Apache Trail, Arizona

The Apache trail will lead you deep into the Sonoran Desert. Through fields of cacti, towering saguaros, up into sub alpine regions of the Chiricahua mountain range we will follow in the footsteps of famous Apache chiefs Geronimo and Cochise. We will visit famous wild west town like Tombstone, Wilcox and Sonoita where the spirit of the west still exists. The first week of this trail will lead us thru the real Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona with its variety of cacti and native wildlife. The second week we will ride the major mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona. 
The camps are practical with comfortable sleeping arrangements in spacious tents with foam mattresses. Combined with good campfire meals cooked to your satisfaction it helps you endure life in the wilderness. Wine and other drinks are included. Special requests regarding food are encouraged in advance because your comfort is important to us.
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
Rates include all meals, camping and last night in hotel
8 days/ 7 nights   
- 6 riding days
2008 Dates        $ 1,350
10/04-10/11 (week 1)   10/11-10/18  (week 2) 
10/25-11/01 (week 1)   11/01-11/08  (week 2) 
2009 Dates        $ 1,550
04/04-04/11 (week 1)   04/11-04/18  (week 2)
10/10-10/17 (week 1)   10/17-10/24  (week 2) 
availability & reservation

RTAZ15-2
15 days/ 14 nights
- 13 riding days
2008 Dates    $ 2,250 
10/04-10/18   10/25-11/08  
2009 Dates    $ 2,450 
04/04-04/18   10/10-10/24  
availability & reservation

Itinerary
Sat, day 1: Arrival and pick-up at the Tucson, AZ, Intl. Airport and transfer to our ranch in the Foothills of the Sierrita Mountains.
Sun, day 2: After a hardy cowboy breakfast we'll have a brief pre-ride meeting and than select our horses for the next one or two weeks. We'll saddle up and go for a ride in the picturesque Saguaro National Park west, where many movies were made. In the afternoon we'll stop at the Desert Museum (no stuffed animals; it's a zoo with all those creepy, crawling, flying and biting desert inhabitants) on the way back to the ranch.
Mon, day 3: We'll explore the surrounding Sierrita Mountains and might get a closer look at some of those creature we saw yesterday without a fence in between. One more night will be spent at the ranch. ( 4-6 h, 16 mi.)
Tue, day 4: We'll ride through some of the largest cattle ranches of the southwest to our next camp by Pozo Nuevo. This ride will lead us through the typical sonoran desert with majestic Saguaros and other cacti (watch out for those Jumping cactus; they got their name for a reason).(6-8 h, 20 miles)
Wed, day 5: Today we'll discover a different Arizona. The cacti soon give way to the grass covered plains of the Buenos Aires wildlife refuge. Antelopes, a diversity of deer, Javalinas and any number of smaller creatures inhabit this area. Our camp is setup for one of those vacation sunset photographs. (6-8 h, 20 miles)
Thu, day 6: A long days ride will take us by Yellow Jacket and to Arivaca Lake. Prepare yourself for a 7 mile long canter along a beautiful sand wash and the increasing mountain terrain with endless views. There will be an opportunity to go for a refreshing swim at the lake after the ride. (8-9 h, 25 miles)
Fri, day 7: A long ride along the Mexican Border to Pena Blanca will take us by Ruby (a historic mining turned ghost town) and to Sycamore canyon, where we can look for goedes in the midst of an impressive canyon. (8-9 h, 25 miles) ... one week clients depart camp after dinner and overnight in local hotel in Tucson.
Sat, day 8: One week guests take the airport shuttle in the morning.  For the two weekers there'll be an opportunity to do some shopping in the border town Noglaes and a afternoon ride along the Arizona trail from Patagonia into Gardner Canyon at the base of Mt. Wrightston. (4 h, 12 mi)
Sun, day 9: We'll follow the Arizona trail north to Kentucky Camp ( another historic mining depot). Still working Gold mines and steep mountain trails will make this ride an unforgettable adventure. (6-8 h, 18 miles)
Mon, day 10: In the morning we'll take a short drive to Tombstone for some more excitement. After a 'real' gunfight at the Helldorado we'll head out into the Dragoon mountains where we spend another afternoon riding through very picturesque rock sculptures of Apache country. ( 2 h, 6 miles)
Tue, day 11: Today we'll follow the trails of the Apache chief Cochise. The ride over the stronghold divide, a ride to Halfmoon tank, and up the hidden trail the Cavalry used to find the renegades, will take us around the entire mountain range, back to camp. ( 9-10 h, 28 miles)
Wed, day 12: In the morning we undertake another exploration to a ceremonial area with several medicine wheels near chinaman's mine and than transfer camp into the Chiricahua mountains.( 3-4 h, 10 mi)
Thu, day 13: Base camp lies in a beautiful canyon in the midst of tall pines at over 4500 ft. elevation and during our ride we'll be climbing to the almost 9000 ft high fire tower on Barfoot Peak for an incredible panoramic view of Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. (6-8 h, 18 mi)
Fri, day 14: In the morning we'll take another ride up to Onion saddle and than return back to the ranch. A farewell dinner will bring the trail to great ending to a most memorable trip. (3-4 h, 10 mi). Overnight in local hotel in Tucson.
Sat, day 15: In the morning take the hotel airport shuttle to the airport.

see Slide Show

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.                            

Arizona General Info