Arizona's Family-Friendly Dude Ranch Offers A Mountainous Outdoor Adventure

If you're a fan of the Wild West and grew up watching classic Westerns like A Fistful of Dollars or Two Mules for Sister Sara, then you'll love this family-friendly dude ranch in Arizona as your next mountainous outdoor adventure. A visit to Elkhorn Ranch is a surefire way to channel your inner Clint Eastwood and live out your childhood dream of being a cowboy or cowgirl, even if for only a quick getaway.

When people think of Western cowboy culture, they often picture riders crossing wide-open plains in cowboy hats and boots, with states like Texas, Wyoming, and Montana coming to mind. Arizona offers more than just a scenic road trip to the Grand Canyon. It also carries its own rich cowboy heritage waiting to be experienced. When you get a glimpse of the Western scenes that unfold before you as you make your way to Elkhorn, we won't blame you if you get the sudden urge to wear a wide-brimmed Stetson.

Visiting the Old West is one of the things that every American should do at least once in their lifetime, and a visit to this Arizona gem shouldn't be overlooked. Located approximately 54 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, in the Baboquivari Mountains of the Sonoran Desert, Elkhorn Ranch, which has been run by the Miller family since 1945 and just celebrated its 80th season, is easily reached in just over an hour by car. With over 80 years under the Miller family's Concho belts, catering to families is their specialty, with various activities that everyone can enjoy.

It's easy to see why "Cowboy Camping" has had an increase in popularity over the last few years. The romantic atmosphere of falling asleep under a starry sky with nothing to block your view of a golden sunrise the next morning seems like a dreamy way to spend a night outdoors. At Elkhorn Ranch, experience the beauty of the outdoors from morning to night, and at the end of the day, you'll be able to come back to one of twenty single or double cabins on the ranch's grounds. Boasting over ten thousand acres of land to be discovered on horseback, riders can explore gentle trails with mountainous views, or for a dose of adrenaline, hit the wide-open country to test some four-legged horsepower.

Around 120 horses in the Elkhorn herd have been born, raised, or brought to the farm as young colts to learn the lay of the land within the mountainous region, with their first training course beginning at two years old. The horses are continuously learning, and at three years of age they engage in light riding. At four years, they're fully able to make their way into the plains to work as saddled guide horses for Elkhorn guests to ensure the best experience.

Stepping into your private cabin, the amount of detail that has been put into the interior decor is evident. Each unique cabin comes complete with a cozy sitting area, so you can gather around to read cowboy storybooks to your little ones, enjoy a romantic evening by a wood-burning fireplace, or if you're on a solo retreat, bask in the quietness of some much needed solitude with no TVs in the cabins.

The Long House is the location to gather, laugh, converse, and share details about your day with other guests at Elkhorn Ranch. Everyday guests can enjoy their all-inclusive breakfast, lunch, and dinner surrounded by those sharing the same love of ranch life, both young and old. A casual setting consisting of indoor and outdoor dining that can seat eight to 10 per table, it makes for a great way to pull up a chair and chat about life with fellow guests around the grand stone fireplace in the center of The Long House's living area. Trail-ride lunches are even available twice a week, so you can enjoy a bite outdoors with your trusty horse like a true rancher.

Based on a per-person all-inclusive rate for guided horseback riding and hiking, lodging, and dining, adult guests can expect to pay $3420 per week, while teen guests ages 16-19 cost $2014, and youths ages 6-15 are $1686 per week. Reservations can be booked up to one year in advance, but with a limited capacity of 32 guests, spots fill up quickly. Discounted rates are given to returning guests, or bookings that extend to two or three weeks at a time, and all bookings require a 25% deposit of the total cost at the time of reservation.

Whether you're a folk music enthusiast, or a shutterbug looking to expand your digital photography skills, Elkhorn Ranch combines riding vacations with specialized courses and classes. They even offer a week-long workshop to understand the relationship with your horse, including the fine details of how your body language and emotions can affect your horse, so you can go from tenderfoot to pro in no time.