11/14  (week 1)   11/14-11/21  (week 2) 
availability & reservation
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RTAZ15-CC-2
15 days/ 14 nights
- 13 riding days  
Arrival: Tucson   Departure Phoenix
2008 Dates     $2,250 
11/15-11/29
2009 Dates     $2,450 
03/07-03/21    11/07-11/21
availability & reservation

Arrival:  Tucson/Phoenix 7 PM
Departure:  Tucson/Phoenix
Transfer: Included
Single if requested:
$200 for 1 week  -  $300 for 2 weeks
Horses:  Tennessee Walker, Missouri Foxtrotter, Arabians, Appaloosas, Paints, Quarter
Tack:  Western
Pace: 6-8 hours in the saddle, steep mountain trails
Level: Good Intermediate
Min/Max: 5-10 riders
Note: We provide camping gear (roomy tents and thick foam mattress, a horse trailer with living quarters and shower facility).

First week:  Sonoita Hills
Second Week: Superstitions Wilderness

Itinerary
Santa Rita Mountains - Week 1
Day 1  Sat.: Pick up at Tucson Airport and transport to our ranch in the Sierrita Mountains. The transfer to the ranch is 30 miles. (~ 45 minutes)
Day 2  Sun.: after selecting our horses we will go for an all-day introductory ride into the Sierrita Mountains. (~ 15 miles)
Day 3  Mon.: We transfer camp via a 1 ½ hour drive to Parker Canyon Lake in the morning and start our ride with a breathtaking mountain trail ride up and along the Montezuma Pass crest trail through Miller Peak Wilderness area. Incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the San Pedro Valley await us Twenty miles further we’ll enjoy a great meal at our next camp near Parker Canyon Lake. (3000 ft. elevation change. (20 miles)
Day 4  Tue.: We’ll follow the old mining roads over grass covered hills and scenic canyons through the Canelo Hills where we camp at Canelo Pass for the night. (18 miles)
Day 5  Wed.: We continue our ride through Red Rock Canyon into Harshaw Canyon just outside of the sleepy little mining town of Patagonia where we spend the night. (28 miles)
Day 6 Thu.: Today’s ride will lead us over old mining roads up into the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness area. We’ll be climbing another 2000 ft. on a small mountain trail and descend into Gardner Canyon via a historic aqueduct. Camp in Gardner Canyon. (25 miles)
Day 7, Fri.: This will be the last ride for "week 1" guests.  This ride will be nice and relaxing on relatively level terrain. We’ll stop at Kentucky Camp, (a historic mining camp) for lunch and then ride through oak pine and rich grass lands to Greaterville where we will camp for the night. (18 miles) For one week riders: Transfer to the airport hotel in Tucson after dinner.  A hotel shuttle will take you to the airport the next day. 

Superstition Mountains - Week 2
Day 8 Sat.: Today we’ll transport to Battleaxe Road near the Gila River. In the afternoon we’ll take a short ride along the Arizona trail through Saguaro covered hills to the Gila River for a swim. (10 miles)
In the evening we will meet the riders that booked the 2nd week only. The pick up for the 2nd week riders is at 7 PM from the Phoenix airport.
Day 9  Sun.: This ride will lead us over old cowboy trails from White Canyon to Picketpost Mountain. We will encounter beautiful yellow and ochre stratified rock outcroppings and other fantastic movie worthy rock formations. ( 2000 ft. elevation change. (16 miles )
Day 10  Mon.: We’ll continue on through the Tonto National Forest into the Superstition Wilderness Area. The Sonoran Desert will present itself at its best with its panoramic views, various life zones and stream bed riparian habitants. Our camp will be at Reavis trail corrals. (25 miles )
Day 11  Tue.: Today we’ll ride the steep trail up to Reavis trail trailhead. After lunch break we’ll enter the superstition wilderness for an unforgettable ride through the incredible natural desert landscape to Peralta. (30 miles)
Day 12  Wed.: Today is set aside for some last minute shopping and sightseeing. We’ll visit the historic ghost town of goldfield and maybe go for a short ride up to hieroglyphic canyon.
Day 13  Thu.: We’ll ride further through the wilderness area up and into several scenic canyons passing by weaver’s needle. Camp will be at first water. (25 miles)
Day 14  Fri.: We’ll ride Bolder Canyon Trail to Canyon Lake. Farewell dinner and transfer to an airport hotel in Phoenix for last the night. (20 miles)
Day 15  Sat.: Hotel shuttle to the airport in the morning.

see Slide Show

Superstition Wilderness

On these camping rides we provide

• all camping gear (except sleeping bags)
• roomy 3-4 person tents with thick marine type foam mattresses
• hot showers in camp
• all meals (hearty cowboy breakfast, saddle bag lunches and a variety of dinner menus). Please let us know of any special dietary requests at the time of booking.
• all beverages (non-alcoholic, alcoholic beverages available at self cost)
• horses and tack (including canteens and saddlebags)
• friendly, knowledgeable staff (all guides are First Aid certified)

You just sit back, relax and enjoy.

Since these are not real pack trips using packhorses to carry our gear, we do not have a weight and quantity limit on luggage. The luggage as well as all other gear will be transported in our support vehicle. A horse trailer with shower facilities and portable toilet will await us in camp daily and a 12 passenger van will be available to explore local attractions or events.

We do require riding experience. You should be able to walk, trot and canter and should be in good physical condition able to ride 6-8 hours per day for most of our trails. We do take breaks every hour to stretch our legs, but the pace can be quite challenging with long stretches of trotting and cantering where the terrain allows. However, we do adjust to everyone's riding ability to make it enjoyable for riders and the horses as well.

In regards to our horses. We have horses for all riding levels. From Appaloosas, to Arabians, Quarter Horses, Mustangs and Missouri foxtrotters. The tack is western with comfortable cordura saddles. Cantle bags, saddlebags and canteens will be provided. You will choose your mount in the beginning of the trail, which will be yours for the rest of  your time with us. You will be expected to groom and saddle your horse ( of course we'll help you and make sure everything is how it should be) as this is part of forming a bond between you and your 'partner' . Otherwise all you have to do is to enjoy the ride and we'll do the rest. We strictly center around horses and riding and since our horses are as important to us as our guests. Please take your riding ability and physical condition in consideration when choosing a trail.